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ERIC Number: ED533162
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 224
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: ISBN-978-1-1248-0193-3
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Correlation between Transformative Learning and Cultural Context: A Case Study of Adult Participants in a Korean American Immigrant Congregation
Kim, Brian Byung Joo
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Trinity International University
The purpose of this research was to explore the nature, process, and facilitating factors of transformative learning experiences of Korean-American adults in a Korean American immigrant congregation (KAIC). The focus was on discovering how and to what extent, if any, the congregational culture of the KAIC as the learning situation played a role in the process of their perspective transformation. A qualitative ethnographic case study of Seoul Baptist Church in Houston (SBCH) was conducted. Twenty-four Korean-American adults of SBCH were selected and interviewed along with non-participatory observation of SBCH. In addition, two focus group interviews were employed in order to assess the culture of SBCH. The major findings were presented as four major foci: (1) participants' perceptions of the nature of their transformative learning experiences, (2) the process of the experiences, (3) facilitating factors, and (4) congregational culture as their learning environment. The nature of the participants' transformative learning experiences revealed five dominant dimensions into which their descriptions could be categorized: epistemic, convictional, behavioral, social-relational, and psychological. The nature of their experiences was fundamentally spiritual. The process of the participants' transformative learning experiences demonstrated that the participants generally went through seven phases, which included (1) becoming involved in a small community, (2) opening emotionally to new perspectives through relationships of trust, (3) accepting new perspectives with critical reflection, (4) exploring and testing these new perspectives, (5) struggling to practice new roles, responsibilities, relationships, and actions, (6) internalizing new perspectives to build competence in practicing new roles, and (7) reintegration. Both the house church system and the broader culture of SBCH as a supportive learning environment contributed significantly to the participants' transformation. Four elements of the house church system included "Mokjang" (a small family-like community) life as a place of praxis, the "Life Bible Study" as formation for practice, the worship service as a ritual for spiritual experience, and the senior pastor's leadership. The culture of SBCH as the facilitating factor was serving others sacrificially, sharing life stories and giving testimonies, and the systemized process toward transformation. SBCH's particular culture made SBCH a learning community, where the participants' transformative learning experiences were facilitated. The shared assumptions of SBCH were consistently reflected in the ways that SBCH solved problems. The shared mission of SBCH also served as the guiding principle in setting specific goals, clarifying identity, designing the strategy for achieve the goals, and implementing the strategy. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A