한국과 미국의 부모가 기대하는 영유아교사의 전문성에 대한 비교 연구 = A comparative study on the expertise of infant and toddler teachers expected by parents in Korea and the United States

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Objectives This study compares two different parent groups' perspectives on ECEC (Early Childhood Education and Care) educator professionalism. As a result, this study provides insights into the policy making process, teacher preparation curriculum, and certification process in the ECEC field.
Methods A semi-structed one-to-one interview was conducted with Korean parents and Korean/Korean-American parents. All collected data were carefully categorized and coded. For trustworthiness, triangulation and member checks were chosen.
Results Parents in South Korea expect professionalism from ECEC educators: Teachers who co-parent on behalf of parents, Teachers who serve children with sincerity, and Teachers who have licenses for kindergartens and childcare centers. Parents in the U.S.A expect professionalism from ECEC educators: Teachers who co-parent alongside parents, teachers who have a warm heart, and teachers who have majored in ECEC relevant fields or been certified for teaching specialized program. As a final point, both parent groups view veteran teachers as pro fessionals due to their presence of mind and long experiences.
Conclusions The study reveals that two groups of parents in different countries view ECEC educators' pro fessionalism differently. The professionalism of ECEC educators needs to be investigated from different angles and with the voices of stakeholders included. Furthermore, to improve the professionalism of ECEC educators, not only reforming the teacher preparation curriculum and the certification process but also ongoing policy support is necessary.