이주민 대상 정책도구로 사용되는 한국어시험

Korean Language Tests as Policy Tools for Immigrants: Intent and Effect of Test Use

According to Shohamy (2006), much of the language policy is realized through a variety of indirect actions and practices that serve as de facto policies that can override and contradict existing policies and create alternative policy. Language tests, widely used as mechanisms in policy implementation, play a role for turning language ideologies into linguistic practices. In other words, language tests have acted as mediators to manipulate de facto language policy. The purpose of this study is to investigate how Korean language proficiency tests for immigrants are used as mechanisms for affecting de facto language policies. Newspaper articles, government documents, and related websites were explored to understand that different Korean tests were positioned for high-stakes decisions for immigrants in such social domains as the government, school, and workplaces. It was found that the actual use of the tests brought not only intended and unintended consequences but also detrimental effects on the test stakeholders.