초록/요약

This study sought a narrative education plan designed for the elderly generation allowing them to overcome physical, mental, and social crisis and improve their quality of life. To establish the theoretical base of old age identity and narrative education, this study examined the theory of narrative identity by Paul Ricœur. Meanwhile, it considered narrative education plans for the elderly by presenting the design and contents of a narrative program entitled “Development of programs of Korean language culture and pilot application oriented toward the elderly” developed by the National Institute of Korean Language in 2018. According to the narrative identity of Paul Ricœur, the narrative helps one attain self-understanding by allowing one to understand and share one’s life through the embodiment of the story. Therefore, narrative education for the elderly generation can be instrumental in helping the elderly discover their old age identity and increase their self-esteem. The “Development of programs of Korean language culture and pilot application oriented toward the elderly,” developed by the National Institute of Korean Language in 2018, aimed to improve the self-esteem of the elderly by establishing a positive awareness of old age life through narratives. This program largely consists of four stages: “looking back at myself,” “facing old age,” “designing a happy old age life,” and “expressing myself. The first stage of “looking back at myself,” the second stage of “facing old age,” the third stage of “designing a happy old age life,” and the fourth stage of “expressing myself.” Through awareness of “past-present-future” based on these stages, this program allows the elderly to express and reflect on themselves. Future narrative education for the elderly will be required to develop multifarious education oriented toward a range of elderly groups, interactive education, and multidirectional education applying diverse media which various generations can experience together.