Korean Job Discussion Forums

[garykasparov]

04-23-2008 17:51

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/04/117_23009.html

Home-Grown English Test Debuts in May

By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter

The government will hold pilot English tests aimed to replace globally recognized exams such as the TOEFL and TOEIC.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Wednesday that the preliminary exam will be held at nine public schools nationwide from May 13 through 17.

A total of 1,000 test takers will undergo the Internet-based test comprised of four sections ― listening, speaking, reading and writing.

``The exam will be applied starting late 2009,'' an education official who wished to remain anonymous told The Korea times. ``This pilot exam will serve as a test bed to gauge the controversial language exam's feasibility and reliability.''

The official said it's too early to conclude whether the state-backed plan will replace world-wide recognized tests in admission processes of foreign schools.

``This is the very first step toward developing a globally used English exam. At this stage, nothing is certain,'' the official said. ``We will consider promoting the exam abroad to win global recognition after making sure that this fledging test does not fall short of international English tests in quality and reliability.''

The ministry last July begun researching to develop the home-grown English test with the soaring number of Korean students applying for international English tests to enter overseas universities especially in the United States, which has added to growing educational costs.

The government earmarked 21.5 billion won for the project.

According to the ministry, more than 1.78 million and 130,000 Koreans took TOEFL and TOEIC, respectively, in 2007 alone.

[email protected]

[it's full of stars]

So, instead of using the already globally recognised tests-TOEFL and TOEIC, Korea wants to add its own in the hopes of "developing a globally used English exam."?

So what are the students going to be studying while hoping to go to all the North American universities? The Korean ToGGFL (Test of Gobbledy Gook as a First Language). Who's gonna teach them this, American high school students?

*beep* me, I can barely see for all the sparkling coming from the Ministry of Education.

[Young FRANKenstein]

We've all seen how great their regular textbooks are, with all the Konglish and just out-and-out incorrect English. I'd be gobsmacked if they ever put together a new test that would pass international muster, nevermind managed to convince ANYONE outside of Korea to actually use it instead of TOEFL.

[bassexpander]

I have a feeling this is all about Korea hating to pay money to this test company, which is not Korean.

Some Korean businessman/gov't person is hoping to make a pretty penny off of this, or help a family member/friend make money so they can share in the spoils.

Typical.

It will be meaningless in a world outside of Korea, and big overseas unis will still demand students take the TOEFL test.