Korean Job Discussion Forums

[garykasparov]

03-02-2008 17:08

English-Friendly Environment Sought


Dustin Woodson, left, and his wife take orders from customers and make conversation in English at a restaurant in northern Seoul, Wednesday. The restaurant has been designated as an English zone by the local government to help its residents improve their English skills. / Courtesy of Nowon District Office

By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

At a time when English is being such importance by the incoming government, local governments are striving to create environments in which their residents can learn English through familiarity.

Last Wednesday at a restaurant in Nowon District, northern Seoul, a group of children were asking, ``Can I order?''

Then a native English speaker arrived and asked the young customers, ``What would you like?'' in English. The children had a hard time getting their words across, but it didn't stop everyone at the table having fun speaking English there.

``The kids loved it. I once had a 10-year-old customer named Jason. He even brought a dictionary to look up the words,'' Dustin Woodson, the temporary waiter, said.

In fact, Dustin is not a waiter. During the day, he is an instructor at YBM's Suyu English Village. He was taking the food orders in accordance with the district office's English Zone program. ``I had great time, too'' he said.

In Seoul, the enthusiasm is high. Many districts are establishing English villages where children can experience English in everyday life. English zones have been set up for people to speak English only, as well as various businesses relevant to English ability enhancement.

In Nowon District in particular high emphasis on English is being pushed. A separate department was set up for English education only and staff are working day and night to study possible methods of linking English education and business, aside from private institutions (hagwon.)

The office has recently adopted the English Zones at two restaurants _ Outback Steakhouse and Il Parco, an Italian restaurant. There, instructors from an English Village came dressed in waiter's uniforms and took orders. The event, which was held from Monday to Friday in Il Parco and will be held for another three Tuesdays in Outback, was a hit, according to Kim Chun-suk from the district office.

It was actually a win-win situation for all. The parents rushed to the restaurants to see their children order food in English; children got to eat good food and the restaurants had great promotional opportunities, he said.

The result surprised Outback Steakhouse. They said they would consider hiring extra native English speakers as staff and do the same thing for other branches.

The district office plans to put 100 billion won in making an English-friendly environment over the next five years.

Gangseo District came up with English camps. It plans to use about 100 million won in establishing infrastructure and seeking good location.

Seocho District is to open an ``English Premier Center'' in April in Bangbae-dong and will add three more in Yangjae-dong, Banpo-dong, and Seocho-dong.

Gangnam District, a relatively well-off region, said they are seeking the best method. ``We have studied all methods other offices have adopted. We are seeking the best.''

Its educational office long ago made a series of sisterhood relations with universities in the United States and elsewhere to gain access to their educational facilities, conducted in English.

However, not all people are welcoming the moves. Some say local governments are too enthusiastic in pushing English education, not one of their original functions.

When some of their projects to enhance Korean language abilities failed to get off the ground, there was rising criticism from the other side blaming the government for neglecting Korean.

Gangseo District recently cancelled its Korean-focus zone project, which was to put all signboards in three villages in Korean language and encourage the use of correct, non-slang Korean in the area. The office explained that lack of budget was the main reason, but people said the office has been planning it since 2006, and money should not become a problem.

``Our language should come first. Who would want to learn the language and the culture when we don't even care?'' a sad Gangseo resident Lee Eun-young said.

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http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/03/117_19920.html

> This sounds like English Village in a restaurant. It's a joke.

[OiGirl]

[sargx]

Filipinos.. Bengali... Indians...

[some waygug-in]

There's been an English-only restaurant on PNU campus (Busan) for years.

They usually just staff it with Koreans who can speak English quite well.

If only we could get them to try doing this in classrooms...

[trachys]

yet another way to exclude kids of low-income families - well done Nowon

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I'll buy the reporter a steak dinner if she could prove to me that 80% of the kids don't just scream 'Haheee!', wave like retards, point at the menu, and yak away at their table in 80-decible Korean.