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Korea Students Expanding Education Horizons to South East Asian Countries
Posted by ESL Daily at 9/5/2008 and is filed under Philippines,Korea,Malaysia,esl reform
In the past, Korean EFL (English as a Foreign language) students flocked to countries such as Canada, USA and Australia, where English is a first language. However, as published in September 2008, the number of Korean students has fallen in these countries:


This year Korea has implemented many new educational features that may play in the decrease in the educational migration: more foreign teachers in the public schools through programs like TaLK, and promises of increased English education time. Other educational promises include foreign teachers in every public school, and the opening of an English education complex on Jeju Island. � ESL Daily

With the new English education implementation in the peninsula and increase of education prices, Korean students search for English closer to home. The Philippines and Malaysia are both examples of South East Asian countries where Korean students are more inclined to travel.


According to the Bank of Korea, Koreans spent about US$821 million on foreign language study abroad in the first half of this year. That figure is expected to exceed US$2 billion by the end of the year.

The head of the English institute in Kuala Lumpur said the trend of Koreans coming to Malaysia has changed in recent years.

Hoo Foong Mun, academic director at ELS, said: "Five years ago, there were more adults coming. But now five years later, we have the younger ones - the teenagers - who are coming, especially to do the high school here."

This trend is expected to continue as newly-elected President Lee Myung Bak has emphasised the importance of an English education. - Channel News Asia


Though English education may not be as developed as Western countries, the price says it all. Tuition and living expenses are fractional compared to English countries, not to mention the distance is much more reasonable between South East Asian.