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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 2:55 pm Post subject: "among the least competent English speaker" |
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FKI Calls for English Education Reform
The federation of Korean industries (FKI) has called on Education Minister Kim Shin-il to adopt a new English education system in order to promote Korean students� English proficiency level. Claiming that "Korean people are among the least competent English speakers even in the Asian region, and college graduates deserve no higher than an F grade for their English speaking competency, which is not enough to use at work at all," Kim Yoon, the president of Samyang Corporation and chairman of the special committee for educational development in the FKI, suggested the idea at a breakfast meeting with Educational Minister Kim and other key business figures in the FKI building in Yeouido, Seoul.... Kim, in response, stated, "The education and human resources ministry is considering the adoption of a new English test other than TOEIC and TOEFL," adding, "We will continue to do our utmost to balance the English education between academic development and practical use."
Donga.com (October 21, 2006)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2006102143818
Last edited by Real Reality on Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:39 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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"among the least competent English speakers" says someone who is likely to not have any formal qualifications in the field.
A better test would be a big help though. In the short run IELTS would be far superior to TOEIC and TOEFL in terms of the kind of washback it would have on teaching. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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Lawmaker Urges Stricter English Teacher Evaluation Program
According to ETS, the organizer of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), South Korea ranks 93rd out of 226 countries in the world for TOEFL score and 16th among Asian nations though the country has the largest number of TOEFL exam takers. In the test of spoken English, however, Korea placed 105th out of 108 countries.
by Jung Sung-ki, Korea Times (August 28, 2006)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200608/kt2006082817051811990.htm
School English Classes: Quality of Teaching Appears to Be Diminishing
English teaching at primary and secondary schools here appears to be diminishing. According to a recent survey, a growing number of Korean teachers of English conduct their classes in Korean only, contrary to efforts in creating an environment in which students can be better immersed in English. The number of teachers presenting English-only classes in elementary, middle and high schools for an hour each week has declined, according to a Chonbuk National University research survey.
Editorial, Korea Times (June 7, 2006)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200606/kt2006060717004354050.htm |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Real Reality wrote: |
Lawmaker Urges Stricter English Teacher Evaluation Program
According to ETS, the organizer of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), South Korea ranks 93rd out of 226 countries in the world for TOEFL score and 16th among Asian nations though the country has the largest number of TOEFL exam takers. In the test of spoken English, however, Korea placed 105th out of 108 countries.
by Jung Sung-ki, Korea Times (August 28, 2006)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200608/kt2006082817051811990.htm |
That's not too bad actually. The low spoken test score isn't much of a surprise though, and the fact that Koreans take TOEFL at a higher rate than learners in other countries partially accounts for the anomalies as well.
Real Reality, don't you think your thread title counts as intentionally misleading? It doesn't actually reflect the contents of any of your lastest crop of articles. Or maybe it reflects your own personal opinion? |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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| gang ah jee wrote: |
| Real Reality wrote: |
Lawmaker Urges Stricter English Teacher Evaluation Program
According to ETS, the organizer of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), South Korea ranks 93rd out of 226 countries in the world for TOEFL score and 16th among Asian nations though the country has the largest number of TOEFL exam takers. In the test of spoken English, however, Korea placed 105th out of 108 countries.
by Jung Sung-ki, Korea Times (August 28, 2006)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200608/kt2006082817051811990.htm |
That's not too bad actually. The low spoken test score isn't much of a surprise though, and the fact that Koreans take TOEFL at a higher rate than learners in other countries partially accounts for the anomalies as well.
Real Reality, don't you think your thread title counts as intentionally misleading? It doesn't actually reflect the contents of any of your lastest crop of articles. Or maybe it reflects your own personal opinion? |
It is part of a quotation from the article.
Claiming that "Korean people are among the least competent English speakers even in the Asian region, and college graduates deserve no higher than an F grade for their English speaking competency, which is not enough to use at work at all," Kim Yoon, the president of Samyang Corporation,".....
"Korean people are among the least competent English speakers even in the Asian region" is too long to fit in the subject field. |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Real Reality wrote: |
| "Korean people are among the least competent English speakers even in the Asian region" is too long to fit in the subject field. |
Does the article say that Koreans are the 'least competent English speakers'? No? Then change it to 'among the least competent English speakers'.
Let's keep it real and connected to reality ok? |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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gang ah jee,
I changed the post title just for you.
I hope you are happy with it now.
Happy posting. Have a great weekend.
:) |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Real Reality wrote: |
gang ah jee,
I changed the post title just for you.
I hope you are happy with it now.
Happy posting. Have a great weekend.
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Thanks, RR, you have a good weekend too! But what do you think should be done about the situation? I think that a more valid test would be a big help, but which one? What do you think, RR? |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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Will we ever learn what Real Reality really thinks?
Whither, Real Reality? |
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Return Jones
Joined: 06 Feb 2004
Location: I will see you in far-off places
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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| I disagree that they're among the least competent. Compared to most places I've visited in Japan and China, I would say Koreans as a whole are doing reasonably well. The average level of English in Seoul is certainly above that of Osaka or Shanghai. I would agree that they're not making adequate progress for the time and money spent, but proficiency-wise, they are doing relatively well in comparison. |
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Kenny Kimchee
Joined: 12 May 2003
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Return Jones wrote: |
| I disagree that they're among the least competent. Compared to most places I've visited in Japan and China, I would say Koreans as a whole are doing reasonably well. The average level of English in Seoul is certainly above that of Osaka or Shanghai. I would agree that they're not making adequate progress for the time and money spent, but proficiency-wise, they are doing relatively well in comparison. |
Agreed. I just spent three years teaching in middle school in Japan. Heres a typical conversation with a ninth grader...
(me) How are you?
(student) How are you?
(me) Im good. How are you?
(student) How are you?
(me) Im good. How are you?
(student) How are you?
(me) Genki desu ka?
(student) Hai, genki desu.
Lets compare to the kids I teach in a hagwon here in Seoul - Ive got one 3rd grader (elementary) who just got a 895 on the TOEIC (shes in a high level TOEFL class so the TOIEC is a cakewalk for her). my worst 2nd grade hagwon student is a better speaker than my best 9th grade Japanese student.
I also teach in public schools during the day and there are kids who can explain grammatical rules (e.g. countable nouns, possession, etc.) in English. my Japanese students couldnt even dream of doing that.
While I agree that the results of Korean students are not commensurate with the amount of time they put into studying, theyre hardly the worst speakers in Northeast Asia...
(some of my keyboard keys are broken, so dont get on me for bad syntax, ok?) |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Son Deureo! wrote: |
Will we ever learn what Real Reality really thinks?
Whither, Real Reality? |
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Sooke
Joined: 12 Jan 2004
Location: korea
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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I wonder if this has anything to do with the reams of students I am forced to pass (60% of them get A's) regardless whether they show up to class or not.
But I agree, there is more English in S. Korea than elsewhere in NE Asia. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Just what Korea needs: more tests. |
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rocklee
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Kenny Kimchee wrote: |
| Return Jones wrote: |
| I disagree that they're among the least competent. Compared to most places I've visited in Japan and China, I would say Koreans as a whole are doing reasonably well. The average level of English in Seoul is certainly above that of Osaka or Shanghai. I would agree that they're not making adequate progress for the time and money spent, but proficiency-wise, they are doing relatively well in comparison. |
Agreed. I just spent three years teaching in middle school in Japan. Heres a typical conversation with a ninth grader...
(me) How are you?
(student) How are you?
(me) Im good. How are you?
(student) How are you?
(me) Im good. How are you?
(student) How are you?
(me) Genki desu ka?
(student) Hai, genki desu.
Lets compare to the kids I teach in a hagwon here in Seoul - Ive got one 3rd grader (elementary) who just got a 895 on the TOEIC (shes in a high level TOEFL class so the TOIEC is a cakewalk for her). my worst 2nd grade hagwon student is a better speaker than my best 9th grade Japanese student.
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You are comparing middle school to a hagwon, right  |
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