|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
 Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 2:49 am Post subject: Going TO Korea to learn English |
 |
|
| Quote: |
They come to Korea to learn English
More foreigners are coming to Korea for language studies - but the language is English, not Korean.
The JoongAng Ilbo surveyed six English camps nationwide and found that roughly 1,000 foreigners took courses at them from January to July. The number of foreign students studying English sharply increased over the past three years from 92 in 2008 to 280 in 2009 to 497 in 2010.
During the summers, the camps are popular among Russian and Chinese students. Many Japanese come in March.
The students are attracted by the native-English speakers employed in Korea. Additionally, many of them are fans of the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, so they can study and get their share of K-pop, movies and television serials at the same time.
At the Global Education Center in Dangha-dong, Incheon, roughly 20 students were taking an English class with a native-speaking teacher, including six Russians.
�My father�s friend recommended this camp saying it�s a good program,� Korneev Vasya, 17, said in an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo on July 6. �I like the fact that native-speaking teachers interact with the students, which is different from English schools in Russia. I love the fact that the camp is designed as a village.�
Camp managers say university students and adults enroll along with elementary, middle and high school students. Gyeonggi English Village in Paju, Gyeonggi, said 740 children and 137 adults have studied at the camp so far. About 20 Japanese adults have registered for a program starting from Aug. 22, the village said.
�The village gives very creative courses, encouraging students to speak English in daily life, which can�t be found in programs in other countries,� said Tatiana Sinelnikova, 51, a Russian teacher who finished a course at Gyeonggi English Village. �And one-on-one classes are very effective.�
Low fees also contributed to the popularity, students say, because Korea�s programs cost half of those in the United States or Canada.
�Without any special marketing strategy, English camps became popular by word-of-mouth,� said Seo Min-jeong, an English camp coordinator. �Especially in Russia after a local media reported about English camps in Korea. Now, Korea�s English camps became known as one of the best English courses that Russian students can take during their vacations.�
On March 9, Japan�s Yomiuri Shimbun ran a report on its front page about the Gyeonggi English Village.
The article said, �Japan has to devise these kinds of special English-spoken zones in an effort to nurture human resources competitive in the global market.�
In fact, industry officials say many English camps in Korea are losing money because so many were established, compared with domestic demands. About 200 camps have been started over the past six years.
To survive, those camps promoted themselves to customers abroad. The deficit of Gyeonggi English Village decreased from 6.3 billion won ($5.9 million) in 2009 to 2.9 billion won in 2010. Seoul English Village earned about 10 million won in profits last year.
�While attracting foreigners to English programs, we promote Korean culture at the same time,� Jang Won-jae, secretary-general at Gyeonggi English Village said. |
Never really thought about this, but yeah, could be a potential market in it. I'm not sure how ESL services here compare to other countries, so perhaps others can chime in.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
nate1983
Joined: 30 Mar 2008
|
| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 3:31 am Post subject: Re: Going TO Korea to learn English |
|
|
| Captain Corea wrote: |
| Quote: |
They come to Korea to learn English
More foreigners are coming to Korea for language studies - but the language is English, not Korean.
The JoongAng Ilbo surveyed six English camps nationwide and found that roughly 1,000 foreigners took courses at them from January to July. The number of foreign students studying English sharply increased over the past three years from 92 in 2008 to 280 in 2009 to 497 in 2010.
During the summers, the camps are popular among Russian and Chinese students. Many Japanese come in March.
The students are attracted by the native-English speakers employed in Korea. Additionally, many of them are fans of the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, so they can study and get their share of K-pop, movies and television serials at the same time.
At the Global Education Center in Dangha-dong, Incheon, roughly 20 students were taking an English class with a native-speaking teacher, including six Russians.
�My father�s friend recommended this camp saying it�s a good program,� Korneev Vasya, 17, said in an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo on July 6. �I like the fact that native-speaking teachers interact with the students, which is different from English schools in Russia. I love the fact that the camp is designed as a village.�
Camp managers say university students and adults enroll along with elementary, middle and high school students. Gyeonggi English Village in Paju, Gyeonggi, said 740 children and 137 adults have studied at the camp so far. About 20 Japanese adults have registered for a program starting from Aug. 22, the village said.
�The village gives very creative courses, encouraging students to speak English in daily life, which can�t be found in programs in other countries,� said Tatiana Sinelnikova, 51, a Russian teacher who finished a course at Gyeonggi English Village. �And one-on-one classes are very effective.�
Low fees also contributed to the popularity, students say, because Korea�s programs cost half of those in the United States or Canada.
�Without any special marketing strategy, English camps became popular by word-of-mouth,� said Seo Min-jeong, an English camp coordinator. �Especially in Russia after a local media reported about English camps in Korea. Now, Korea�s English camps became known as one of the best English courses that Russian students can take during their vacations.�
On March 9, Japan�s Yomiuri Shimbun ran a report on its front page about the Gyeonggi English Village.
The article said, �Japan has to devise these kinds of special English-spoken zones in an effort to nurture human resources competitive in the global market.�
In fact, industry officials say many English camps in Korea are losing money because so many were established, compared with domestic demands. About 200 camps have been started over the past six years.
To survive, those camps promoted themselves to customers abroad. The deficit of Gyeonggi English Village decreased from 6.3 billion won ($5.9 million) in 2009 to 2.9 billion won in 2010. Seoul English Village earned about 10 million won in profits last year.
�While attracting foreigners to English programs, we promote Korean culture at the same time,� Jang Won-jae, secretary-general at Gyeonggi English Village said. |
Never really thought about this, but yeah, could be a potential market in it. I'm not sure how ESL services here compare to other countries, so perhaps others can chime in.... |
Doesn't surprise me at all...I had foreign students in my English classes at a unigwon, and some of them were enrolled in the Korean program as well. My best friend (and classmate in Korean class) was a German gyopo, and we always joked about him taking the course to spice it up - though he's the only true foreigner I've ever known to speak perfect American English (Canadians excepted). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 5:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I met two French girls (not kyopo) who came to Korea to study English at Hong-ik. I was perplexed at the time, and I remain so. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NohopeSeriously
Joined: 17 Jan 2011
Location: The Christian Right-Wing Educational Republic of Korea
|
| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 6:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
| My church takes care of a Japanese (not a gyopo) Ph.D student. He's literally working his a** off to learn English and Korean in Korea within a year. Since no Japanese tech companies would hire him, he's planning to work for the NHN. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rkc76sf
Joined: 02 Nov 2008
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: Going TO Korea to learn English |
|
|
| Quote: |
They come to Korea to learn English
Low fees also contributed to the popularity, students say, because Korea�s programs cost half of those in the United States or Canada. |
Maybe because they're only half as good as those in the US or Canada? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tatertot
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Going TO Korea to learn English |
|
|
| rkc76sf wrote: |
| Quote: |
They come to Korea to learn English
Low fees also contributed to the popularity, students say, because Korea�s programs cost half of those in the United States or Canada. |
Maybe because they're only half as good as those in the US or Canada? |
Are they even half as good? I don't think that they are, generally. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
