Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gladiator]

Make the bucks while you can folks!



Ministry promotes robot to teach students English






October 03, 2005 �� The days of hiring robots as English tutors in Korea may not be too far away. The Korea Advanced Intelligent Robot Association, an organization developing artificial intelligence technology under the Ministry of Information and Communication, announced yesterday it has begun operating, on a test basis, robots that can help young students pronounce English words.
According to the ministry, 64 such robots will be supplied to apartment complexes in Seoul, Bucheon and Bundang in Gyeonggi province by the year's end. Once testing is complete, the ministry and association plan to improve on the robots' weaknesses based on feedback from users, and to commercialize them as early as late next year at around 1 million won ($960) each.
According to an official with the ministry, the current robot model can perform basic tasks such as reading stories to children and teaching them how to pronounce certain words in English. However, the official added that if the demand for the robots rises, more complicated teaching functions geared toward older students and adults, as well as more subjects such as mathematics, will be added.
"We hope that tutoring by robots perks up the interest in studying among young students," the official said. "With that, it could also help ease the cost of private education for families."
Those who have high-speed Internet access can connect the robots to the Net, and then download contents of their choice from the ministry's Web site.


by Chang Chung-hoon <[email protected]>



[b]Robots are welcome to teach my kids' classes anyday! [/b]

[lastat06513]

That sounds good...but

What about maintenance cost?
It will cost alot to keep the Robot functional for a lengthy period of time. So although the cost of the Robot might be reasonable, it won't take much time before a service company capitalizes on the maintenance of such a device.

What about limitations?
Unless the robot is programmed with all the words in the English language (including Cambridge, Aussie, Kiwi, and American dialects), not to mention all the possible pronunciation variations and intonations. Coupled with all the grammar rules and idioms that make English a headache to Korean, I see a serious limitation to them in helping people learn.

I had a robot when I was little, it was called "alfie", I liked it, but it didn't teach me everything I need to know about speaking. Neither did my speak-n-spell toy.

I think Koreans are trying to find a way to limit their exposure to foreigners, which is not good because it would make them less communicative if they don't develop the natural comfortness that comes with being around a foreigner.

If they want to improve education, especially in English, do away with the hakwons and put as many teachers as possible in the public school system.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Is the robot gonna be equipped with the standard love stick for misbehaving kids?