Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Regular Classes to Be Given in English in FEZs in 2008
Schools in free economic zones and an international city will be required to give regular classes in English on a trial basis, starting 2008.

The ministry will also recruit English speakers as assistant teachers in all middle schools nationwide by 2010 in an effort to enhance English conversation and English teaching skills. Also, the ministry will reform the current school year system so that schools begin the academic year in September rather than in March by 2010 to coordinate with foreign educational institutions. The policy is designed to help schools prepare students for higher education and the job market. Currently, schools are operated under the 6-3-3-4 system which means six years for elementary school, three each for middle and high school and four years for university. Last November, the Korea Educational Development Institute recommended that the government adopt a 5-3-4-4 school system by reducing elementary school years to five from the current six and extending high school by a year to four years. "The school year reform was adopted as the current school year system reduces the nation��s competitiveness by delaying students by one year compared to students in other countries," a ministry official said.
By Chung Ah-young, Korea Times (October 20, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200510/kt2005102017252610220.htm

[joe_doufu]

How much of a difference does it really make whether 5th graders and 9th graders are considered middle school students or not. Even in the States there are some schools where "junior high" is grade 6-8 and some where it's 7-8 or 7-9. That is a whack thing to tweak, as if it would really improve the country's education. All it will do is cost a lot of money as high schools add new classrooms and elementary schools let some go to waste. Sounds like they're making these changes because they've finally realized that they should copy other countries' education systems, but they don't have the nads to make changes to the real stuff like teaching methods and objectives.

[Moldy Rutabaga]

The patient now has a makeover and a fashionable new outfit, that's a good start.. now we might think about curing the diseases inside her body..

Ken:>

[VanIslander]

Interesting development. Thanks for the info RR!



It's relevant to the future of ESLers in Korea, showing more coordination and responsiveness to what's going on outside of Korea (so rich kids can be better positioned when their rich parents send them to American universities; this smacks of a class-based move, pardon the pun). Nothing xenophobic or insular about these moves.

[denverdeath]