(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Jan. 23)

Gradual reform

Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's latest plan to improve English-language
education in the city has many parents anxious about how the plan will affect
their children.

The plan calls for English classes to be conducted in English at all 1,248
elementary, middle and high schools in Seoul starting 2012. To achieve this goal,
native English speakers will be hired as teaching assistants and at least one
teacher specializing in conversational English will be assigned to each school.
Other features of the plan aimed at boosting students' English proficiency
include conversation-centered lessons at least once a week and teaching English
at different levels according to the student's ability, rather than uniform
instruction based on school year.
Undoubtedly, implementing these changes to the way English is taught in schools
will improve students' English-language proficiency. However, education
authorities must ask themselves whether these innovations are realistic within
the proposed timeframe.
The first question is how existing teachers will be trained to conduct classes in
English. Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said it would enroll some 2,500
English teachers in three to six month training programs - in Korea or abroad -
to improve their English skills. However, just how much progress can be made
through short-term programs is questionable.
The new English teaching plan also requires 1,800 teachers specializing in
teaching conversational English. These teachers are to be recruited among
teaching certificate holders who are proficient in English. Finding qualified
conversational English teachers will not be an easy task, especially given the
requirement that they hold teaching certificates.
Even more problematic is recruiting native English speakers. At the moment, some
61 percent of all Seoul schools have at least one native English speaker teaching
assistant. Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's plan calls for all schools to
have at least one native English speaker by next year. It remains to be seen
whether the education authorities can hire a sufficient number of native speakers
by next year.
A revamp of the way English is taught in schools is long overdue. Koreans who
have difficulty carrying on a conversation in English even after studying the
language for years - both at school and at private language schools - will surely
welcome the teaching of English as a tool for communication.
However, while the goal of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is laudable, a
little reality check may be necessary. Rather than instituting drastic changes -
which teachers and students may be unable to prepare for - the plan may have a
better chance of success if the changes are implemented gradually.
The name of the new plan is "Strengthening English Education in Schools." The
plan will not serve its purpose if students - feeling that they need extra help
to keep up - flock to private language schools, as is predicted by many parents
and educators who worry about the pace at which the changes will be made.
(END)