Functions of English: Education, Entertainment and Commercials in South Korea (original) (raw)

The Impact of the English Language in Korea

This BA thesis focuses on demonstrating the impact of the English language in Korea, both as regards its language and society, as well as to analyze the linguistic variety of Konglish. After making a briefly introduction of the history of Konglish and its nowadays common uses, my aim is to focus on analyzing the lexical loanwords and the new words of English origin that have become part of the Korean language. Based on the findings provided by the corpus retrieved from Korean sources, my thesis may help to contribute to the development of a lexical and semantic distribution of these terms, so as to provide new data to Konglish research and further information to the linguistic field of English varieties in East Asia.

English as International Language Revisited: Implications on South Korea’s ELT Context

Scope : Journal of English Language Teaching

This paper specifically aims to examine conceptual and empirical studies on the evolution of English Language Teaching (ELT) worldwide and its progression affecting ELT in South Korea. A systematic review was used as the research methodology. A number of significant articles from top-tier journals and book chapters were analysed utilising a content analysis, to gain evidence-based solutions. This paper begins with the outset of EIL (English as an International Language) in general, and examines a paradigm shift concerning the prestige norms such as American English (AmE) and British Received Pronunciation (RP). This paper heavily emphasizes on the condition of English Language Teaching in South Korea, and what theoretical foundations can be utilized to English language program in South Korea. Furthermore, this paper critically investigates the interconnectedness complexities between English and the national language, along with the attitudes toward native and non-native English-spea...

English Fluency as Wind beneath My Children’s Wings: The Imagined and Practiced Value of English Language in Globalizing Korea

Asian Journal of Education and E Learning, 2015

In this paper, I argue that English is an important component of "cultural capital" in contemporary Korean society. Whether for practical reasons or not, English proficiency is something an educated Korean must have. Given the perceived importance of English language in Korea, children's early exposure to English language has become important component of mothers' "family status production" work. [Papanek 1979] This is especially true for middle, and upper middle class families who either need to constantly affirm their class background, or have desire to climb up the social hierarchy. In this paper, I examine the significance of English proficiency in its relationship with the notions of gender, family, and class in the society. As Koreans society becoming one of the major players in the global society, English language proficiency has also become an important component of Koreans' global identities.

English educational policies of the U.S. Army Military Government in Korea from 1945 to 1948 and their effects on the development of English language teaching in Korea

Language Policy, 2011

This study examines the English language teaching (ELT) policies and measures taken under the United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK) from 1945 to 1948, in an attempt to illuminate their implications on the current ELT in Korea. The study analyzes data derived from documents of the Korean and the U.S. governments, literature on Korean history, and literature on Korean education and language education. During the previous decade of Japanese colonial rule, the development of ELT had been stalled due to Japan's war against the U.S. and its allies and the colonial government's consequent suppression of Anglophone elements in the colony. With the arrival of the U.S. forces in 1945, however, the climate unfavorable to ELT reversed. The U.S. military government took various educational measures to enhance ELT. It reintroduced English as a required subject in the secondary-school curriculum and as a key subject in university entrance exams. It also established a state-run English language school and provided teacher training nationwide through the school. Despite these reform measures, however, Korean ELT maintained core characteristics set earlier during Japanese colonial rule.

English Education in South Korea

筑紫女学園大学アジア文化学科「蒼翠」 第3号, 2002

In South Korea, the mere mention of English education invites controversy. The debate rages, fraught with questions that echo the paradigms of Mr. Smith’s English lesson: Why should we study English? Who should study it? When should we begin studying? What type of English should we learn? How should it be taught? These and other questions torment educators; but as a nation, South Korea has responded with decisive action. English was adopted as a regular subject in Korean elementary schools starting in 1997. For 20 years before that, English had been taught as an elective subject in elementary schools. As in Japan, it served as a required subject in junior high schools; and in high schools as an exam-preparation course. While the two latter conditions persist, the move to begin formal instruction at an earlier age generated a great deal of excitement among parents, despite the consternation of teachers. And now the nation waits to see what effect its decision will have on the secondary curriculum. At the university level, the consequences will be further removed in time. At present, the Ministry of Education seeks to bring English instruction into a more practicable sphere. English is seen as a key to the future; but a tenured past makes progress difficult. In the decades to come, South Koreans hope to reap a profitable return on their collective investment, that is, they hope that English education will lead their nation to economic prosperity. 小学校から大学レベルまでの英語教育を、MOEの教育方針としての目標・内容、教育課程、教員養成、そして教室における指導法を取り上げて論議する。動機付け、コミュニケーション能力、自由学習、さらに学習塾、就職斡旋、幼稚園、出版業、テクノロジーなど諸種の問題を提起する。結論としては、英語教育に関して韓国は日本と非常に多くの類似点を共有している。

Early English Education in Korea: An Early Appraisal

KATE Newsletter, 25(1)., 2001

English instruction was first instituted into the Korean elementary school curriculum in the spring of 1997. During the period of hearings before the elementary school English curriculum was put into effect, there was heated debate on whether studying English would be beneficial, or in fact, harmful to language learning and child development.