English Craze - few results
Before you read/listen
How do you feel about the Korean English education system?
Do you think that English education is too expensive for people? Why?
I am someone who has traveled many countries I've experienced places that have a high and a low degree of English ability. Certainly learning English is one way to make a country become more competitive and Korea is a very hard working and competitive country that has achieved so much through hard work and a passion for learning. Therefore it is no surprise that Korean parents expect so much from their children.
The other day I was sitting at a cafe in the middle of the day and the whole cafe seemed to be filled with Korean mothers. My Korean friend enlightened me about Korean mothers and their passion for their kid's education and their relentless search for the best private learning academies, including English ones. I'm told that all these mothers were discussing their kids' education and which teaching academies were the best.
In Korea I’ve observed that a lot of money is invested on learning English and the government comes out with new directives every other year to both improve English education and equality between the haves and have nots. However, it seems to have not borne fruit as much as everyone would like.
So as I continue to travel I ask myself why some countries such as Singapore and the Philippines seem to learn English easily. Is it because there are so many cultures or languages in one country? But then there are countries like Sweden that don't, but whose students begin to learn English at a similar age to Korean students. I'm sure you can think of a bunch of reasons; me too. I guess the jury is still out on what the best way going forward for Korean learners is.
Guessing meaning from context
Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. The answers are below the table.
|
a high and a low degree |
A |
1 |
Never stopping or giving up |
|
relentless |
B |
2 |
The rich and the poor |
|
directives |
C |
3 |
What action/plans will happen into the future from this moment |
|
the haves and have nots |
D |
4 |
Results from hard work or effort |
|
Going forward |
E |
5 |
A decision is not yet made. People still don’t know the answer. |
|
borne fruit |
F |
6 |
A lot of and a small and amount of |
|
jury is still out |
G |
7 |
Tell you what you must do. Rules |
A=6, B=1, C=7, D=2, E=3, F=4, G=5
Some example sentences using the new words to help you to better understand their meaning.
1. In the USA there is a high and low degree of understanding about Korea, but it depends upon the education of the person.
2. In August the rain in Korea seems to be relentless.
3. The Seoul government made some new directives that there is no more smoking in some public places.
4. In places like India there is a big difference between the haves and have nots.
5. I have been learning Korean for two years and I’m not sure if my hard work has borne fruit yet and the jury is still out about whether I’m better this year than last year.
6. Korea has moved from a low cost production country and it seems that the best way going forward is to make higher quality products.
Some discussion questions using the new words to help you better understand the word meaning and how to use them correctly. Try to use the words in your answer.
1. Do you agree with the story that there is a high and low degree of English ability in Korea? Why or why not?
2. Would you agree that being relentless always bears fruit? Why or why not?
3. What directives do you think the Korean government could make to improve English education in Korea?
4. How can we improve English learning opportunities for the have nots?
5. Why do you think the jury is still out on the best way going forward for Korean learners is?
6. What do you think is the best way going forward is for the Korean education system?
ECK Education
