By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

Seoul education authorities have started to train native English speaking teachers to improve on their English teaching ability. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Tuesday, a 2-month program at its English education center, located in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province will be provided from May.

It is the first time for the education office to introduce this kind of training program for foreign English teachers. So far, it has offered programs just to help foreigners adapt to Korean culture and life during orientation.

``It's a different sort of training program as it focuses on developing teaching skills only for native-speaking teachers,'' said Lim Jong-ryul, supervisor of the education office.

University professors and supervisors in charge of English education, as well as other excellent Korean English teachers, will lead the teacher training programs. ``Although some of the selected foreign teachers have English teaching certificates, they need to learn about the Korean education environment for better cooperation with teachers,'' he added.

During the training programs, 15 foreign teachers at the center will learn the curriculum of English education at Korean schools and teaching methodology for Korean students.

Teachers will also participate in developing English textbooks, materials and English courses and programs.

After completing the training course, the foreign teachers will be placed at the center of 5-day English programs for students and 3-month or 6-month immersion training courses for Korean English teachers.

The supervisor in charge of the program said that foreign teachers at the center will play a critical role in English education in Seoul.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr