By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

The government is seeking to recruit English speaking volunteers from among foreign nationals living here to assist in English education programs for elementary Korean students in rural areas during the summer and winter vacations.

It is hoped that members of the families of U.S. soldiers and foreign diplomats will participate in the program, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Wednesday.

``The free programs will help students in rural areas and from the lower-income brackets learn English,'' Lee Young-chan, deputy of the English education policy team at the ministry, said. ``It will give them more opportunities to meet native English speakers.''

Although it will not be pay-based work, Lee expects that many native English speakers will join the program as a way to contribute to the local community.

They will co-teach English classes with Korean teachers.

``The programs will run for four weeks and about 40,000 or 50,000 student are expected to benefit from the program annually,'' Lee said. ``We will expand the program depending on the results from this year.''

The education ministry is in discussion with U.S. army camps, expatriate communities and people from multi-national families for the recruitment of the volunteers.

Those interested in joining the program can apply through local educational offices. No special qualification is required but applicants cannot be illegal migrants or those on tourist visas.

e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr