By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

Ahead of the full implementation of English-only classes in 2012, many Korean English teachers are honing their language proficiency at private institutes.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said it has raised the budget to finance hagwon fees for 444 English primary and secondary schoolteachers in Seoul this year from about 200 in 2008.

Each teacher receives about 450,000 won ($350) in subsidy for three months. Of the 444 teachers, 204 are at elementary schools and 240 at secondary schools. Many other teachers are learning at hagwon without subsidy, and the number is expected to rise further.

Many teachers say they are feeling growing pressure to strengthen their proficiency, as they are required to conduct English-only classes by 2012 as part of government-led programs to boost English classes at public schools.

Oh You-hwan, 47, an English teacher at Paekahm High School, has attended an English-speaking class at a hagwon in Seoul since April.

``I want the authorities to offer various training programs for English teachers with greater subsidies,’’ said Oh, who has taught for 19 years.

Yoon Yeon-mo, 50, another English teacher at Sorabol High School, has found the subsidy is not enough to cover her hagwon fees.

``I can easily find other English teachers from public schools in my class (at the foreign language institute). Many English teachers are under pressure to study English, as they have to conduct English-only classes,’’ said Yoon, who has worked in education for about 25 years.

TEE Certificate

The education office will differentiate teachers according to their teaching ability by issuing a Teaching English in English (TEE) Certificate for teachers starting from the fall semester. Those who have the certificate will receive incentives in personnel management.

The subsidy program is part of English training programs run by the city education office and is meant for those who can’t afford to participate in other intensive English programs. In Seoul, there are 4,678 English teachers at secondary schools and 3,800 at elementary schools.

Overall, the education office has earmarked a budget of 5.5 billion won to train English teachers this year. It has 12 domestic and overseas English programs for 7,432 teachers, 4,772 at elementary schools and 2,710 at secondary schools.

Lee Seung-hee, 55, an English teacher at Kangnam Elementary School, is now attending the Intensive English Training Program for Seoul Elementary School Teachers.

``Thanks to the program, I now feel more comfortable in speaking with foreign teachers at my school,’’ said Lee, a 29-year veteran. ``Not only myself, but many other teachers are struggling to improve practical English skills these days.’’

During the intensive program in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon Province, teachers take month-long courses to improve their practical English skills and learn methodologies for TEE classes.

The program, organized by the California State University San Bernardino, costs 2.5 million won per month for each teacher. The education office pays all the costs and will train a total of 480 elementary schools teachers this year, with a budget of 1.2 billion won.

``We will continue to invest money for training teachers so that we can boost the quality of public education. This will lead to a reduction in private education costs,’’ said Yoon Ho-sang, senior supervisor at the education office.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr