Dear editor,
Regarding an Oct. 16 article, ``English Zone Allowed in Apartments," I agree with this idea because it will be more successful than the existing English immersion villages.
First, English zones in apartment complexes are different from the existing English villages in the respect of accessibility. The residents of the apartments can go to English zones anytime, because it is close to their home.
People used to go to English villages on weekends only after some consideration because they are located in isolated places.
Secondly, it is easy to find native speakers and coordinators around the complexes. In the article, it mentioned that many existing English immersion villages are suffering huge losses.
However, if English zones are near the town or in the apartment complexes, it would have more advantages for the native speakers who want to work in central locations and Korean visitors who live in or near the apartment block.
Third, building the English zones in apartment complexes would be the alternative to the disadvantage of not having a place to practice English in an EFL (English as a foreign language) educational environment. Even the students who have previously studied abroad can't retain the same levels of English.
If existing English villages have difficulties, we should analyze the reasons and find a solution. The article says English zones in apartments should be run as a nonprofit system.
I think it doesn't make any sense. Using that for free makes it have some disadvantages. It should be run with a fee, but the government should provide financial support for English zones.
Jenny Choe