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Brandon Cates, right, an English instructor at the Korea Air Force Academy, talks with cadets during a conversation class on Feb. 14. The academy is running a five-week-long winter English intensive program aimed at helping cadets learn practical English skills that can be used in real life. The program ends Feb. 28.
/ Courtesy of Air Force Academy |
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
The following is the first of a two-part article on how South Korean soldiers and cadets are learning English, considered a must in the global era. This part deals with an English immersion program of the Korea Air Force Academy and the vision of the school's English education through an interview with the academy's superintendent. ― ED.
CHEONGJU, North Chungcheong Province ― A group of 30 students are taking an English listening comprehension class taught by an English-speaking Korean instructor. All the students speak in English only.
In other classrooms, a small group of students are having conversations in English with a native English teacher about their life, childhood and families, while some 10 students are actively participating in a game to guess what the top 10 most common answers to the question ― ``What are the secret methods to succeed in love?'' ― modeling the popular TV talk show, ``Yashimmanman.''
``Pretend not to… love her much….'' said a cadet. Another cadet shouted, ``Having skinship!'' Other cadets burst out laughing.
Seeing these, one might think they have entered a private English institute for TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) or conversation classes.
But that's not the case. The activities in the atmosphere of freedom are now taking place at the Korea Air Force Academy in Cheongju during its winter English intensive program.
The five-week-long English immersion program is designed to help all Air Force cadets learn practical English skills applicable to real life situations through ``systematical and customized'' classes in accordance with individual English levels, academy officials said.
The program is also aimed at raising qualified Air Force officers who meet global standards and will take a leading role in international or joint operations with foreign air forces in the future, they said.
During the program from Jan. 28 to Feb. 28, the cadets must speak only English in three ``English Only Zones'' ― the faculty building, mess hall and dormitory.
Classes for the intensive program include TOEIC study, listening to news in English, military briefing in English, conversation classes at all levels from beginning to advanced, reading and writing skills, English drama and other education programs.
Each year of students has a target TOEIC score ― 600 for first year, 700 for second, 750 for third and 800 for fourth.
Those who receive 800 or more are able to get up to two credits and attend advanced English classes regardless of their years at the academy.
Those who get 700 or less, on the other hand, are required to take additional English classes. If they fail to get more than 800 points again, they will be subject to some penalties including a disciplinary lockdown in their barracks
All 13 faculty members including four foreign instructors are taking part in the immersion program as teaching staff. Sixteen translation officers and enlisted soldiers fluent in English are also joining the program as assistant instructors.
Both instructors and cadets said the immersion program has definitely been showing results, particularly in building motivation and self-confidence in English, though the five-week timeframe is not enough for tremendous improvements.
``I think this program is a fantastic idea. I think it's working well though there are some things we need to work on together,'' said Brandon Cates, 25, who takes charge of English conversation classes. ``The cadets who are more proactive, who are willing to make mistakes are learning a lot more than cadets who are a little more shy, less confident and just extremely exhausted.''
Instructor Jason D. Smith, 33, also echoed the program's effectiveness to help enhance cadets' confidence.
``I haven't seen a large skill change yet, but I have seen a confidence change,'' Smith said. ``One of the activities we worked on this week was being able to speak to an entire room. So cadets who might normally be nervous speaking in public in Korean are now confident in public speaking in English.''
``So, that's probably the greatest, in my opinion, accomplishment,'' he added.
Lee Su-jin, 23, in her fourth year, felt the need to improve her English abilities for her future career.
``I think foreign language abilities are essential to do whatever I will want to do in the future,'' Lee said, expressing hope that she will study in the United States as a commissioned officer after graduation.
``This is a great opportunity to learn practical English skills such as speaking and writing. Being exposed to an English-speaking environment and using English everyday, I can figure my weakness and improve on that,'' she said.
Freshman Choi Pil-young, 20, said that he has seen progress in his English ability throughout the intensive training period.
``In the beginning, I doubted if I would even be able to speak just English,'' Choi said. ``But now I'm very satisfied with this program. I've been witnessing certain improvements in my English skill every week, as I'm supposed to speak English some 90 percent of my daily life, even during lunch.''
gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr
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