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Korean-language training course due in LA
By Lee Hyo-sik
The first Korean-language teacher training program outside Korea will be established in Los Angeles in 2015, as part of government efforts to boost the language education among descendents of Korean immigrants in the United States and other nationals there, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Friday.
It said the Korean Education Center in Los Angeles recently signed a memorandum of understanding with California State University, Los Angeles, to set up the Korean-language teacher training course as part of the latter’s regular curriculum from 2015.
“We will shoulder part of an 880 million won ($870,000) budget for the establishment of the teacher training program. It is designed to nurture Korean language instructors for middle and high school students in the U.S.,” a ministry official said.
He also said an online training course will be available through the website of the Korean Education Center in Los Angeles (www.kecla.org).
“There are 71 schools offering a Korean language course across the United States. But no U.S. universities offer a training course for those who would like to become Korean language teachers. We expect teachers to work not only in schools in California, but also in other states,” the official said.