By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
A test during college admission decides the teaching direction of most English teachers at high schools. However, the test is the biggest obstacle against efficient English education according to Song Jung-sun, 29, who was recognized as the best teacher in a recent contest.
``In the Korean educational system, English is not a tool for communication but a yardstick for student selection. The awkward system has led to poor English skills of many students, even though they have high English test scores,’’ Song said in an interview with The Korea Times, Saturday.
Song has four years experience as a teacher at Hyowon High School in Suwon and received the grand prize this month in a teaching contest organized by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, defeating over 100 other secondary school teachers.
``Teachers should maintain the balance of students’ four English skills; reading, writing, listening and speaking, but the tests emphasize only reading skills,’’ she said. ``We need to add more listening questions, up to 40 percent in the College Scholastic Ability Test, although it would not root out all the problems.’’
Song lamented that many parents don’t trust English teachers and rely on private English language institutions. ``Most parents send their children to institutions where the teachers teach only how to obtain high scores in tests,’’ she said.
``I hope parents remove their distrust of English teachers as many of them have put in a lot of effort to improve their teaching skills,’’ she added.
Also, Jung pointed out English textbooks are behind the times. ``It is impossible to conduct good classes with textbooks alone. My motto in teaching has been `Beyond the textbook, make learning alive.’ I always prepare my class playing multiple roles. Textbooks do not enable us to have the ideal class,’’ she said.
In her class, she emphasizes teamwork between advanced students and basic students. While the two groups discuss and cooperate in the class, advanced students can also learn how to explain a situation easily in English to their counterpart, she said.
Regarding government’s policy to increase the number of native English-speaking teachers, Jung said it should save the cost of employing foreign teachers by spending it educating Korean English teachers.
``Compared to foreign teachers, we, Korean teachers, are more aware of the needs of our students as we understand more about what are the most difficult problems for Koreans,’’ she said.