English Experimentation Pays Off in Seocho District
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
All 60 participants were listening to Seocho Public Healthcare Center chief Kwon Young-hyun's presentation on plans for vaccination against influenza A (H1N1) at a meeting of Seocho District officials in southern Seoul, Tuesday morning.
"Up to now, there have been more than 128 centers and clinics offering inoculation. We are planning to hold promotions to encourage people to get vaccinated," Kwon said.
One official interrupted with a question. "Are we paying attention to promoting individual hygiene? Prevention is more important," said Park Sung-joong, head of the district office.
It was a typical meeting, except for the fact that the conference was conducted in English - an experiment in one of the wealthiest districts in Seoul, which is trying to embrace globalization at the local government level.
This was its eighth English-only meeting, with the first dating back to December 2007. "The English-only meetings are only held once a quarter so that participants won't be too burdened with preparation. So far, I am getting good feedback," Park told The Korea Times.
A devout spokesman for English immersion education, Park drew up an "English Premier Seocho," blueprint that paves the way for English to be used in the district without much difficulty.
There are three "English Premier" centers in the district where people can borrow DVDs, books and other educational material for a 10,000 won monthly fee.
Park's local government has pushed for English-available restaurants for foreign visitors and residents, who attend regular town meetings.
All staff members at the district office had to take a three-week intensive English class from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in 2007.
The office holds regular English tests to keep workers on their toes, and an English textbook for office work and meetings has been distributed. "I have noticed that one of the workers now speaks fluently, almost like a native English speaker and 30 have become considerably fluent. We give incentives to overachievers," Park said.
The efforts are paying off - the meetings have raised work efficiency in many ways.
"Staff members pay attention away from their desks and are connected with a greater world - over 80 percent of the information on the Internet is written in English. They are also aggressive in learning new things and are confident in meeting foreigners," he said.
"This means a better service for our residents, foreigners as well as Koreans."
Seocho has over 6,000 foreign residents and more than 100,000 visitors a year.
Park also commented that all staff members are now able to go on overseas trips without hiring a professional translator or interpreter. "This is a great improvement," he said.
"No one can deny that English has become ever more important and how one can use it can help enrich our lives."