By Lee Hyo-sik
A group of 600 ethnic Koreans and other expatriate students from English speaking countries will participate in the “Teach and Learn in Korea (TaLK)” program over the next four weeks to prepare them for teaching English in rural elementary schools. The program was initiated by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED).
They will first go through three weeks of the NIIED-administered training program, which begins today, and one week organized by local education offices before being placed in elementary schools in September. The training covers teaching methods as well as lectures on Korean culture and life.
Trainees will participate in a four-day English camp in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, from Aug. 16 to 19, studying and living with 340 Korean elementary students selected from across the country.
Of the 600 native English students, 255 were previously enrolled in the TaLK program and decided to extend their stay here. The remaining 345 were newly recruited from overseas.
Of the 345, 155 are ethnic Koreans, accounting for 45 percent of the total. The remaining 190 were those with diverse ethnic backgrounds. By nationality, Americans accounted for 70 percent of the total, followed by Canadians with 17 percent.
The Korean government has been inviting students on scholarships, including Koreans abroad and foreign students who have English as their mother tongue to teach the language at local schools, to ease the gap in English education between urban and rural students and raise Korea-friendly expatriates.
The participants are placed in rural areas where elementary school students have few chances to meet native English speakers. To help TaLK participants adjust to life there they are paired up with Korean university students.The program started in August 2008 with 380 in the first group of participants.The students receive a scholarship and monthly housing support during their stay in Korea.