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Wed, February 1, 2023 | 11:49
Illegal English kindergartens booming
Posted : 2011-03-03 19:05
Updated : 2011-03-03 19:05
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Children read English books with their teacher at an English cram school in this file photo. / Korea Times

By Han Sang-hee

English kindergartens have been thriving on Korean parents’ belief that education in the “foreign” language should start from an early age.

These kindergartens carry out all their daily programs in English, luring parents with the promise of being surrounded by a full English-only speaking environment without having to leave the country.

But operating English kindergartens is actually illegal.

“English kindergartens found on the Internet and in famous hagwon (private cram school) streets are not actually certified kindergartens. They are listed as English hagwon,” said Shin So-young, director from the early childhood education department of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

The ministry last month banned the use of the term and charges a penalty when they discover places that still promote themselves as English kindergartens.

There are a total of 866 kindergartens in Seoul — 138 public and 728 private — as of last year and not one of them is listed as an English kindergarten. Some “kindergartens” have changed their names on their websites, but students, parents and institutes still subconsciously use the term.

Certified kindergartens must follow an education program designed by the ministry, but as this guideline does not include English, such institutes cannot call themselves “kindergartens.”

“It’s an easy way to lure parents and make them believe that these are actual certified kindergartens,” Shin added.

What is the problem?

There are two specific problems: the surprisingly high cost and educational worries. Because the cost per hour for a hagwon is limited and must be registered at metropolitan offices before it officially charges the rate to students, it cannot overcharge to the extent where it becomes ridiculous.

For kindergartens, on the other hand, the terms become a bit more lenient. Public kindergartens must follow the amount decided by the metropolitan office, but private ones can set relatively freer rates.

The other worrisome subject is educational issues.

The current kindergarten program guidelines from the ministry do not include teaching English. This was because experts believed that it was more important to learn Korean as one’s mother tongue and some believed that learning two languages at the same time at a school or institute would confuse very young children.

Moreover, since they are not required to follow the official kindergarten guideline, they don’t have to hire certified teachers or don’t have to follow protocols regarding important issues such as hygiene and lunches.

“It’s true we don’t have to follow the early childhood education guidelines, but we have our own strict rules. The problem is the smaller ones that attract parents with their all-foreigner faculty, new and flashy equipment and higher costs. It’s actually easy to believe that the more expensive, the better. Parents will believe almost anything when it comes to English education here,” a staff member from a so-called “English kindergarten” in Jamsil, southern Seoul, said in a phone interview.

This particular institute was not using the word kindergarten on its signboards or on its websites.

Effect on children and parents

“Some people believe it’s better to learn a foreign language at a younger age, but the important thing is that the education must be conducted professionally,” said Kim Whee-tai from the department of early childhood education at Korea National Open University.

“Learning English at institutes is an everyday thing here, but these are young children. It’s a crucial time in their lives and both parents and teachers must understand that they need proper guidelines and programs.”

Kim said the price the “illegal” institutes demand from parents, who are eager to help their children become bilingual, is exorbitant.
Noh Seo-young, a mother who sent her younger daughter to an English kindergarten for two years a year ago, also echoes his view.

“I didn’t send my first child to an English kindergarten and I felt she was left out among her friends who did go. So I sent my younger daughter. The price was pretty high, mostly in the 800,000 won range, but we sent her anyway,” she said during a phone interview.

According to Noh, the cost has jumped, with some places asking for more than 1 million won, including textbooks and lunch fees.
Despite the high costs and the risk of taking uncertified programs, Noh explained that her daughter actually did learn.

While her elder daughter had a hard time getting used to foreigners when she was young, her younger daughter had no problem communicating with them: she had no fear.

Still, it worried her that these kindergartens would go outside the law just for the sake of money.

“It’s really hard to believe that all of these English kindergartens are in fact illegal. It has become such a craze and there are lines of students waiting to get into famous ones. I’m not sure if mothers would continue to go if they get rid of the title kindergarten, but if it’s wrong and poses a threat to their children and themselves in any way, I’m sure people will want to see change,” she said.

Polishing the program will also help such institutes gain more recognition, legally.

“Illegal is illegal. When English is taught in a proper way at any age, it can be very effective. These institutes simply need a legal and correct way of teaching young children,” professor Kim said.



불법 영어 유치원 성업

영어 유치원에 대한 인기가 높은 가운데 학부모들이 모르는 중요한 사실이 있다. 지금 한국에서 큰 인기를 끌고 있는 이러한 영어유치원은 사실 불법이다.

현재 유치원의 교과내용에서 영어는 포함되지 않고 있기 때문에 실질적으로 영어유치원은 유치원이 아니라 유치부를 운영하는 영어학원인 것이다.

이러한 영어유치원의 가장 핵심적인 문제는 두 가지다: 바로 높은 학원비와 교육적인 측면이다.
Emailsanghee@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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