Korea: An academic world outside English

[Francis Hult]

Via lgpolicy...
 

An academic world outside English

It's vital that we worry first about our mother tongue before spending
so much on English.

July 24, 2009

The government will have spent 4 trillion won ($3.2 billion) on
English education from 2008 to 2012. But for this astronomical
appropriation to have value, half should go to education and
dissemination of the Korean language here and overseas, a quarter to
English and the last quarter to other foreign languages. The
government may think English is so important that it cannot spare
resources for Korean or other foreign languages. No one can deny the
importance of English, but it is simply not possible to enhance the
English proficiency of Koreans at the cost of their own mother tongue.

Other foreign languages will also be necessary in this globalizing
world. The authorities say there will be trickle-down effects to other
languages once the present English education policy is implemented.
This is nonsensical, because the world will not stand still and wait
for Koreans to perfect their English. All people should have the right
to choose a language to specialize in. Those who happen to choose
other languages should be treated just like those who choose English.
And those who choose no foreign language should also be respected. Let
them study other subjects that would allow them to be more productive.

Full story:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2907813


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