Kindergarten English Study on the Increase
According to a recent article in the Chosun Ilbo, more and more Korean parents are enrolling their children for pre-school or kindergarten study of English, partly in response to the Lee Myung Bak administration’s broad English initiative. The government plans to increase English classes in elementary schools from the present 1-2 times a week to 2-3 times a week. In order to give their children an advantage when they enter elementary school, many parents begin teaching their infant children English. The Chosun Ilbo article futher notes that “Since the presidential Transition Committee announced its English education policy, at least 45 English-language schools have newly opened in the Gangnam and Mapo areas.” Staff members at English language kindergarten programs are reporting that enrollment levels have approximately doubled.