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By Rigoberto Banta Jr., Guest Reporter

 

Of all the people that I’ve met I can say that Koreans may be one of the people in the world who really invest in learning English — from late night hagwons to thousands of won spent on self-help English books and trips abroad to study the language, Koreans definitely know the role of English in our modern society. But amidst all of the rush of learning the language, we should stop and evaluate the classes offered in our very school, how it helps in preparing its students to conquer the world outside.

Here at Chonnam National University we take pride in our very own Language Education Center where not only English is promulgated but several world languages such as Spanish, Hebrew, Russian and so on. Language classes were intensified so as to open more opportunities for students to take semesters abroad, with the extensive network of CNU’s partner universities around the globe. And how is it going for students taking English classes?

For starters, CNU only requires its students to take Global English in order to graduate, meaning that one can actually graduate with just one class in English. And considering that Global English is just an immersion class for students, one may be led to conclude that the English proficiency of students is only kept at the minimum level. But considering the fact that there is a more intensified policy of the CNU administration for their study abroad program, does it imply that most of the slots go to waste?

There are a number of students motivated to study English for their dream of being sent abroad for an international semester. They would opt to take classes in English rather than in the comforts of a Korean class to enhance their ability in the language and of course the greater chance to be chosen as one of the school representatives for one of its international programs. With the number of Korean students choosing classes in English and the growing number of foreign students staying here at CNU, it is a “two birds, one stone” approach. So what happens to the other students opting to take the “regular road”?

I see that the approach of the school towards learning English is more laissez faire, leaving its students to make their own decisions as to whether or not to take classes in English. I believe that taking English classes is not a battle between cultures and philosophies but a necessary reality. As the whole world is giving more and more importance to the usage of English as the language of trade and commerce, it is only proper for CNU to take steps for the betterment of its students.