Early English Education
English is a big part of education in Korea. Students study English in schools and attend various private English-language institutes. Meanwhile, some parents try to give their children a head start and get them to study the foreign language in kindergarten or even earlier.Some people are in support of this trend of early English education. They say that English is a global language that is important for all Korean students to master. However, as it is a foreign language, it requires many hours of studying to reach a level of proficiency. So, it is necessary to get a head start on the process.Also, these supporters say that young children get introduced to English through fun activities, such as playing games, singing songs, and watching English cartoons. So, they perceive learning English to be an enjoyable experience. This will help them to feel less pressure about studying the foreign language when they grow older.However, others advise against teaching English to young children. These critics point out that the children often have a difficult time studying English. They do not understand what the teachers are saying and find it confusing to read the strange letters and characters. This type of stressful environment can place too much burden on young learners.These critics also say that by learning English early, many young children spend fewer hours studying their native language. But in the long term, it is more critical for children to build a strong foundation in their first language. So, learning a foreign language like English should not take priority over this, the critics argue.
Questions:1. How do students in Korea study English?2. What trend in studying foreign language do some parents follow?3. Why do some people support this trend? What do they say?4. Why do others advise against teaching English to young children?5. Are you in favor with the idea of teaching English to young children? Why do you support it or why are you against it?
