KOREA: Herald to manage English village

The Seoul Metropolitan Government entrusted the management of the Experience English Village, the English immersion campus opening in October in Pungnap-dong, southeastern Seoul, to Herald Media Inc.

The Korea Herald
Saturday, April 3, 2004

By O Youn-hee

The Seoul Metropolitan Government entrusted the management of the Experience English Village, the English immersion campus opening in October in Pungnap-dong, southeastern Seoul, to Herald Media Inc.

After a highly competitive bidding session, the Seoul government chose Herald Media Inc., publisher of The Korea Herald, from among 11 other candidates, including a consortium formed by the daily newspaper Chosun Ilbo and Seoul National University and the team of broadcaster iMBC and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

Experience English Village will spread over a 5,000-pyeong tract of land. An English language school, cultural facilities and a sports center will be constructed on the site. At the campus, Korean primary and middle school students will communicate with each other only in English.

Differing from existing language institutions, students in this immersion campus can speak and learn English through daily experiences outside the classroom. In the community, buildings imitating banks, airlines and a post office will be constructed where students can practice their skills with native speakers.

The project aims to take children's English education to the next level, especially for low-income families who are not able to send their children abroad for English education, or those who would prefer to stay in Korea to learn.

"Immersing very young kids in an English-only community will lead to a rise in English capability and therefore improved competitiveness for Seoul," Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak explained.

A maximum of 400 students will be admitted at a weekly cost of 250,000 won ($227). Native English speakers with TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificates will be chosen as teachers. U.S. soldiers in Korea can participate in the community as volunteers.

The details of the education programs are not decided, yet. However, organizers expect the campus can host up to 10, 000 students annually.

"We examined many things, including English education experience, business plans and the stability of the institution, before we chose the company that will manage the community," Seoul government staffer, Lee Myung-ok, said.

Date Posted: 4/3/2004