Students studying abroad ((1996~2003))
Since the dawn of globalization, the importance of learning English has greatly increased and significant number of students have gone overseas to study English. As a result, It is a fashion in South Korea, the number of students are going to English speaking nations as teenagers and it has also proposed the children are required to go abroad in order to improve their English. In this essay I will discuss some advantages, disadvantages, background, some causes and future prospect of this phenomenon.
These so-called "early study abroad students"(chogi yuhaksaeng), many of whom come alone and others with one of their parents(most often their mothers), are a prominent demographic phenomena in English speaking country. The trend began to take off after 2000as the Korea middle class grew and the education system became more competitive. More than 20,000 such students left Korea in 2003 and 2004, according to a study from the Korean Educational Development Institute.
Since the Korean education system is cramming system of education and only focuses on the entrance examination, it is difficult to learn English properly in Korea. In addition, even kindergarten in Korea is not a publicly administered program. Parents send their children to private schools (some of private kindergartens are prohibitive expensive); many of those have an English class, and some kindergartens are taught almost entirely in English. Because of these reasons, many parents think that sending their children abroad is the best way for the future of their children.
(( Benefits))
Firstly, study abroad is not only optimal way to learn a language, but also provides the opportunity to travel and learn about the other country's cultures as well. It is the most effective way to learn a language in terms of pronunciation and vocabularies so it enables them to learn most quickly and speak fluent English in a short time.
Secondly, The survey shows that studying abroad is usually a defining moment in a young person's life and continues to impact the participant's life for years after the experience in terms of increased self confidence, increased maturity, enhanced interest in academic study and better understand my own cultural values and biases.Lastly, in the respect of globalization, studying a second has become a significant part of the tertiary curriculum, as a result; going abroad is necessary; not only dose it allow students to obtain better circumstances to study foreign language, but also they are able to have new experiences. That is to say, it is a trend in some Asian countries for students to go overseas for 1~2 months during their school holiday in order to improve their English skills which could bring about many advantages such as a high score in English.
((problems))
Are they only positive aspect in studying abroad in early age? Studying in foreign countries has many negative influences on families, students themselves and our society.
Firstly, children are not mature enough to be alone in foreign nations. Greater attention is needed from their parents as young people have difficulties in dealing with their problems. When a juvenile have a problem, it will be difficult to find someone who can give proper advice to him or her. They can also easily commit a crime and smoking due to they can not discriminate with the idea of they received and there are many temptations around them. Furthermore, students might be has a homesick and some culture shock.
Secondly, It is no doubt that the cost of studying abroad is expensive. Accounting to recent news, they are likely to go bankrupt because of the heavy burden of expensive school fees and living costs. Many even commit suicide on account of loneliness and frustration. It is a trend to go America for studying. The annual education cost including text books and general school expenses usually ranges from $ 5,000 to 12,000 (US dollar). As well as the education cost, the living expenses, the housing expenses and the traffic expenses. The monthly living expenses ranges from $1,000 to $2,000. It manes that the parents should pay annual 20milion ~30million won , half of the average annual salary, for their children.
Lastly, we often see that men sending their families abroad for education and live alone as mere working machines. This trend causes social problems in Korea.
The early study abroad trend brings about both beneficial and detrimental effects in children’s education, cultural and social problems. Despite of these disadvantages such as expensive cost and mental problems, the number of students going foreign nations supposed to increase annually in South Korea. In my opinion, parents should think more carefully to send their children overseas for studying and greater attention is required form their parents in order to prevent children’s hardship and mental problems.
If people ignore the importance of learning their own native language, it is no longer comes as a surprise that some people have no mastery or knowledge of the grammar rules or vocabulary of their native tongue due to learning English in early age.
