Videos of tennis player Chung Hyeon’s English interview after the Australian Open quarterfinals are attracting views on the South Korean web, impressing English learners across the country who find speaking difficult. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — Language learners in South Korea are green with envy at self-taught English-speaking stars like BTS and Chung Hyeon as they confidently take English interviews with the international media.
Videos of tennis player Chung Hyeon’s English interview after the Australian Open quarterfinals are attracting views on the South Korean web, impressing English learners across the country who find speaking difficult.
Lee, a 41-year-old office worker, says he has studied the English language for 15 years, yet he can’t express his opinions articulately.
“I studied English for a total of 15 years, six years at middle school and high school, four years at university, and more between job searches. I even studied abroad, yet I can’t seem to articulate my opinions, despite all those years. I can only think that my way of studying and the education system were flawed,” Lee said with frustration.
Chung’s natural spoken English has also earned approval from language experts like Lee Eun-sun, who is an English interpreter for international conferences.
“Though his sentences aren’t perfect, he used the right language for the situation. And more than anything, his confidence and wit were great. Other players from non-English speaking countries speak this level on average,” Lee said.
According to one official at a sport agency, English ability can have an impact on the performance of athletes on the world stage.
“Players who aren’t afraid of making mistakes and try to speak more comfortably often settle into the life on an international tour better and end up speaking better English.”
Interestingly, young international stars are turning to American TV shows for English education, instead of textbooks.
Language learners in South Korea are green with envy at self-taught English-speaking stars like BTS and Chung Hyeon as they confidently take English interviews with the international media. (Image: TheEllenShow on Youtube)
CNN has reported that Chung learned English by watching the TV series Prison Break, while RM, a member of K-pop group BTS, said he learned English by watching the TV show Friends in an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Experts say it’s important that language learners set realistic and specific goals.
“Not everyone has to master English like native speakers. Instead of having vague goals such as ‘I want to speak like native speakers’, people should set a goal and move onto the next step one by one,” Lee recommended.
Hyunsu Yim (hyunsu@koreabizwire.com)
