In South Korea, English in the formal curriculum begins in third grade. (image: Gunwi County Office)
SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — Parents and children have different perceptions toward the child’s level of English at elementary, middle and high school, a recent study revealed.
Yoon’s English School, a company that runs a chain of English language schools across the country, conducted a survey of 627 students from elementary, middle, and high school on Aug. 19-20, 65.6 percent of whom felt their English proficiency level stood between intermediate and high.
Another 15.2 percent thought they were in the advanced level, 12.1 percent in the lower level, and 7.1 percent in the beginner’s level.
On the other hand, 66 percent of 539 parents with children going to high school or lower responded that their children were between intermediate and beginner level of proficiency.
Other parents responded their children were at a beginner’s level (21.1 percent), advanced or lower (12.2 percent), and advanced or higher (0.7 percent).
The survey showed that both parents and students wanted to reach a level of English proficiency at which they would be capable of expressing their thoughts.
“Parents usually think their children lack English skills more than how the children think of themselves,” the company explained.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
