[Student Reporters] Exchange Student Programs Should be enhanced in Schools In Korea

Ah Ra Yoo / <9th, The Lawrenceville School>

In a classroom of 35 students 20 students say they have experience studying English in countries like America Canada Australia and New Zealand. Because the ability to speak English has become a necessary thing and it is hard for parents to follow the students and support them many students go to abroad through local private institutes that guarantee an impressive learning agenda.

However problems have risen from these programs such as the excessive amount of money demanded outside of school education and the private institutes only craving to make lucrative profits.

D, a 7th grader from Dae middle school in Seoul has gone to Seattle to study English for one year through a prominent private institute program which promised for an economical and safe abroad study agenda. However his parents paid $5000~7000 for home stay private lessons besides school education to supplicate English and math and additionally paid the school tuition which was $12000.

As a result D returned to Korea not only because of the excessive amount of money his parents was burdened to pay but also some other reasons.

D says "I don't think the money was worth at all. I spoke Koreans with Korean kids in a school composed of more than half of Koreans and I did not learn English nor the culture of United States."

However D parents say this was the only choice they could make because they state: "Both of our couples work so it is very difficult to find a way to send our kids to abroad to study English. So it is a natural thing for parents to rely on local private institutes."

In fact exchange student programs that are offered by the school have not been actively working out ever since the Ministry of Education has promised to activate the safe exchange student programs.

At the same time it has been 14 years ever since the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey has offered exchange students programs each year so that students can experience foreign culture first hand and also have a limitless opportunity to practice the language. Each year Lawrenceville students are given the opportunity to visit Spain China Japan Peru France and many other countries to learn the language of the country but also to become aware of global issues and the students have a lifelong experience by adapting to the different cultures.

On March 24th four Japanese students from Keio School in Tokyo were placed in traditional house systems that have been sustained for 2 centuries at the Lawrenceville School for three weeks to learn English and experience the boarding school life.

Ai a Japanese exchange student from Tokyo says "This one month was kind of like a dream for me now. I really had a wonderful time experiences and made an abundant of precious memories! My English has improved a lot because of your kind help. Especially thanks to the McClellan House for helping me enjoy my first dorm life."

The exchange student program the school offers is a great opportunity for students to learn the language and the culture in a safe environment because the instructors are certificated under the school and have passed numerous tests.

Schools in Korea should enhance the exchange students programs so that parents and students no longer have to worry for studying abroad.