영어전용강의에 대해

<#322 Faculty Column>
 
On the English Medium Class
 
By Kuk Min-ho, Professor, Department of Sociology
 
Lectures conducted in English are now available in various areas at Chonnam National University. The push for more English lectures originated in the desire to bump up university's place in national ranking and to keep in step with globalization. The numbers of full-time foreign students and foreign exchange students are increasing every year. Also many graduate candidates from other countries are knocking at the door of the graduate programs at our university. How to cope with the increasing demand of the English medium classes is the present question. There are high pressures for each department to open English medium classes, and English proficiency is a prerequisite when new faculty members are being recruited.
English proficiency and skill are mandatory for the students to get a better job. The need and demand to increase English skills is increasing year after year by the students. Many of the English medium classes are now crowded with students. It is necessary to open more English medium classes to satisfy the demand of the students.
However, there are some critics. If the class is mandatory for all the students to take, there is increased pressure on students with limited English abilities. To solve the problem of the difference in English skills among students is a critical point for the success of the English medium class. The administration of the University tries to solve the problem with the help of some professors in the "Deonaga" (go further) program.
Some professors are skeptical to teach with English because they think that Korean professors are not sufficiently competent to teach with English. Also they worry about many of the English medium classes teaching only English skills and not the content that is necessary at the academic level. But many of the professors who are preparing for the EMI classes are enthusiastic in their lectures, and students who take the lectures are pretty satisfied with the EMI classes.
In my case, I know the limit of my English proficiency, and it makes me to spend more time and energy preparing for the EMI class. In the class, I transmit the main idea of the textbook and check it in the group presentations and free discussions. Recent student evaluations of the class show that students are really proud of their success in learning the content with English and are satisfied by the increase of their English skills, with experiences presenting in English in front of the classmates and by joining the free discussions. Most of the students answered that they overcame their fear of English and will take more EMI classes with pride. After taking an EMI class, English is no longer an enemy.

There are pros and cons of teaching with English. But it is not helpful to fear and blame without trial. EMI classes will be helpful for students to be global leaders in the globali

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