The editorial in The Korea Herald, June 7, 2011, states that “The spreading of English-only lectures in Korean universities is likely to slow, as presidents and deans have concluded that they have been largely ineffective because of the unpreparedness from both professors and students.”
This is not forward thinking in a global society that embraces English as the language of science and business. The solution is not to slow the offering of English-only lectures and classes, but to prepare the students and professors to engage effectively to achieve proficiency in English as a prerequisite to competing in a global society of scientists, physicians, business persons and others that generate new discoveries in universities and research institutions and take those discoveries to the global marketplace.
The superior Korean athletes in, for example, golf and ice skating, now compete at the highest level because they prepared for and reached that level through competition at the international level.
So too must Korean students who desire careers in science, engineering, business, medicine and many other disciplines master the language that puts all players on a level playing field when communicating among the various countries of the world.
Korea is a model for others who wish to build a country that is strong and stable economically, politically, and with individual freedoms and democracy. This has been achieved mostly over the past 50 years due to the heroic efforts of Korea’s “greatest generation.”
The leaders in education in Korea must be forward thinking. The Republic of Korea has a population of about 50 million persons in a world with 7 billion persons ― only 0.7 percent of the world population. Does anyone believe that the Korean language will become the standard for science, business, engineering and so forth?
If not, the solution is to overcome unpreparedness by encouraging and rewarding those who are willing to do what it takes to get prepared. Those are the students, faculty, businessmen and others in Korea who will lead all segments of Korea in reaching goals to which they aspire at the international level.
By Fuller W. Bazer
Fuller W. Bazer is a professor of Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Currently he teaches at Seoul National University as a World Class University professor in biomodulation. ― Ed.
