THE ROLE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN MODERN SOUTH KOREA: A FOCUS ON ARABIC LANGUAGE
Abstract
Foreign language education in Korea has been of high importance since the times of the Old Three Kingdoms due to its diplomatic relationships with the neighboring countries. With the worldwide advancement of technology and globalization, foreign language education is not only the key to fostering international relationships, but also plays a big role in the global market, academic achievement, keeping global competitiveness, and high career prospects both inside and outside of the country. Especially, English, Chinese and Japanese being the major languages of high interest among Koreans, an interest in Arabic language has started to emerge since 1965 with the establishment of the Department of Arabic language and literature at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. [1] As Korea started to gain interest in Arab countries to build political and economic ties, especially due to oil crisis in 1973 caused by October War, Korean government focused on cementing economic and political relationships with Arab countries which necessitated Arabic language education. As a result, Arabic has become one of the special languages taught in Korean universities in the beginning which is now being taught as a second language in some high schools as well.[2]
[1] Joung Y.Rew. “The present situation of Islamic and Middle Eastern studies in Korea (South)”. – Tokyo: The Second International Conference on Urbanisim In Islam,1990.
[2] Kwang-Sook Lee. “History of foreign language education in Korea”. - Seoul National University,2015.
References
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2. Kwang-Sook Lee. “History of foreign language education in Korea”. - Seoul National
University,2015.
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