With the arrival of spring, Japanese technical high school students are visiting Korea to participate in a "K-English Learning and Korean Culture" experience program, drawing significant attention.
Yeungjin College (President Choi Jaeyoung) announced on the 11th that students from Japanese technical high schools are visiting the Daegu-Gyeongbuk English Village (located in Jicheon-myeon, Chilgok-gun), operated by the university. During the week, they participate in an English Immersion Camp, and on weekends, they enjoy Korean cultural experiences, making their winter break truly special.
This English Immersion Camp, which began on the 6th, includes 81 students from 10 major Japanese technical high schools, such as Ube Technical College, Niihama Technical College, and Tsuyama Technical College. Fifteen accompanying teachers also joined the program. The camp, running until the 17th, is designed to provide Japanese students with an intensive short-term English learning opportunity. Compared to last year's camp held during the same period, one more school is participating, and the number of participants has increased by about 30.
After undergoing one-on-one pre-tests with native-speaking teachers, participating students are placed into six groups according to their proficiency levels. They then receive practical English training at over 60 situational experience facilities that reflect real-life scenarios in English-speaking countries, such as airports, transportation experience rooms, banks, and hospitals.
The main curriculum includes native-speaker English conversation, academic English, business English, and presentation practice. In particular, the "Travel Vlogger" class, where students film landmarks and introduce them in English, has become the most popular program.
Dr. Koei Kawamura, a mathematics teacher at Ube Technical College, said, "This is my first visit, and I was surprised by the pleasant environment and high educational standards of the English Village. The program offers an economical yet effective English learning experience compared to the United States, Canada, or Australia, making it a great opportunity for students." He added, "Over these two weeks, students are not only learning English but also building friendships with peers from various regions of Japan, making it a valuable experience."
In addition to English learning, students had the opportunity to experience Korean culture on weekends. On the 9th, they visited Gyeongju, the ancient capital, exploring Bulguksa Temple, Daereungwon Tomb Complex, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, and deepening their understanding of Korean history and culture. They also visited Hwangnidan-gil, a recently popular spot in Gyeongju, enjoying a unique blend of tradition and modernity. This cultural experience program was supported by the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government and the Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Corporation, which provided Japanese-speaking guides, promotional brochures, and souvenirs.
On the 15th, they plan to visit Dongseong-ro in Daegu to taste various local foods, enjoy shopping, and experience Korea's modern sensibility.
The visits of Japanese students to the Daegu-Gyeongbuk English Village began with 18 participants in 2017, peaked at 142 in 2019, and were suspended for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The number recovered to 89 in 2023, and with this year's camp, the annual number of participants is expected to surpass 100.
Students from a Japanese technical college took a commemorative photo during a cultural experience at Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju on the 9th.
Park Jaehong, Director of Daegu-Gyeongbuk English Village (and professor at Yeungjin College), stated, "Daegu-Gyeongbuk English Village is gaining attention in Japan thanks to its high-quality educational environment and extensive experience in English education. We will continue to develop experiential English education programs that reflect real-life situations in English-speaking countries and further improve our educational environment to become a leading global destination for English immersion learning."
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