On May 20, to mark World Day for Cultural Diversity, the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education (Superintendent Eunhee Kang) held the opening ceremony of the Korean Language Education Center at 10:00 a.m. The center is designed to systematically support Korean language learning and school adaptation for students from migrant backgrounds.
The opening ceremony was attended by approximately 40 people, including Daegu Superintendent of Education Eunhee Kang, members of the Daegu City Council's Education Committee, the head of Dalseo District Office, school principals, parents, and students enrolled in the Korean Language Education Center, who gathered to celebrate the launch of the center.
Daegu Superintendent of Education Eunhee Kang and other local figures are attending the opening ceremony of the Korean Language Education Center to offer their congratulations.
The Korean Language Education Center, which was established in March using the former building of Daegu Sindang Middle School, serves as a specialized commissioned education institution. It supports students who enter schools in Korea without prior preparation in the Korean language or culture and consequently face difficulties adapting. By operating a curriculum centered on essential Korean language education for school adaptation and daily life, the center is building an educational system that enables more comprehensive and systematic support for stable school life for students from migrant backgrounds.
The center's educational program is available for up to 30 students from migrant backgrounds, ranging from third grade in elementary school to first year in high school. The program runs for 6 hours per day over 12 weeks (approximately 3 months).
The curriculum is divided into three areas: daily life, language, and academic subjects. It consists of 240 sessions of 'Korean Language Education' essential for school adaptation and daily life, and 120 sessions of 'Creative Experiential Activities' in six areas: experience, play, sports, information, art, and music.
Each cohort of students is recommended by their schools if they experience difficulties in school life due to insufficient Korean language skills. The final selection is made after deliberation by the center's operating committee.
Currently, from March 24 to June 13, 25 students from 10 countries are participating in the first commissioned education program, which is being conducted in two elementary classes and one middle school class.
Following this, the second commissioned education program will run from June 16 to October 10, and the third program is scheduled from October 13 to January 2 of the following year.
Kim Juho, the teacher in charge at the Korean Language Education Center, said, "I was deeply moved and proud to see a student from Vietnam, who arrived last February, grow so much through the center's Korean language preparatory course that he was able to prepare a speech in Korean for the opening ceremony."
Daegu Superintendent of Education Eunhee Kang stated, "The Korean Language Education Center is not just a language education institution, but a warm place of learning that opens up the future for students," adding, "We will continue to provide unwavering support so that students from migrant backgrounds can overcome linguistic and cultural barriers and grow into global citizens."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
