Yeongdeungpo-gu Expands Eligibility for "Native Speaker Online English" Classes to Include Children as Young as Five

On August 12, Yeongdeungpo-gu in Seoul (District Mayor Choi Hokwon) announced that it has expanded the eligibility for its “Native Speaker Online English” classes from first-grade elementary school students to include children as young as five years old, in an effort to broaden English education opportunities and foster global talent.

Provided by Yeongdeungpo District.

The “Native Speaker Online English” program offers personalized lessons through real-time video connections with native-speaking instructors from abroad. It also provides a variety of learning content, including group and individual mentoring, review sessions with Korean instructors, and unit-based video lectures.

Any resident of Yeongdeungpo-gu aged five through high school senior, as well as adults, can apply. For students (ages five to high school senior), a tuition subsidy of 18,000 won is provided. The monthly fee is 67,000 to 71,000 won for one-on-one lessons, 12,000 won for 1:3 group lessons, and 10,000 won for 1:4 group lessons. For socially disadvantaged students, the group lesson tuition and textbook fees are fully covered.

For the September?October session, approximately 600 participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until August 31. All students are assigned to levels based on a placement test. Applications can be submitted through the “Yeongdeungpo-gu Native Speaker Online English” website. The district has partnered with a professional education company to provide content featuring lesson video recordings, image association learning, and other features.

Choi Hokwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “We hope that more children and youth will improve their English skills through customized native speaker classes tailored to their level,” adding, “We will continue to expand educational programs that boost foreign language confidence and global competencies.”