MANILA, Philippines – The Korean language will soon be taught in some public schools in Metro Manila as early as this semester.
The Department of Education (DepEd) chose 10 public schools in Metro Manila to teach the Korean language in Grades 7 to 12. The schools identified are the following:
The program is part of the Philippine government’s memorandum of agreement with the Korean Embassy for its Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL) signed last year.
Under the memorandum, student will be taught to read, write and speak Hangul or the Korean language as an elective subjective. The DepEd believes that by learning the Korean language will open more opportunities for Filipinos should they seek jobs in Korea.
DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla clarified that not all students will be part of the said elective subject. Sevilla clarified only Grade 7 to 12 students with "mastery" of the English and Filipino languages will be allowed to study Korean.
Patricia Santos, focal person for the SPFL-Korean Language of DepEd defended DepEd’s decision to teach foreign language amidst the criticisms from Filipino language advocates.
She said that the offering of foreign language in schools has started since 2009. Foreign languages such as Spanish, Mandarin, Nihonggo, French and German are already offered in several schools.
Santos also clarified that DepEd’s move to teach Korean language has nothing to do with the recent Supreme Court’s decision to remove Filipino and “Panitikan” as core college subjects.
Santos explained that they are equipping Filipino students with skills beneficial to them. She said, “Like any other foreign languages, the program aims to equip our 21st century learners with 21st century skills, to be multilingual, because we all know for a fact that language is a very good tool for a person to be able to sell himself or herself.”
— Sally, The Summit Express
The Department of Education (DepEd) chose 10 public schools in Metro Manila to teach the Korean language in Grades 7 to 12. The schools identified are the following:
- Las Piñas National High School
- Jose Abad Santos High School
- Kalayaan High School
- Pasay City National Science High School
- San Bartolome High School
- North Fairview High School
- Maligaya High School
- Judge Feliciano Belmonte Sr. High School
- Lagro High School
- Makati High School
The program is part of the Philippine government’s memorandum of agreement with the Korean Embassy for its Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL) signed last year.
Under the memorandum, student will be taught to read, write and speak Hangul or the Korean language as an elective subjective. The DepEd believes that by learning the Korean language will open more opportunities for Filipinos should they seek jobs in Korea.
DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla clarified that not all students will be part of the said elective subject. Sevilla clarified only Grade 7 to 12 students with "mastery" of the English and Filipino languages will be allowed to study Korean.
Sevilla said, “By the way ang mga kukunin lang natin na mga estudyante pala ay yung meron ng mastery ng English at Filipino. Hindi tayo kukuha ng mga estudyante na basta-basta lamang merong interes o gusto.”
Patricia Santos, focal person for the SPFL-Korean Language of DepEd defended DepEd’s decision to teach foreign language amidst the criticisms from Filipino language advocates.
She said that the offering of foreign language in schools has started since 2009. Foreign languages such as Spanish, Mandarin, Nihonggo, French and German are already offered in several schools.
Santos also clarified that DepEd’s move to teach Korean language has nothing to do with the recent Supreme Court’s decision to remove Filipino and “Panitikan” as core college subjects.
Santos explained that they are equipping Filipino students with skills beneficial to them. She said, “Like any other foreign languages, the program aims to equip our 21st century learners with 21st century skills, to be multilingual, because we all know for a fact that language is a very good tool for a person to be able to sell himself or herself.”
— Sally, The Summit Express
