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Professor Seung-Bok Choi Wins Consecutive "Best Researcher Awards" Professor Seung-Bok Choi (MEC) has received the “2025 Best Researcher Award” from the International Research Awards on Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (IRAA, MO). His main contribution and honorable achievement in innovative research is the molecular analysis of Magnetorheological Fluids (MRF). He has published more than 50 articles in MO related journals such as Internal Journal of Molecular Sciences. Specifically, he has focused on constitutive modeling of nana-particle based MRF via SEM images and XRD to identify the chain structures of the particle along with the magnetic field direction. This marks the second consecutive year that Professor Choi has received a Best Researcher Award, having been recognized in a different category in 2024 by the International Research Awards on Sensing Technology. Professor Choi has been working at SUNY Korea since March 2021, after retirement from Inha University where he worked for 30 years. He is still actively serving as a journal editor for more than 15 international journals (SCI), including Smart Materials and Structures, Scientific Report and Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures. The number of his publications to date is 887, based on Web of Science. According to the platform ScholarGPS.com, his word ranking of Vibration Control is #1 and #2 in the Smart Materials. Currently, he is a fellow of both the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) and the National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK). Read about his acheivement in 2024: HERE
2025.03.26 Hits 495
Dr. Hamid Hefazi’s Influential Contributions to the Maeil Business Newspaper The Role of Genetics in the Academic Success of College Students The relationship between genetics and personal traits such as skin color, height, eye color, and health risks are well understood. However, the relationship between genetics and academic success is less clear. It has been the subject of many new research studies. All research, in general, agrees that many factors, including environmental influences, socioeconomic background, personal motivation, and genetic predispositions, influence academic success. This dichotomy is referred to as "nature" and "nurture". Recent genomic studies have, however, uncovered "genetic nurture" effects, whereby parental genotypes influence offspring outcomes via environmental pathways rather than genetic transmission. A comprehensive study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics reviewed 12 studies comprising 38,654 distinct parent(s)-offspring pairs or trios from 8 cohorts. The study quantified these effects and found that the direct genetic effects on offspring's educational outcomes were twice as high as genetic nurture effects. A range of cognitive and noncognitive traits drives academic achievement. One of the primary ways genetics influences academic success is through cognitive ability. Intelligence, often measured through IQ tests, has been shown to have a strong genetic component. A research paper published in the Jornal Nature in 2018 by Plomin & von Stumm estimates that approximately 50-80% of individual differences in intelligence are hereditary. Twin and adoption studies reinforce this idea, showing that identical twins raised apart often exhibit similar cognitive abilities. In contrast, adopted children resemble their biological parents more than their adoptive ones in terms of intelligence. Beyond general intelligence, polygenic scores—measures of genetic influence based on multiple genetic variants—have shown that genetics also affect specific cognitive functions crucial to academic success, such as memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills. According to a 2018 research paper by Lee et al., students with higher polygenic scores tend to perform better in school. While genetics provides a strong foundation for academic abilities, these abilities can only be realized under conducive environmental factors. A 2019 study by the University of York found that socioeconomic status (SES) is more beneficial than genes for academic success. In this study, 47% of children with high polygenic scores but a poorer background made it to university, compared with 62% of children with a low score but more affluent parents. Children with high polygenic scores for education who were also from wealthy and well-educated family backgrounds had the most significant advantage, with 77% going to university. Several studies on the impact of low SES-related factors such as stress, poor nutrition, and difficult early childhood experiences indicate that they can alter gene expression and affect cognitive development and learning ability. For instance, prolonged stress can negatively impact brain function, reducing working memory and attention and hindering academic performance despite a student's genetic predisposition for intelligence. These genetic research discoveries also raise serious ethical consideration regarding how this information should be used. While genetic insights can help identify students who may need additional educational support, there is a risk of misuse, such as genetic determinism—the belief that genetics alone determine success—or discrimination based on genetic predispositions. Additionally, concerns about privacy and consent must be addressed when using genetic data in educational settings. Other concerns include the fact that almost all related studies have been conducted on populations from the US and Europe. Global studies, including broader populations in Asia and Africa, are lacking. In summary, environmental factors and children's inherited DNA differences are potent predictors of educational achievement. Acknowledging this complexity enables educators, policymakers, and students to take a well-rounded approach that fosters individual growth while promoting equal access to educational opportunities. Click here to read the article.
2025.03.13 Hits 866
Professor Jongseong Brad Choi Secures 1.25 Billion KRW in Funding Selected Through "Outstanding Young Researcher Program" Professor Jongseong Brad Choi of the Mechanical Engineering Department at SUNY Korea has been selected for the “Outstanding Young Researcher Program” under the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Basic Research Support Initiative for 2025. This year's selection was highly competitive, with the number of awarded projects reduced by half compared to the previous year. With this selection, SUNY Korea has secured a total of 1.25 billion KRW in funding over five years. This is one of the largest awards ever granted under this initiative and reinforces the university’s growing research impact. The research project, themed "Human Machine Interaction," is titled “True Twin: Development of AI-Based Hyper-Realistic Digital Twin Core Technology for Multi-Party Distributed Collaboration and Predictive Maintenance in Mixed Reality.” It focuses on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and visual technologies to develop a real-time remote collaboration system. This research aims to overcome the limitations of physical distance by enabling real-time multi-party collaboration in virtual spaces. By leveraging hyper-realistic visual information, it allows engineers to work together as if they were in the same location without having to visit the site in person. This innovation is expected to establish a new paradigm for remote communication and could become a standard for telecommunication in the future, particularly as remote work becomes more widespread. Furthermore, in the context of a shrinking population and a growing shortage of engineering professionals, this technology is expected to play a key role in supporting the remote operation of global manufacturing industries, such as managing overseas factory facilities. Professor Choi expressed his passion, stating, “At a time when the field of engineering is undergoing rapid transformation with the advent of AI, I am delighted to contribute to expanding academic horizons by incorporating research on visual intelligence.” He added, “This research grant is not just a personal achievement but an opportunity to showcase SUNY Korea’s strong global network and accessibility to cutting-edge technology, while also reinforcing the university’s high research standards among domestic institutions.” Furthermore, he emphasized his commitment to fostering an inclusive research environment, saying, “I want to help undergraduate students become more familiar with AI and other emerging technologies by encouraging them to collaborate with graduate students in meaningful research projects.” Currently, Professor Choi leads the MEIC (Mechanical Systems with Intelligence and Computer Vision) Lab, which focuses on Engineering-Soft-Power as its key research theme. His lab specializes in visual intelligence systems, vision-based control, digital twins, and human-machine interaction. The lab consists of 12 researchers, including four Ph.D. students, four master’s students, and three undergraduate students, all of whom have contributed to innovative research achievements and received numerous awards. The selection of this Outstanding Young Researcher Project is a significant milestone demonstrating SUNY Korea’s research competitiveness and potential for continued growth. It also marks a meaningful achievement to Professor Choi’s dedicated efforts and the university’s ongoing industry-academia collaboration efforts. SUNY Korea reiterated its commitment to further advancing as a global research hub through innovative and practical research initiatives. MEIC Lab Website: https://www.meic-lab.com/
2025.03.06 Hits 1294
Dr. Hamid Hefazi’s Influential Contributions to the Maeil Business Newspaper Why Study Engineering? Many factors affect the engineering job market. These include local and global economic activities, industry trends, labor force supply and demand, and a changing need for new skills and education levels. A report by Mordor Intelligence, cited by Yahoo Finance, highlights the high demand for global engineering services in the near future. The report cites a market size of $1.67 trillion in 2024, projected to grow to $2.04 trillion by 2029. This corresponds to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.20%. While the Asia Pacific region currently leads the market, the Middle East and Africa are experiencing the fastest growth rates. From the labor supply perspective, the high salaries in engineering play a significant role in encouraging college students to choose this field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineers had a median annual salary of $91,420 in May 2023, well above the median yearly wage for all professions, which was $48,060. Additionally, employment in engineering is projected to grow at a faster-than-average rate from 2022 to 2032, with an estimated 188,000 new job openings each year. The challenges of engineering education and the current gender gap, however, impact the supply of engineers. Despite some progress, only 16.5% of engineers globally are women. In Korea and the U.S., around 20% of STEM degrees are awarded to female students. Other factors impacting supply shortages are an aging workforce, a lack of interest in some conventional areas of engineering among younger generations, and the skill gap, a mismatch between the skills that emerging technologies require and the skills that some engineers have. These issues highlight concerns about a potential shortage of engineers. According to a Boston Globe (BG) report, the U.S. requires around 400,000 new engineers yearly. The report estimates that nearly one in three engineering positions may go unfilled annually until at least 2030. This shortfall could impede progress in vital industries and impact government and industry initiatives to boost economic growth and competitiveness. The engineering talent shortage isn't limited to the U.S. The Japanese Ministry of Economy has forecasted a deficit of over 700,000 engineers by 2030, while the German Economic Institute reported a shortage of 320,000 STEM professionals in Germany as of April 2022, according to the BG report Another report from Engineering UK forecasts a 2.8% increase in engineering jobs in the UK by 2030, resulting in about 173,000 new positions. This growth rate is above the anticipated national average for all occupations, set at 2.3%. The demand for engineers is expected to surpass that of other professions, reflecting the country's significant need for engineering skills. A recent article from NIKKEI Asia reported that companies like Samsung are increasingly hiring high school graduates as the competition for skilled engineering talent intensifies in South Korea. This comes even though, according to Statista Korea, South Korea graduated nearly 86,000 engineers and computer scientists in 2023. Engineering education quality differs from country to country. Recently, Insider Monkey, a financial data website, published a list of the 15 best countries to study engineering based on its "Insider Monkey Global Education Index." This index ranks countries by the number of universities in the top 1,000 QS World University Rankings and considers factors like government investment in higher education. South Korea, with 31 universities in the top 1,000, is ranked eighth, following Japan, Australia, Italy, Germany, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which ranks first. Encouraging students to pursue engineering degrees is a notable challenge. Engineering roles are among the most intellectually rigorous, demanding constant problem-solving and innovation. The field's interdisciplinary nature requires a diverse skill set, as engineers must integrate knowledge from various domains to analyze, design, and optimize systems. While studying engineering can be highly rewarding, its difficulty may deter some talented students from choosing it as a major. To address these challenges, universities and educational institutions should foster supportive environments and develop balanced curricula focused on developing core skills and life-long learning strategies. Click here to read the article.
2024.11.14 Hits 1040
Professor Linda Kim Awarded “Artist of the Year” at 2024 International Fashion Art Biennale in Seoul Linda Kim, professor of FIT, was named “Artist of the Year 2024” at the 2024 International Fashion Art Biennale. The theme of this year’s biennale was In Harmony with Nature: A Journey of Sustainable Fashion Art. Out of 77 fashion artists, representing 12 countries, Professor Kim was recognized for her exceptional contribution to sustainable fashion. The 2024 International Fashion Art Biennale, hosted by The Korea Fashion & Culture Association, was held from September 11th to September 19th at the Oil Tank Culture Park, Culture Complex. The exhibition features thought-provoking sub-themes of Contemplation, Coexistence, and Embrace. The garments on display reflected extraordinary creativity and craftsmanship, offering a unique perspective on sustainable fashion. Additionally, The Korea Fashion & Culture Association marked its 30th anniversary, having started with the first Gwangju Biennale in 1995.
2024.09.27 Hits 1178
Professor Neal Dreamson named a Top Scholar (0.5%) by ScholarGPS SUNY Korea professor Neal Dreamson was named a Top Scholar (0.5%) by ScholarGPS in the categories of Digital Electronics and Pedagogy for his strong publication record, the impact of his work, and the notable quality of his scholarly contributions. Neal Dreamson, who teaches in the Department of Technology and Society, was ranked 73rd in the world in the field of “Pedagogy” and 32nd in the world in the “Digital Electronics” category. ScholarGPS (https://scholargps.com) provides rankings of individuals and institutions overall (in all fields), in 14 broad Fields (such as Medicine, Engineering, or Humanities), in 177 Disciplines (such as Surgery, Computer Science, or History), and in over 350,000 Specialties (such as Cancer, Artificial Intelligence, or Ethics). Professor Dreamson stated, “Research originality comes when we think outside the box, moving away from competitive thinking within domestic systems and pursuing contributions based on humanism. This eventually leads to competitiveness in the international community.” Dr. Neal Dreamson received his Ph.D. in Socio-Cultural Philosophy from the University of Queensland. He contributes to the Incheon community through roles in various educational committees and conducts future education research with the National Education Commission.
2024.08.14 Hits 1149
Meet Professor Hamid Hefazi at SUNY Korea Meet Provost and Professor Hamid Hefazi at SUNY Korea. In this interview, he shares valuable insights into the Incheon Global Campus (IGC) and his journey to joining IGC. He discusses how IGC offers a global education and a diverse range of experiences within Korea's advanced technological society. Click here to watch the full interview: LINK
2024.07.29 Hits 1140
Professor Seung-Bok Choi Wins 'Best Researcher Award' SUNY Korea professor Seung-Bok Choi was recognized last month with a prestigious “Best Researcher Award” for International Research Awards on Sensing Technology from the journal Sensors. Choi, a distinguished professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has published 6 papers in the journal over the last year. His recent publications include: i) "Sensor-Less Control of Mirror Manipulator Using Shape Memory Polyimide Composite Actuator: Experimental Work,” Sensors, vol. 24, no. 12, June 2024, Article No. 3910 (19pp), doi.org/10.3390/s24123910 ii) "Sensors and Sensing Devices Utilizing Electrorheological Fluids and Magnetorheological Materials – A Review,” Sensors, vol. 24, no. 9, May 2024, Article No. 2842 (23pp), doi.org/10.3390/s24092842 iii) “A Novel Tactile Sensing System Utilizing Magnetorheological Structures for Dynamic Contraction and Relaxation Motions,” Sensors, vol. 23, no. 22, November 2023, Article No. 9035 (17pp), doi.org/10.3390/s23229035. (Video Link: https://encyclopedia.pub/video/video_detail/1020) Sensors is an international open-access journal published by MDPI that covers research on sensors. Along with the IEEE Sensors Journal, it is one of the leading journals in the field. Professor Choi received his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Inha University, and MS and PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University. He has been serving as a leading professor at SUNY Korea since March 2021 after retirement from Inha University. He has published over 700 SCI journal papers so far, 80 SCI journals with SUNY Korea, and was ranked #1 scholar in the world evaluated by ScholarGPS.com in the area of vibration control.
2024.07.19 Hits 1172
Dr. Hamid Hefazi’s Influential Contributions to the Maeil Business Newspaper The Impact of Families on the Success of College Students Extensive research has revealed that families profoundly influence college students' educational performance. These studies have uncovered key insights into the complex dynamics of student-family relations. In general, millennial college students have closer bonds with their parents and family than previous generations. On the other hand, student mental health, financial support, and campus safety have increased parents' interest in their students’ overall health, well‐being, and academic success. Student-family interaction topics include (1) Frequency of contact with family, especially mother; (2) Levels of parental financial involvement; (3) independence from family; (4) Siblings’ influence; and (5) Parents’ educational background. Family dynamics, culture, educational background, and socioeconomic status all play a role in shaping the level of parental or family involvement. This involvement, when balanced, can be a powerful catalyst for academic success. However, when parents excessively meddle (hover) in students’ college life, positive results might sometimes be seen academically, while socially, the students are adversely affected. This is what is referred to as helicopter parents. A student should be allowed some autonomy to survive life after college. Academic success may not warrant success after college because of what might seem like total dependence on the parents. It's crucial to maintain a healthy balance in family involvement. Families can support college students in many positive ways, and this support can make a significant difference in their journey. The most crucial role families can play in their student's success is providing emotional support. With the new academic expectations and a different social environment, parents’ emotional support and understanding can give students the confidence to deal with challenges. Maintaining an open line of communication might be the most important support to offer students. Encourage them to open up about their experiences, challenges, and successes. Try to balance actively listening with respect for student's privacy and boundaries. Support them if they fail. Failures can be a powerful lesson as long as they learn from it. If students can benefit from counseling or support services, it's crucial to encourage them to take advantage of these resources. College is an opportunity for students to develop independence and grow. It is also the time for parents to develop an adult-to-adult relationship with their college-aged students. Parents can often experience some positive and negative emotions themselves. Some of these feelings will be tied to their concerns about their student, but many feelings are more related to the changes in their life situation. Some helpful ideas for parents are to stay connected to students but not overwhelm them. Give them some space, but watch them from the sidelines. Support students' pursuit of interests and push their potential. Encourage them to get involved in organizations, clubs, or sport teams to help them better integrate with different friend groups and the campus community. Time management is essential for student success. Parents can teach students to prioritize tasks, create a schedule, and maintain a healthy balance between studying, resting, exercising, and socializing. They can also encourage them to find the best organizational time management system. Mental Health is another important issue. Students, particularly freshmen, are under much pressure to adjust to the college experience and do well academically. Studies show that 1 in 3 college students in Korea at some point experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. Parents should watch for any warning signs. Encourage and help students to seek academic and emotional help if needed. Understanding that each individual has different abilities, parents should avoid comparing and contrasting students' achievements with their siblings. Parents' role is to encourage the development of each child to the best of their ability. Student success is broader than academic success. It also means developing strong and mature individuals who will be successful in their careers and personal lives. Click here to read the article.
2024.07.05 Hits 1036
Professor Chihmao Hsieh Wins 2nd place at CCF 2024 SUNY Korea Professor Chihmao Hsieh won 2nd place in a nationwide competition at the 2024 Culture Communication Forum, hosted by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI). The CICI is a non-profit organization accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dedicated to showcasing the essence of Korea’s image to the world. The theme of the competition was “New Korea Ideas Contest”, aimed at identifying new ways in which Korean culture could be shared with the rest of the world. Out of 256 projects submitted to this competition, 15 finalists were showcased on the final day at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. Professor Hsieh won the “Excellence Award” for giving a presentation on how the “K-gestures,” including the finger heart and other well-known hand gestures in Korea’s informal communication culture, could be spread commercially around the world via logo design, as well as campaigns involving tailor-made animated characters or Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok reels. The judges for the competition included CJ Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, Hyungji Group VP Choi Jun-Ho, Ambassador Hotel Group Seo Jung-ho, PMC CEO Song Seung-whan, Flitto CEO Lee Jung-Soo, and nearly a dozen National Ambassadors to Korea. The event and Professor Hsieh’s award were mentioned on Arirang TV and TV Chosun, as well as in a dozen newspapers.
2024.07.04 Hits 925
[Student Reporter] Celebration Honoring Professor Emeritus James Larson SUNY Korea celebrated the illustrious career of Professor Emeritus James Larson on Wednesday, June 5th. The event, which commenced at noon in Academic Building A402, honored Dr. Larson’s significant contributions to the institution and the field of ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development). Dr. Larson has been a distinguished faculty member at SUNY Korea since 2014. During his tenure, he served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chair of the Department of Technology and Society, demonstrating exceptional leadership and dedication to academic excellence. His recognition as an Emeritus Professor marks a historic first for SUNY Korea. Here is a short interview with Professor Larson. Please introduce yourself. I first came to Korea in early 1971 at age 23 as an American Peace Corps Volunteer and taught English at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon. Over fifteen years later I returned to Korea as a Senior Fulbright Scholar at Yonsei University in the Department of Mass Communication. In 1996 I joined the staff of the Fulbright Commission (Korean-American Educational Commission) in Seoul and have been living and working in Korea continuously since then. How do you feel about your retirement as the first Emeritus Professor in SUNY Korea (and the Department of Technology and Society)? I am genuinely honored and humbled to be designated as SUNY Korea's first Professor Emeritus. It will allow me to continue my association with this history making venture in international education as I enter the retirement phase of my career. I know that others will follow as SUNY Korea continues to grow and thrive. Could you introduce some of your accomplishments while in SUNY Korea? The privilege of co-authoring the book Digital Development in Korea: Lessons for a Sustainable World 2nd ed., London: Routledge 2020 with SUNY Korea's founder and honorary president Dr. Oh Myung was my major achievement. Other main accomplishments included introduction of the ICT4D specialization in the curriculum of the DTS and establishment of strong working relationships with both the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in Songdo and SafeNet Forum, Korea's multi-stakeholder organization dedicated to oversight of Korea's efforts to build the world's first nationwide public safety network. Finally, I've enjoyed teaching and developing several new courses, most recently EST 204 Modern Digital Technologies and Innovation, into which I've introduced critical use and understanding of generative AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini. I am confident to say Dr. Larson helped SUNY Korea to grow this much successfully. What are your thoughts on the future of SUNY Korea? I believe SUNY Korea has a bright future, based in part on the wisdom of its founders and the acknowledged excellence of its two schools, Stony Brook University and FIT. The departments represented here and the curriculum are particularly well-matched for Korea, given this nation's status as the only developing country in the world to so effectively harness the power of information and communications technology (ICT) for national development. Korea's digital transformation was accompanied by tremendous growth and change in the fashion industry, including global recognition. Could you speak about the future outlook of the Technological Systems Management field, especially ICT4D? As to the technological systems management field, current changes including the arrival of generative artificial intelligence (AI) suggest that there will be new employment opportunities for graduates who are AI literate and equipped to deal with both the positive and negative aspects of this new technology. There will likely be future management challenges across many related technologies including, to name a few, robotics, quantum computing, biotech, and nuclear fusion. I believe that graduates of SUNY Korea will be well equipped to deal with the challenges of AI if indeed it turns out to be the next big wave of technology change. Lastly, do you have any words of advice for the students? Always keep in mind the new imperative of global sustainability, as all of our best human efforts will be for nothing if life on planet earth cannot be nurtured and sustained. Written by Student Reporter, Hyeonha Hwang (hyeonha.hwang@stonybrook.edu)
2024.06.21 Hits 711
English Proficiency in Korea English Proficiency in Korea More than half of the world’s population have one of ten languages as their native tongue. English, with about 400 million native speakers, is the third, after Chinese (1.3 billion) and Spanish (485 million). However, if we include people who speak English as a second language, the estimates of English-speaking populations range from between 1.5 billion to 2.0 billion. This makes English the most spoken language worldwide. English is also the most influential language, dominating the fields of science, technology, medicine, business, art, etc. There are many reasons why English has become a universal language. The British empire, colonizing close to a quarter of the world’s population, had a significant role in spreading the English language, particularly in Asia and Africa. The emergence of the United States of America as a world power after World War II is another important reason. Technological and scientific development mostly originating in the US and some other English-speaking countries made English the dominant language of science and technology. This economic and technological power has also led to the spreading of English through news, entertainment, and social media. As a result, English language proficiency can substantially enhance people’s career prospects, academic pursuits, cultural experiences, access to information, and ability to connect with people globally. Since the economic development of countries increasingly relies on information and global presence, for the foreseeable future English will remain the dominant global “lingua franca” (a language used by people with different native languages to communicate with each other. The EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) is the most common index used to rank countries for English proficiency It is produced annually by EF Education First, an international education company. The EF EPI 2023 edition was calculated using test data from 2.1 million test takers in 2022. The test takers were self-selected from 113 countries and territories. Countries’ English proficiencies are categorized as very high (12 countries), high (18 countries), moderate (33 countries), low (27 countries), and very low (23 countries). The report finds that per capita, gross national income and innovation all correlate positively with English proficiency. Overall, Europe has the highest proficiency in English while the Middle East averages the lowest. While people in Engineering and Information Technology rank highest, on the average most industries have levels of English lower than they would need to work optimally (Moderate Proficiency or higher). Men’s English proficiency has outpaced women’s for the first time this year in Asia, driven by India and Thailand, with gender gaps of 21 and 32 points respectively. Expectedly, adults in their 20’s and 30’s remain the best English speakers in Asia. The top five countries, with scores between 625 and 661, are Northern European countries, except for Singapore (ranked 2nd with a score of 642, after the Netherlands with a score of 661). With a score of 525 South Korea ranked in 49th place in this survey, which is considered moderate proficiency. This represents a 13-spot drop from the previous ranking of 36th place in 2022. China and Japan also experienced declines of 20 and 7 spots respectively, ranking 82nd and 87th. Korean learners of the English language face many challenges in acquiring the language on a proficient level, even though English is introduced to children at an early age and many private programs teach English as extracurricular programs. Unfortunately, however, only a minority master the language on a proficient conversational level. The reasons seem to stem from cultural and social differences, the significant differences between the two languages: Korean and English, and the Korean Educational System. The EF-EPI report makes several recommendations for government and educational authorities to improve English proficiency. They include: • Consider the hours available in the curriculum and the proficiency level achievable for each major educational milestone. • Ensure that English is taught only by people who speak the language well • Adjust entrance and exit exams so that they evaluate communicative English skills. • Include English in the training for all new teachers. • Re-train English teachers in communicative teaching methods if they were initially trained using other methods • Assess the English skills of all public servants and provide training as necessary • Provide English language instruction in job centers and unemployment reduction programs. • Give adults access to lifelong learning programs. • Ensure that government-funded adult language courses are long enough and intensive enough for learners to meet their goals. • Develop standardized micro-credentials that certify course quality and improve skill portability. • Allow TV shows and movies to be shown in their original language, with subtitles rather than dubbing. Click here to read the article.
2024.03.18 Hits 1175