The Department of Education in cooperation with the country of Korea, will introduce the teaching of the Korean language in public high schools this school year. The department inked an agreement with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea last June 21 for a pilot program in 10 Metro Manila high schools within the school year.
According to the Inquirer, students who take part in the program will learn basic language skills in listening, reading, speaking and writing in Korea.
Special Program in Foreign Language: Preparing The Youth For Global Opportunities
Korean Ambassador Kim Jae Shin, who was on hand during the signing, said that the program hopes to help students prepare for opportunities for education or employment in the country and outside. He also says that this will “deepen the bilateral understanding between two nations.”
The Korean language is the sixth language to be part of the Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL) of DepEd. The SPFL was first implemented in 2009 and further strengthened as part of the K-12 program. According to a PIA report, the program will be implemented in all public high schools nationwide this school year.
Among the languages offered are Spanish, Japanese (Nihongo), French, German and Chinese (Mandarin). The foreign language program is open to Grades 7 to 12 students who have high competency in English and are interested and able to learn a foreign language. To date, there are 10,256 students enrolled in the program nationwide.
DepED Partners In Training SPFL Teachers
Like this partnership with the Korean Embassy, the department has also sought other partners in training its foreign language teachers for the program. The embassies of France and Spain, as well as non-profit and private groups like Instituto Cervantes, Goethe Institut, Confucius Institute- Angeles University Foundation are among DepEd’s partners. Aid agencies such as the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and Japan Foundation are also helping out.