Journal of Education & Social Policy

The English Fever in South Korea: Focusing on the Problem of Early English Education
Bok-Rae, Kim

Abstract
The English language craze in Korea has made people obsessed with English under globalization. From preschoolers to college students, all are busy studying English. Parents also make a great effort to improve their children’s English, as early as possible. Ultimately, the problem of English education is that of “constructed reality” into which the success psychology of each Korean is condensed; therefore, it must be viewed from the historical, structural, institutional, hierarchical, and cultural perspectives of Korean society. This paper presents a critical review of the English language craze in Korea from multi-perspectives. It consists of three major sections. The first section briefly discusses English fever in Korea in relation to the early English education. The second section examines some of the major driving forces behind the expansion of English education or English as a cultural capital. The final section analyses the problem of early English education and plans for its solution.

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