This week topic-Korean college student > 영어토론방

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Seniors attended classes for only half a year, and they didn't have to take any final exams. Besides robbing students of the chance to receive a quality education, the system also trained people to expect rewards for doing nothing.

But some big changes have taken place in the Korean educational system, and college students today are studying a lot more than the college students of the past did. There are a few reasons for the sudden change in attitude.

Tougher standards
Since foreign colleges and universities were allowed to set up campuses here, Korean schools now have to worry about outside competition. This has resulted in tougher graduation requirements and harder classes. The number of university students expelled for poor academic performance doubled from 6.1% in the first semester of 2000 to 12.3% the second semester.

Abolition of company entrance exams
Students no longer have to take highly competitive entrance exams, so seniors can no longer use having to cram for those exams as an excuse for not attending classes and taking tests. On the other hand, the job market is still very competitive, so seniors still have to spend time looking around for jobs and going in for job interviews.

Emphasis on English ability
Nowadays students with good English ability get the best job, so today’s college students have less time to spend on extracurricular activities and more time perfecting their English. It used to be that students who had earned their degrees in Korea had a better chance at landing the best jobs, but now students who have studied overseas have the advantage. This has resulted in thousands of students enrolling in overseas universities or extended English study.

The changes now taking place in Korean higher education can be attributed to the economic crisis of the late 1990s and the change in the world order. This has called for a return to hard work and hard study. In the long run, the changes will benefit Korea’s ability to compete in the world by turning out a better prepared and more diligent workforce. The free ride that Korean college students have always enjoyed has come to an end.

Q1) Do you think that today’s Korean college students spend too much time outside of class on extracurricular activities or do they study hard?

Q2) Which hiring system do you think is better - giving company entrance exams or hiring new employees on the basis of school records and English ability? Tell why you think so.

Q3) How do you think Korean college students compare with students in the U.S and other western countries in regard to each of the following? Tell why you think so.
a. foreign language ability
b. skills in using computers and the internet
c. study habits(diligent, lazy)
d. wasting time drinking or playing computer games
e. knowledge about their major field of study

Q4) Do you think that Korean college students today are better or worse than students of 15 or 20 years ago? Why do you think so?

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