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Elizabeth Friedeman

C&T 598- Dr. Cho

23 May 2017

English Fever by Park

These Korean soccer moms have produced a different kind of inequality by arranging extra

teaching for their children outside school, and kwaoe, or private tutoring and out-of-school

lessons, is now widespread throughout South Korea.kwaoe is the greatest single factor in the

escalating price of schooling, placing a big financial burden on Korean families and undermining

egalitarian access to education.

I found this quote useful because it illustrates one of the fundamental aspects of the

TESOL Practicum: it highlights how the Korean education system and the relentless competition

fuels broader social inequalities, and social problems for children in terms of their development.

On the first night walking through Gwangju, I saw many signs for hagwon that really illustrated

to me how common it is. I imagine it would be emotionally and physically exhausting having to

go to hagwon after a long day of school, and stressful putting so much time and financial

resources into education outside of the formal school system. Also, as the article states, English

as a class marker and the financial burden it places on families with escalating schooling costs

undermines the commonly propagated belief in education as merit-based and as a way to cross

social barriers.

This quote resonates with me because I see both parallels and contrasts with the

American education system. I feel that in America there is a similar fueling of social inequalities

as the cost of college education rises and because of the difference between districts (funding and
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prestige, etc.). The rising cost of college education makes it harder for families who have not

been financially able to support their childrens college education. This undermines the idea of

higher education as a meritocracy, and opportunity for any bright American willing to work and

wanting to learn. The difference between districts like the Blue Valley School District and inner-

city Kansas City districts disadvantages students who are poorer or geographically situated in

low-income areas. However, the difference I see between American and Korean education

systems, as described in this article, is how English fuels the inequalities as well. Because while

English is necessary for the American school system, it is used across the nation outside of

school to an extent that likely makes hagwon and tutoring less necessary. English fever in Korea

is an expensive trend that undermines meritocracy and even the Korean language itself as

English becomes a social status symbol and Korean becomes undesired.

Question: The article revealed that despite the English fever Koreas TOEFL scores ran 93rd out

of 147 countries. So, when Korean families pay a large amount to hire private tutors or send their

children to cram schools, are the English tutors of more business-motivated informal schools

qualified and efficient enough?