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Taekwondo As an Education Tool in South Korea
By: Sandy Cosser
In South Korea, the ability to speak English is much coveted and prized, as English speakers are practically assured a place in the greatest universities and land the greatest jobs. Unfortunately, English can be a tricky language to master, especially if the lessons are dry and boring, as many of them are. Students also tend to drag their feet when it comes to learning a new language, regardless of what that language is. In an effort to combat the problem and make learning English as fun and exciting as possible, Kim Sung-han has come up with the concept of "Taeglish", which entails teaching children English in combination with Taekwondo.
Kim Sung-han started his first Taeglish class in March 2007, in a department store for children, and the movement rapidly gained fashionableity, resulting in more than 40 academics teaching Taeglish across the country today.
Taekwondo commands are given in English, which the students have to repeat back to the instructor before carrying out the moves. Sceptics believe that the discipline is too limited to give the children a solid grasp of the English language, specifically its subtle nuances. This theory is borne out by the fact that Taeglish students are not as proficient in the language as their traditionally taught peers. But Kim Sung-han argues that his students are more excited about the language and have greater confidence when it comes to speaking it. As he says, the children learn with "high spirits".
The system may not be perfect, however several educational and psychological studies have shown that children learn greatest by participating in activities than by rote learning. Many experts advocate the inclusion of some form of kinaesthetic learning in traditional education that this will enhance the overall education experience and have a knock-on effect in all fields of learning.
Regardless of what his detractors say, Kim Sang-han is sticking to his belief, and argues that the principles on which it is based are sound. His students are more energetic in the classroom and express more interest in learning than the other children tend to show. How often do you see children truly excited about learning these days? Signs of enthusiasm should be nurtured and encouraged, not shot down because the methods by which they are gained are somewhat unorthodox. And the evidence is seen in how much parents and students love the Taeglish classes. As one student, Jeon Ji-sun, said, " ... I noticed it was easy to learn English and memorise while practicing Taeglish. It's fun. It is also good for my health." And what could be better than that?