Korean Version of TOEFL to Debut

The government will introduce a state-certified English proficiency test from 2012 to improve practical English skills of students and eventually replace TOEFL and other foreign exam material.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology announced this and other measures to help reduce the amount of money people spend on private cram schools and language institutes. The new test, tentatively named the State English Aptitude Test, will be modeled on Japan's Eiken English test, which has earned international recognition. ``We believe as long as we can develop a quality test, many overseas schools will accept it,'' Education Minister Ahn Byong-man said Thursday.

The government will run pilot tests between 2010 and 2011, before the official launch in 2012. The test will have reading, listening, speaking and writing sections. ``I expect the new test to replace TOEIC and TOEFL in college admission and job applications,'' the minister said. The government will also consider replacing the English section of the College Scholastic Ability Test with the test when it officially makes its debut in 2012 after assessing the opinions of pilot test takers. The new exam will rate the level of test takers from grade 1 to grade 3.

However, many English education experts are pessimistic about the move. Rob Dickey, an English education professor at Gyeongju University said, ``It took 25 years for Eiken to get international acceptance and during that time Eiken demonstrated its reliability and validity.'' Some others think the new test might jack up private education costs. ``The government needs to adjust existing curricula at schools. Otherwise, many students will seek education outside of schools,'' said Julie Sormark, an English teacher trainer in Korea.

Meanwhile, in order to boost the English skills of students, the government has decided to increase English classes for elementary school students. Under the plan, children in third and fourth grade will have one more hour of English class per week from 2010, as will fifth and sixth graders from 2011. Up to 4,000 qualified English lecturers will be recruited from next year. Those having teaching licenses will be given preference in recruitment, but those who can speak English fluently without the licenses can apply for the English-only lecture positions.