College students to teach at Jeollanam-do summer English camps.

Here's some interesting information on English camps in Jeollanam-do, and I wonder if it conincides with the decision to not offer summer camps to us this year in Suncheon. The Jeollanam-do Office of Education will be bringing in 70 students and college graduates from the University of Missouri and 70 students from Portland State University to teach the two sessions this summer (another document said 65). They will be paired with college students from the Gwangju National University of Education and with Korean English teachers in the province. According to one blogger gearing up for the camp it's volunteer work, and another says all expenses are paid.

Below is some information in Korean, a memo from May that I took off another blog, but wanted to repost it for posterity.

전남 원어민 영어캠프 5개소 1천560명으로 확대【행정과】286-3353

-7월 23일부터 8월 14일까지…저소득층 자녀 20% 이상 선발-

전라남도는 7월 23일부터 8월 14일까지 전남과학대학 등 5개소에서 농어촌 저소득층 등 초․중생 1천560명을 대상으로 전남영어체험캠프를 실시한다고 21일 밝혔다.

전남도교육청과 공동으로 추진하는 영어체험캠프는 지난 2007년부터 시작해 올해로 3회째로 초등학교 6학년 780명, 중학교 2학년 780명 등 5개소 1천560명이 참여하며 이중 저소득층 자녀 20% 이상을 선발할 계획이다.

이는 지난해 4개소 1천272명보다 300여명이 늘어난 것으로 도농간 영어공교육 격차를 해소하는 효과가 매우 컸다는 평가에 따른 것이다.

원어민강사는 지난 2007년과 2008년에 각각 전남도와 교육지원협력을 맺은 미국 포틀랜드주립대와 미주리대에서 최소 실비로 70명을 초청해 도내 영어교사 및 광주교육대학 학생 등 80명과 각각 1명씩 배치돼 1대1 협력수업을 실시한다.

전남 영어체험캠프는 지난 2007년부터 전국에서 최초로 시행돼 적은 예산으로 많은 성과를 보임에 따라 전국적으로 영어공교육의 새로운 모델로 각광받고 있어 타 자치단체에서도 우수 사례로 벤치마킹 대상이 되고 있다.

최희우 전남도 행정과장은 “그동안 2년간 실시한 영어캠프의 경험을 바탕으로 올해는 학생들의 영어능력을 한단계 더 끌어 올리는데 최선을 다할 계획”이라며 “행복하고 신나는 영어캠프를 만들어가겠다”고 말했다.

한편 이번 영어캠프는 오는 7월 23일 전남과학대학(곡성), 전남도립대학(담양), 대불대(영암), 목포해양대(목포), 도청소년수련원(완도)에서 일제히 개소될 예정이다.

The last line says the five camps they have planned will be at the Chunnam Techno College in Gokseong, Jeonnam Provincial College in Damyang, Daebul University in Yeongam, Mokpo National Maritime University in Mokpo, and a youth training center in Wando.

Suncheon and Columbia, Missouri, are sister cities, which helps explain why there are a relatively large number of Missourians in Suncheon, and why students from their respective universities participate in exchange programs. Yeosu also has a sister city relationshp with Sikeston, MO, and Chonnam National University and Mizzou are sister universities (look here, too). The Portland State University page says that these camps are part of the practicum for their TESOL program; here's a bit more about that:

During this 5-week period, participants will gain experience in teaching English to South Korean school children. Throughout the program, participants will partner with professional South Korean English teachers in the classroom for lesson delivery. The mission of this program is to introduce the school children to native English speakers and to present to them experiential/situational opportunities to use their newly enhanced English language skills. Over 1,000 students from rural communities in Korea will gather at these English language camps scattered throughout the province to interact with and learn from native English speaking instructors.

In exchange for teaching, participants will receive international travel to/from Korea, room & board, 500,000 Korean Won stipend, international teaching experience, and an excellent cultural opportunity.

Approximate Program Dates: July 18 – August 20, 2009
Program Cost: $300 Program Fee, includes the following: 4 PSU credits (INTL 404 or FL 504, on a pass/no pass basis) International Health Insurance Coverage

It was interesting to read in that memo that people from these universities have taught summer programs in Jeollanam-do before. There's a little write-up from a PSU teacher in that university's Applied Linguistics Department newsletter (.pdf file); an excerpt:

For me, this was a great way to refresh my memory of what I have learned in the MA TESOL program and apply this knowledge to a real-world situation. I want to thank Kim Brown for her invaluable lessons on cultural sensitivity, tolerance of ambiguity, and remem-bering not to judge or make assumptions based on my own cultural values. This helped guide me through the challenges I faced andenabled me to be a better leader.This program was a great, but challenging experience for me. It’s not for everyone, but it can give you valuable experience teachingoverseas. If you are an adventurous individual that likes to explore on your own, this is not the program for you. However, if you have limited or no teaching experience and like things planned out for you, this could be a great opportunity. The program can also be taken for credit. Overall, I am glad that I participated in this program and feel that I have learned from the experience.

I do have to admit I was a little disappointed by not being able to do a camp this summer, and not simply because of the bonus pay. I've done week-long winter camps for each of the past two years and while I was a nervous wreck going in, I've enjoyed them immensely. I teach in two large middle schools and barely have a chance to interact with the 1,400-plus students I see each month or the 700 third-graders I once taught but no longer do. I see each class once or twice a month, I don't get roster sheets and barely learn any of their names. However at the camp I spent just about as much time with the students in my "homeroom" class in one day as I did with students at my public schools in an entire semester.

It's a good opportunity for these Americans, to see a new culture, do a little teaching, and get a taste for Korea without signing for a year. It's probably a little cheaper, though the airfare to and from the United States is still considerable. And while experience is an issue, as some of these imported teachers might not have any in the classroom, these camps are often so thrown-together that preparation and planning only go so far. We do plan materials beforehand---and I know I spent several long days putting together stuff for my unit on "Numbers"---though it's often done without knowing anything about the students or the facilities. I remember last year we all had to hurry up and put together lessons, and then we were taken to see the facilities at the Suncheon Youth Hostel. They have several small English Village-esque stations set up, but they were far too small to comfortably accomodate middle school students, which meant activities that involved moving around were out of the question. They didn't have desks or tables which made writing exercises inconvenient, and they didn't even come with whiteboards, which meant we had to rethink all the materials we originally designed.

In any event, that should shed some light on what's happening in the province. I also learned today that one of my schools has plans to hire a teacher from the Philippines to replace me when I leave in August, another cost-cutting move no doubt.