The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness of parents with elementary school students on the necessity and problems of early English education in an attempt to seek efficient methods of early English education, as school children's parents...
The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness of parents with elementary school students on the necessity and problems of early English education in an attempt to seek efficient methods of early English education, as school children's parents usually undergo conflicts about preschool early English education and mostly have their children receive that education. Three research areas were posed: First, to investigate the state of early English education. Second, to gauge the awareness of parents with elementary school children on the necessity and benefits of early English education. Three, early English education reform measures.
The subjects in this study were comprised of 226 parents in the Changwon, Kyongsangnam Province area who had children attending elementary school. The survey findings are summarized as follows: First, the majority of parents enrolled their children in extracurricular activities provided by the kindergartens. Second, many parents took a positive view of early English education. Parents believed that early childhood English education provided motivation, and a window of early learning opportunity. Third, opinions aired by popular media coverage on Korean early childhood education, positive or negative, were largely ignored. These media types were, however, the major source of information regarding early English education. In addition, parents voiced concerns over educational costs; the development of more effective programs; and targeting preschool students for English education.
This study recommends the following: First, enable the schools themselves to provide adequate early childhood English education, and not costly and ineffective private English language academies (hagwons). Second, an objective and long-term, systematic approach should be taken with regards to all issues and solutions involved with early childhood education. Third, possible, negative effects of early English education should be fully addressed, and advantages and disadvantage weighed.