Ｔｅａｃｈｅｒｓ　Ｓｏｕｒ　Ｏｖｅｒ　Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ　Ｔｒａｉｎｉｎｇ　Ｐｌａｎ

潘志強　摘編

Many Korean English-language teachers are souring over（為……而煩惱） the planning of the nations English education system as many of them would face forcible premature（過早的）retirement（退休） unless they can conduct classes in English by 2015.

Some policymakers criticize（批評） the plan for being lacking in detail（不夠詳細）.“In this age of globalization, it sounds plausible（貌似有理的）, but the unrealistic plan gives me a bitter smile,”said Rep. Chung Moon-hun of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP).

Kim Chon-hong, director of the team in charge of the program, said the government is responding to public calls for improvements in English language education. In addition, Korean companies, he said, demand a high level of English language skills.

He said to date, Koreas English-language education has been out of balance, focusing too much on reading comprehension and grammar and not enough on listening and speaking skills.

The government also wants to change the curriculum（課程） to include new textbooks, teaching English only in English and changing testing techniques to give more weight to listening and speaking skills.

（衢州第二中學 潘志強 摘編）