Social Justice and the Future of English Language Teaching in Korea by https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx This padlet will operate as a discussion space prior to our roundtable discussion event at the 2022 KOTESOL International Conference / Please read the abstract and questions carefully and provide your own responses and feedback / Please keep in mind that discussions in the roundtable shall prioritise issues relating the English langauge teaching and learning in South Korea. en-us 2022-04-24 08:39:20 UTC 2025-11-18 03:32:48 UTC hello@padlet.com Addressing the Cost of English in Korea conor_o_reilly https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155794662 Possession of English language skills is widely regarded as a necessary element for educational, social, and professional advancement in Korea. Acquiring these skills comes at a significant cost to students and families. These costs include the price of learning and study, the commitment of time required to meet a hoped-for standard, and also when skills and talents in other areas are neglected in favour of enhancing English. What are the roles of educators in English language courses who practice in these settings, and what are some alternatives?

]]> 2022-04-25 02:39:21 UTC https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155794662 Korea's Demographic Challenges and English Education conor_o_reilly https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155795900 Korea’s declining birthrate and increasingly smaller departments, programs, and classrooms are major challenges facing all aspects of education in Korea. English language education must assert itself in this increasingly complicated setting. What challenges are prominent? To what extent will the future of English language education be dictated by Korea’s demographic challenges?]]> 2022-04-25 02:40:26 UTC https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155795900 Does Technology Create or Remove Barriers to Learning? conor_o_reilly https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155796589 Technology has long been regarded as a disruptor in education. For English language learning, technology can offer solutions to physical and virtual borders, offer immediate feedback, and provide seemingly unlimited resources and opportunities to communicate. For some, these opportunities appear to be highly advantageous to all learners and can grant opportunities to learn which were previously inaccessible. Government policies in Korea and around the world reflect these advantages and have proven responsive to the many advances in  technology which focus on education. To what extent has technology impacted the teaching and learning of English? Can digital technology become the answer to removing barriers to learning caused by economic and social disadvantages?]]> 2022-04-25 02:41:01 UTC https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155796589 Roundtable abstract: conor_o_reilly https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155808155 Defining social justice and critical education as a starting point, audience members will be invited to frame this in the Korean context of English language education. Significant issues will then be brought forward which directly relate to the benefits or disadvantages of English language education and the broader sector as it exists in Korea in 2022. This will be an interactive session, with questions available before the event in an online space so responses, comments, or relevant reading can be shared to increase engagement during the live session. The ultimate objective shall be to attempt to raise awareness through dialogue on the topic of critical education and social justice to English language education in Korea.]]> 2022-04-25 02:51:17 UTC https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155808155 KOTESOL Social Justice Facebook Group conor_o_reilly https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155809807 Our groups main activities are largely conducted through our Facebook group. Please join in our conversations here. ]]> 2022-04-25 02:52:58 UTC https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155809807 What is the purpose of the Social Justice SIG conor_o_reilly https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155812234 Unofficially launched in September of 2015, the group soon became affiliated with KOTESOL. From its start, this group has endeavored to connect active educators who are interested in social justice, language teaching and learning, and critical approaches to education in South Korea.

Through its Facebook group and member-driven initiatives, this SIG aims to provide a forum for discussion and exchange of a wide range of social justice issues connected to language and education. Some key issues we seek to address pertain to inequality and injustice, and the ways these affect diverse individuals in society due to differences in the following: age, ancestry/background, physical appearance, level of education, sexual orientation and/or gender identity or expression (LGBTQIPA+), mental/physical health and/or ability/disability, national origin and/or native language(s), political/religious/spiritual beliefs, race/ethnicity, socio-economic and/or marital/relationship status. The scope of issues ranges from individual/local concerns to more collective/global ones, as they relate to a vision for a more harmonious/sustainable future for all.

In the spirit of heart and hope, members of this KOTESOL SIG will attempt to promote positive and pacific transformative social outcomes through teaching and learning.
]]> 2022-04-25 02:55:38 UTC https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155812234 Event details on Edzilla conor_o_reilly https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155814799 This link will take you to the event description at the KOTESOL International Conference page on Edzilla. 

The abstract has changed slightly, so please read the most up-to-date version below.]]> 2022-04-25 02:58:03 UTC https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2155814799 Social Justice (Critical Education in Korea) on KOTESOL.org conor_o_reilly https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2156564807 For more details about our SIG please visit the KOTESOL website ]]> 2022-04-25 13:42:27 UTC https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2156564807 conor_o_reilly https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2160151800 There is a certain amount of ongoing research on the impact of declining school age population on higher education, which is something many KOTESOL members in HE will be familiar with. This particular summary does not give much away, but it does point towards a suggested pathway which may be taken by HE providers. To what extent do these kinds of policies impact teachers in universities, but also in public education where class sizes are also decreasing.]]> 2022-04-27 10:43:57 UTC https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2160151800 conor_o_reilly https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2160154304 This story was one many from late last year which mentioned the ongoing challenges facing universities in Korea. While class sizes in middle and high school may be declining, the smaller number of students entering universities means that closures or downsizing may threaten jobs or job security in these locations.]]> 2022-04-27 10:46:21 UTC https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2160154304 2021 Education at a Glance indicators on equal opportunities conor_o_reilly https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2161542891 OECD indicators and summary are a good point to start to look at the disparities in the cost of education in Korea. While not directly related to English language learning, it is likely to give us some introduction to the issues at hand. ]]> 2022-04-28 04:39:29 UTC https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2161542891 Private Education Expenditures Survey of Elementary, Middle and High School Students in 2021 conor_o_reilly https://padlet.com/conor_o_reilly/s4tpk3o6zsi2cbfx/wish/2161550410 More than any other subject in private education, English is the subject which families invest in the most. This summary report explores some of the data involved. Please share your reflections in the comments below.

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