Korean language to be taught in high school

Students in some high schools will soon study Hangul or the Korean language after the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Korean Embassy signed a memorandum of agreement for the Special Program in Foreign Language.

According to a report on Unang Balita by Susan Enriquez on Thursday, the students will be taught to read, write, and speak the language so they can appreciate the Korean culture and be equipped should they seek jobs in Korea.

"It will be an elective subject just like any other foreign language. Any individual to learn how to write and speak the language," DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali said.

The DepEd will choose 10 public schools in the National Capital Region that will teach the Korean language in Grades 7 to 12.

Marikina Science High School is one of the schools that have offered foreign languages in its curriculum since 2009.

Asked for her opinion on offering Hangul in the K-12 curriculum, May Villanueva, English and Filipino teacher at Marikina Science High School, said, "Para sa akin, hindi ko pa gaanong nakikita iyong weight na kailangang-kailangan siya."

Cecilio Volante II, another teacher at the school, said, "Bilang isa sa umuunlad na bansa, isa ito sa edge nila para makakuha ng trabaho."

"South Korea is one language that I think we should really know especially if you will look at the type of businesses, the type of transactions that's now going on between the two countries," Umali said.

Job opportunities for Filipinos in South Korea are also expected to increase, and knowing the language will be beneficial for job seekers.

"Yearly, mayroong labor quota na ibinibigay ang Korea sa bansang Pilipinas. Para ka ma-deploy sa Korea, dapat makapasa ka sa tinatawag na test of proficiency in Korea," said Jocelyn Sanchez, deputy administrator for managment services of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency. —KG, GMA News