Visiting Seoul Yeoncheon Elementary School    [28-03-2009] Recently, The Kids Times paid a visit to Yeoncheon Elementary School in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. The school is famous for its excellent English activity programs. It also started providing after-school English programs. We went there to learn more about the programs. Principal Ye Sung-ok, Vice-principal Lim Hae-young, Study Director Han Ki-gap and English Center director Lim Beo-deul welcomed us warmly. Located in Bulgwang-dong, Seoul Yeoncheon Elementary School boasts of having a wonderfully-built English Learning Center. It was opened on December 22, 2008. The center has 3 English classrooms and a library. The center has a number of native English teachers and numerous education materials. In order to help students learn English more effectively, teachers at the school participate in teacher training programs, too. Since Yeoncheon Elementary School is located near Yeonsinnae Station, students from other schools can also come and use the center easily. The English center is playing an important role in the area these days. There are many low-income households in Eunpyeong-gu. Low-income families can’t afford private lesson fees for their children. So they send their children to Yeoncheon Elementary School to learn English. This is because the school offers many fun and high-level English activity programs. The school will support poor students, too. By learning English at the Yeoncheon Elementary School English Learning Center, students can improve their English skills. At the same time, parents can save the high private education costs. Students will be divided into several groups depending on their levels. It will help them learn English more effectively. Teachers developed helpful after-school English education programs for their students. Korean teachers take care of students and manage overall programs. Native English teachers teach students only in English. The English Center provides after-school classes twice a week for 2 hours. Students are divided into 5 levels: Basic, Intermediate 1, 2, 3, and Advanced. The center provides various fun activities such as cooking, play, music, and art. It will also offer seasonal activities. For example, in December, students will make Christmas cards and play carol songs with musical instruments. The English Center also uses its website to help students communicate well with their teachers. Students are also using the website to exchange useful information. The school homepage contains each teacher’s personal homepage, too. We hope the Yeoncheon Elementary School English Learning Center will help a growing number of children learn English!     출처: 어린이 영자신문 키즈타임즈 (www.kidstimes.net)