Insights of Grade 10 Students of Calamba Bayside Integrated School to Korean Language as an Elective Subject

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The Korean language is an increasingly important language inthe world because of South Korea's powerful economy, geopolitical importance, and growing presence in Asian pop culture. The Korean Language has been offered in some local schools as an elective subject. According to the Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones, having the Korean Language in public schools will create opportunities to help us have a better life in the near future not just individually but as a whole nation. Korean businessmen, students and tourists in the country will then have better communication with Filipinos.

METHODS

A narrative qualitative research exposes insight of Grade-10 students as regards the Korean Language as an elective subject. The researcher used the simple random sampling technique for her to identify the respondents for this study that will undergo an in-depth one-on-one interview.

RESULTS

The Department of Education should know the insights of students on the Korean Language, to be able to exert some efforts to further discuss and give some ideas to students about the importance of the Korean Language; how it may affect their life in the near future.

DISCUSSIONS

The researcher found after in-depth one-on-one interviews that some of Grade-10 students had an idea about the possible benefits and effects of having the Korean Language as an Elective subject. She noticed that most of students are divided about having this as part of the Academic Subjects. Some were even concerned about the possibility of the Korean Language replacing the Filipino Language. But, nonetheless, some welcome the foreign language as they knew that it could possibly bring progress to the Philippines through the introduction of new opportunities for the Filipino people. Some of the respondents just stated their answers as if they are the only one involved and not even thinking for others and for the country who will benefit from this. They are not knowledgeable enough about the pros and cons of having the Korean Language as an elective subject. Most of them need to have some sort of briefing to open their minds and accept this language as being part of the subjects offered here in the Philippines. Most of them said that this will give some disadvantages in terms of knowing the culture of another country rather than explaining and exploring our own as this will need further study.