ID :
19075
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 10:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/19075
The shortlink copeid
Education minister meets Chinese students to share thoughts on obstacles
SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's education minister said Thursday the government will elevate efforts to help international students adjust in Korea by tackling challenges such as language, visa barriers and security.
Ahn Byong-man, the minister of education, science and technology, met with dozens of university students from China -- the biggest source of international students in Korea -- to hear their problems and seek ways to resolve them.
"It's tough to study abroad, however good the environment is. While studying
in the United States at your age I shed tears secretly from time to time. As the
education chief, I wanted to hear what I can do for you," Ahn said in front
of a group of 30 students.
Most students cited language problems, and said they'd hoped their language
courses would provide in-depth training beyond basic conversational skills to
help them through their courses.
"My language school is focused on conversation. Many Chinese students like
me plan to enroll in a university after the language course, but it doesn't teach
us words we need to know to study," said Sa Rula, 20, who studies Korean at
Yonsei University.
Some expressed concerns over visa regulations. International students currently
have a six-month grace period after graduation to renew their visa, but many
students said that it's not an adequate amount of time.
Ahn said he would suggest to the Ministry of Justice that the grace period be
extended to a year to help international students settle in Korea.
Wang Da-peng, 24, a student at Pusan National University, said some Chinese
students have felt unsafe since violence erupted in April at an Olympic torch
relay in Seoul.
A group of Chinese students in Busan traveled to the capital to greet the torch,
but the event turned violent after some young Chinese hurled rocks at police
officers and local activists protesting China's Tibet policy.
The incident prompted calls to toughen visa rules for Chinese students. Observers
said a similar backlash occurred in China, and that anti-Korean sentiment spread
rapidly there.
"After the Olympic torch relay, security became our biggest concern,"
Wang said.
Ahn said both host countries and international students need to make efforts to
understand cultural differences and pledged to open a government-level dialogue
channel.
Nearly 40,000 Chinese students are studying in Korea, accounting for 70 percent
of all international students in the country. Roughly the same number of Koreans
are studying in China, according to ministry data.
South Korea has a low foreign student ratio compared with other member countries
in the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development. Korea's ratio in
tertiary institutions was 0.7 percent, compared to the OECD average rate of 9.6
percent, according to a 2008 report.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
Ahn Byong-man, the minister of education, science and technology, met with dozens of university students from China -- the biggest source of international students in Korea -- to hear their problems and seek ways to resolve them.
"It's tough to study abroad, however good the environment is. While studying
in the United States at your age I shed tears secretly from time to time. As the
education chief, I wanted to hear what I can do for you," Ahn said in front
of a group of 30 students.
Most students cited language problems, and said they'd hoped their language
courses would provide in-depth training beyond basic conversational skills to
help them through their courses.
"My language school is focused on conversation. Many Chinese students like
me plan to enroll in a university after the language course, but it doesn't teach
us words we need to know to study," said Sa Rula, 20, who studies Korean at
Yonsei University.
Some expressed concerns over visa regulations. International students currently
have a six-month grace period after graduation to renew their visa, but many
students said that it's not an adequate amount of time.
Ahn said he would suggest to the Ministry of Justice that the grace period be
extended to a year to help international students settle in Korea.
Wang Da-peng, 24, a student at Pusan National University, said some Chinese
students have felt unsafe since violence erupted in April at an Olympic torch
relay in Seoul.
A group of Chinese students in Busan traveled to the capital to greet the torch,
but the event turned violent after some young Chinese hurled rocks at police
officers and local activists protesting China's Tibet policy.
The incident prompted calls to toughen visa rules for Chinese students. Observers
said a similar backlash occurred in China, and that anti-Korean sentiment spread
rapidly there.
"After the Olympic torch relay, security became our biggest concern,"
Wang said.
Ahn said both host countries and international students need to make efforts to
understand cultural differences and pledged to open a government-level dialogue
channel.
Nearly 40,000 Chinese students are studying in Korea, accounting for 70 percent
of all international students in the country. Roughly the same number of Koreans
are studying in China, according to ministry data.
South Korea has a low foreign student ratio compared with other member countries
in the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development. Korea's ratio in
tertiary institutions was 0.7 percent, compared to the OECD average rate of 9.6
percent, according to a 2008 report.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
