English again in New Year's resolution?

Each year around this time, many people make a resolution to realize their dreams or objectives. Mastering English is a routine and recurring theme. However, their resolution fizzles out as time goes by. But why? Many feel frustration in learning English because they have no clear objectives. Before studying English, learners must set clear objectives.

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These learners must scrap the myth that English is difficult to master. If they have clear objectives, English becomes easy to learn.

Once they set their destination, they have no reason to detour.

In this Internet and mobile age, learners must discard the myth that it is costly to learn English. They can learn English with little cost as long as they know the routes. Parents must also get rid of the myth that their children will learn high-quality English only when they pay for expensive tuition. When children complain about money for learning English, parents must know that this is just an excuse.

Before the age of the Internet, going abroad to learn English was necessary. In this Internet age, anyone can learn English easily at home.

Hyundai-Kia Motor Group Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun said English proficiency will be the crucial criterion for promotion. The group plans to hold conferences in English from next year, and in-house education will also be conducted in English.

SK Telecom also plans to use English in conferences and documentation.

Many Hyundai and SK executives may spend sleepless nights out of fear that they may fall behind in promotions due to their poor English.

LG and other companies have failed to embed English in in-company communication. Hyundai and SK will be doomed to fail without changing their way of thinking.

If they follow the following instructions, they can be proficient in English.

(1) Mastering 10,000 words should be the objective. During their middle- and high- school years, they should have already mastered 6,450 words. Successful takers of TOEIC, TOEFL and TEPS know at least 10,000 words. The only problem is that they can recognize these words, but can only use 10 percent of them in casual conversation.

(2) Reading an English daily published in Korea is a magic way of improving English. For example, The Korea Times has used 10,000 words over the past 15 years. Readers can also spot Korea-specific English expressions such as (된장녀 (gold diggers) 남존여비 (man above woman) and 원조교제 (underage prostitution) and 원정출산아 (anchor baby).

(3) Hyundai and other executives need only 3,000 words in writing emails and office documents. They may feel frustration in checking whether their writing is correct. They can go to the online grammar checking tool (www.grammarly.com). This program helps them correct their written English. If they follow the instructions, their emails and documents become perfect. They do not need native English proofreaders.

(4) When they want to improve listening comprehension, go to the website of The Korea Times (www.koreatimes.co.kr). They can listen to all articles when they click the voice service button at the top of each article. If they click F, they can hear the news with a female voice; clicking M gives them a male voice.

(5) If they want to improve their speaking capability, read loudly one article daily. They can use voice recorders to compare what they say with what the voice service provides.
It is no coincidence that up to 700,000 people visit the homepage of The Korea Times every day to get information while learning English.

(6) Learners may argue that reading an English daily is difficult. If they master 10 formulas or rules for reading an English newspaper, it becomes quite easy to read the newspaper.

(7) Power-point presentations in English are a must for corporate executives. Many Koreans feel frustration in making such presentations. This is not difficult. Rules on making a power-point presentation in English are the same as the rules for making headlines in an English newspaper.

(8) More than 5,000 Konglish words are in daily use. An ability to know exact words for Konglish will be a sure way to improve English. For example, talent is Konglish for TV actor or actress. The same mistaken words may include sign for autograph); quick service for express delivery service); and sun cream for sun block.

(9) Novice learners may start to read an English daily by poring over the current English guide LEARNING TIMES, which is a four-page daily tabloid featuring translations of editorials and cinema English with grammar analysis, writing tips, and test kits for TOEIC, TOEFL and TEPS.

(10) Learning English expressions on things foreign was necessary in the past as Koreans had to import foreign technology, knowhow and culture. Now Koreans need to learn English expressions on things Korean as foreigners want to learn about Korea, Korean issues and Korean information. This reflects the fact that Korea has many things foreign countries do not have. That is also the reason why people need to read an English daily produced by Koreans and in Korea.

It is also a misconception that only high-degree holders are capable of reading an English newspaper. From 2015, Korea plans to introduce the National English Ability Test (NEAT). It consists of listening, reading, speaking and writing sections, and is arguably twice as difficult as the current College Scholastic Aptitude Test. The time has come for even middle- and high-school students to be able to read an English daily if they want high scores.

Lee Chang-sup is the chief editorial writer of The Korea Times. He published a book How to Read The Korea Times, a 10-formula guide for reading an English daily. Contact him at editorial@koreatimes.co.kr.

By Lee Chang-sup