<Students study English more than majors>

  South Korean college students 1)spend more time studying English than they do studying for their majors, a state-run research body said Sunday.

Students spent an average of 8.89 hours studying on a 2)weekly basis, and the amount 3)devoted to English was 3.94 hours, according to the survey by the 4)Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training. Students set aside only 1.98 hours a week to study for classes under their academic majors.

The survey, conducted on 1,123 5)juniors and seniors across the country, also found that students spent an average 205,000 won ($192) a year on 6)private education and half of that was spent on learning English. This is more than 7)twice the amount spent on private education for their majors.

The 8)results reflect Koreans’ 9)zeal toward learning English. Education Ministry data in February showed that 6.3 million won was spent on private English education for 10)elementary, middle and high school students in 2013, 11)the highest among all subjects.

English 12)proficiency scores are a hiring requirement at 13)most major companies in Korea, regardless of their industry.

14)According to a survey by job search website “Saramin,” 69.3 percent of the recruiters at local companies said English scores were a factor in looking for people to hire. They said applicants with “business English speaking abilities” are 15)most likely to be preferred by companies.

With the 16)prolonged economic slump keeping the employment rate low, the 17)imminent challenge for college students has become procuring high enough English scores to get a decent job.

Students, however, said they would not jump at just any job. The KRIVET survey showed that job security was a big factor: 71.8 percent of the respondents said they did not want a temporary job. Also, 62 percent said a long commute was another reason to turn down a job offer.

The data also showed that female students spent more time and money on studying than their male          18)counterparts. Women studied 9.74 hours a week and spent 301,000 won annually on private education, compared to 8.39 hours and 149,000 won by men.

19)In addition, students in 20)Seoul-based universities studied an average of 10.47 hours a day, more than the 8.38 hours by students in 21)regional colleges.

22)Education-related majors pored over books the longest at 14.32 hours a week, followed by social science and natural science majors, who studied for 10.79 hours and 9.02 hours, respectively.

The hardest working students were also those looking to 23)make the most money, the survey found.

The expected monthly salary of students who studied for less than two hours a week was 2.05 million won. Those who studied for 2-14 hours said a week they wanted 2.13 million won, while those studying over 14 hours sought 2.21 million won.

1) 더 많은 시간을 영어 공부에 쏟아 붓는다.
2) 주말기준
3) 헌신하다
4) 한국직업능력개발원
5) 3학년, 4학년 (대학교)
6) 사교육
7) 2배가 된다
8) 결과를 말해주다
9) 영어를 배우고자 하는 집착
10) 초 중 고 학생
11) 모든 과목 중 가장 비싸다
12) 숙달 점수
13) 대부분의 대기업들
14) ‘사람인’이라는 사이트의 조사에 따르면
15) 회사에서 가장 선호하는 경향이 있다.
16) 장기간의 경제 침체
17) 절박한
18) 상대자
19) 게다가
20) 서울 소재의 대학들
21) 지방의 대학
22) 사범대학
23) 돈을 가장 많이 벌다.

By Yoon Min-sik
Published: March 30, 2014
Source: The Korea Herald