SOMIN JI (KYUNG HEE UNIVERSITY)

INTEGRATING MEDIA ENGLISH: A NEW APPROACH TO KOREA'S HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM : CURRICULUM AND SYLLABUS DESIGN

Since 1954, Korea has revised its curriculum several times, shifting from a full uniform approach to partial revisions in 2009. The new version of the 2022 revised curriculum, set to launch in early 2025, introduces the "high school credit system," allowing students to select subjects based on career aspirations and interests while earning credits toward graduation. Media English is a new subject, emphasizing the role of media as an essential tool in contemporary society. Given the novelty of Media English in Korea's curriculum, there's a need to examine international precedents to develop effective teaching methods, learning strategies, and evaluation frameworks suitable for Korean classrooms. By exploring case studies, methodologies, and assessment techniques from other educational systems, this paper seeks to identify best practices and innovative approaches. The goal is to provide educators and policymakers with a clear understanding of how to implement a media-focused curriculum effectively. This includes addressing the unique challenges and opportunities that may arise during the transition, ensuring that the introduction of the high school credit system and Media English leads to a positive impact on students' educational experiences. Ultimately, this paper aims to offer practical insights and guidelines for a smooth and successful implementation of this new curriculum approach in Korea.

Somin Ji, with doctorate degrees from Kyung Hee University and experience teaching in Korea many years, focuses on the ongoing changes to the current curriculum in Korea and the strategies for revising the curriculum of updated English subjects. She has been consistently presenting analyses of English textbooks and curriculum changes of Korea at the Asia TEFL conferences since 2015. In 2024, she will discuss her research on media English, a new elective subject in high school English for the first time.