– Special report on “English Language Village” aired live on NHK 
– Japan seeks a leaf from South Korea’s guild book on English education 

Gyeonggi Province’s “English Language Village” aired live across Japan on NHK. 

Japan’s NHK TV showed its keen interest in an English program in South Korea, airing a 17-minute report on “English Language Village,” a special language zone, set up by Gyeonggi Province. 

NHK TV aired the program during night time last week, detailing how Gyeonggi Province operates the “English-only zone.” The program came only a month after the Japanese media company dealt with it in its morning show “Good Morning Nippon.” 

NHK’s keen interest in English Language Village reflects the ongoing efforts in Japan to include English as a mandatory subject in elementary schools’ curriculum starting in 2007. 

NHK has introduced to its viewers South Korea’s English programs, which are seen 10 years ahead of Japan’s. Especially, NHK cited Gyeonggi Province’s English Language Village as a prime example that shows how to make up for weaknesses in its public education system. 

NHK also said, “Gyeonggi Province’s English Language Village contributes to narrowing gap between haves and have-nots by allowing some children from low-income families to enroll in the program free of charge.” 

Meanwhile, NHK explained that its reports on English Village received a good response from viewers and expressed its willingness to air a follow-up program on the village in time for the opening of its branch in Paju in March next year.