English education in Korea and Switzerland at secondary school level. A comparative cultural study

This Master’s thesis provides a comparative cultural study of Korean and Swiss approaches and attitudes toward English as a second language education by focusing on both the pedagogy and didactics of how English is taught and the underlying reasons for why English is a priority at the secondary school level. Discussions regarding the adaption of English as official language were launched in Korea and a massive privately founded English education market has been flourishing in recent years. In the case of Switzerland, English has almost acquired the status of a lingua franca in a multilingual Switzerland, which threatens linguistic diversity and a direct correlation between high income and high English skills was found. The literature research confirmed that English is the language of the future and a certain command of English is essential in both Switzerland and Korea in certain domains. By comparing and contrasting English curricula, course books and classes, major differences were identified which are caused by and rooted in cultural imperatives. Whereas Korean culture and education is influenced and determined by Confucianism and collectivism, Swiss culture and education relies on democracy and individualism. Strengths and weaknesses, especially in the stated beliefs and actual practice of speaking in both systems were identified and recommendations were proposed. Interviews with six Korean and Swiss English teachers were conducted and thirty English classes in Korean and Swiss classrooms were, with the support of an observation journal, analyzed and evaluated