UPM-FBMK/PJJ/SEM2/2012-13/A2/BBI 2409

Section A

(20 marks)

ITEMS 1-8

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

The Life of a Korean Student
Here in Korea, we have had the privilege of spending a lot of time with a family friend who happens to be 14 years old. He also happens to be taller than Jason. This friend of ours is named Jinho, and he is the subject of this post regarding the education system in South Korea.
As a general background on the school system in Korea, their structure of grades is very similar to many US schools in terms of Kindergarten-High school. The main school subjects are English, Korean, math, social studies and science. However, in high school, they take 11 subjects altogether.
Once students enter middle school, their lives change quite a bit. They are supposed to start taking school much more seriously in preparation for the big exam as it determines which high school they will attend. In Korea, high schools are ranked academically, and you have to score well to get into a good high school. Then, they have the burden of the college entrance exam, which is basically the most important thing in a student’s life. If you don’t get into a good college, you have much less of a chance to be traditionally “successful”. Students attend afterschool lessons at private institutions called “hagwons” which is basically schooling on top of their regular schooling.
Since English and mathematics are two of the main subjects in Korean schooling, they usually attend an english academy and math’s hagwon as well. Our friend, Jinho, doesn’t usually come home from a normal weekday until 11pm or 12am. Then, once he is back home, he still has homework to be done.
Korean schooling is also held on Saturdays. Jinho has a class every other Saturday, but I’m not sure if that is the norm or not.Moreover, when he is preparing for a test, he often spends his Saturdays and Sundays at hagwon or at a study hall from 10am-11pm, rotating between classes and self-studying.
Although many Korean teenagers achieve amazing test scores and may know how to solve a math problem better than I did when I was 15, it is really depressing when I hear that these kids are locked up in the study hall all day. They miss out on their childhood because they’re too busy studying and stressing out about classes and tests.Jinho does not even have time to play outside with his friends after school because sometimes he comes home at 1am!
An interesting thing about Jinho is that he lived in the States for a few years when he was in elementary school, so he knows what it is like to be able to play outside at 4pm after school. When we lived in Seoul, sometimes Jason and I would go to his parents’ house to have dinner during the weekends, and Jinho would often take a break in between self-studying at school to go along. At this time, I have seen his teacher called him twice to ask why he isn’t at school at 6pm on Sunday. He is still a kid, and I could see the disappointment in his face when he has to miss dinner and is summoned back to the study hall.
Due to the constant pressures of tests and the bleak childhoods that come from the strenuous education system, South Korea has also experienced an increase in suicides relating to low test scores. It now has the highest suicide rate amongst the member countries of OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) and that rate continues to grow at 5% each year.Most of the times, students who have bad test scores are suicide victims.
Another difference with Korean schooling is its emphasis on fact-based, strictly objective testing (which is supposedly meant to eliminate corruption and provide fair results). There is only rote memorization of meaningless facts for tests.Therefore, some students would have a perception that if they don’t get good score on their test, they won’t get a good job.
There is so much constant academic pressure put on children at a young age in South Korea but it doesn’t end there. After college, the pressures to find a good job are enormous, not to mention the fact that once they start working, they have to work for 12 hours every day.
As much as Korea may be top achievers in academics, they don’t seem to provide a very nurturing and creative environment for kids once they enter middle school.A friend of ours once taught English at a school here in Korea that punished children for smiling too much. I don’t think most schools are that strict, but having any schools like that is ridiculous. I know there are parents in Korea who would like their children to have a more joyful childhood, but the bad news is that if they let them, their children will fall behind quickly.If you want your children to have a prosperous life here in Korea, you have to follow the “rules”. / 5
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  1. Why do the students’ lives change once they enter middle school?

______[1 mark]

  1. What are the two major exams that the students have to take during their schooling years?

______

[2 marks]

  1. What do the students usually do after school sessions?

______

[1 mark]

  1. Where does Jinho spend his time when he is preparing for his test?

______

[1 mark]

  1. What does Jinho usually do on Sundays?

______

[1 mark]

  1. Why do you think Korean students feel pressured in their studies?

______

______

[2 marks]

  1. Do you agree or disagree with the South Korea’s education system? Provide your reasons.

______

______[2 marks]

  1. Complete the diagram using the information from the passage ‘The Life of a Korean Student’. [10 marks]

The Life of a Korean Student

The Korean school system is very (a) ______oriented.

  • The structure of grades is very (b) ______to schools in the US in terms of Kindergarten-Middle-High school.
  • However, there is so much academic (c)______put on children in South Korea in order to fit into the society.
  • There are many steps need to be taken for one to be able to have a prosperous life in Korea.

First Step

Middle School.

  • Students have to (d) ______for (e) ______entrance exam.
  • In Korea, High schools are ranked academically, and one has to score well to get into a good high school

Second Step

High School

  • Then, they have the (f) ______exam, which is basically the most important thing in a student’s life.
  • They also attend after school lessons at private institutions called (g) ______.

Third Step

Hagwons

  • The students usually learn (h) ______and Mathematics in ‘hagwons’ until midnight everyday.

SECTION B

(5 Marks)

ITEMS 9 - 13 [5M]

Below are the dictionary meanings for the words ‘waste’ and ‘discharge’. Match these words to their dictionary meaning by filling in the brackets with the correct answers.

Dictionary Meaning

Waste
  1. to not make good or full use of something
  2. the act of using something in a careless or unnecessary way
  3. the material that the body gets rid of as solid or liquid material
  4. to give, use or say something good where it is not valued or used

  1. It seems such a waste to throw good food away. [ ___ ]
  2. Farmers use both animal and human waste as fertilizer. [ ___ ]
  3. He got what he deserved, so do not waste your sympathy on him. [ ___ ]

Discharge

  1. to release force or power
  2. to give official permission to leave a place or job
  3. the action of releasing a substance such as liquid or gas
  4. the act of performing a task or a duty or of paying money that is owed
  1. Lightning is caused by clouds discharging electricity. [ ___ ]
  2. He was discharged from the army following his injury. [ ___ ]

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