Hundreds from U.S. to teach English

A government agency said Saturday that it has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with three American universities this week to recruit hundreds of American students to teach English at rural Korean schools.

The signing of MOUs with George Mason University, the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Iowa is part of the National Institute for International Education (NIIE)’s Teach and Learn in Korea (TaLK) program, said Chung Sang-ki, head of the Education Ministry-affiliated NIIE.

The program aims to provide rural Korean students with native English-speaking teachers while giving foreign students chances to learn the Korean language and culture.

NIIE plans to recruit more than 300 native English-speaking students across the world this year, Chung said. They will be given a monthly stipend of 1,500,000 won ($1,350) plus round-trip air tickets and lodging.

Yonhap