Teaching Jejueo on Jeju Island 제주어 교육

Overview

In 2007, the Jeju local government passed the Language Act for Jejueo Conservation and Promotion, which was subsequently revised in 2011. The Act was the first attempt by a region in Korea to protect and promote its language; it also included the first official use of the term "Jejueo." Since 2011, the Jeju Office of Education has released an updated General Plan for Jejueo Conservation Education every year.

According to the General Plan, Jejueo education in public schools (in the form of language classes) is encouraged as an extracurricular activity, as well as part of regular classes if relevant and feasible. However, Jejueo classes are still not mandatory, and most teachers opt not to teach the language as they are too busy with administrative work to take on the burden of mastering and teaching new material. As a result, only a handful of public school teachers are teaching the language, typically unofficially and based on their own personal interest (see “Teaching Jejueo: Present Problems and Future Plans” by Sejung Yang, 2014). 

While Jejueo education in the public school system is rather limited, Jejueo programs for adults are available at various places. One program, offered by the Jejueo Preservation Society since 2010, provides a teacher training program sponsored by the Jeju local government. Adult Jejueo programs are also offered every year by the Jejueo Center at Jeju National University and the Jeju Institute.  All of these programs are free of charge. They are popular among Jeju locals as well as immigrants from mainland Korea. Several local centers also teach Jejueo to marriage-based immigrants (Kim, Soon-ja 2013).

 Although the actual teaching and learning of Jejueo in the public school system is not widespread, various pedagogical materials and children's books have been developed by a group of enthusiastic and dedicated teachers. Many of these materials can be downloaded from the website of the Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education. You may also view descriptions of some available materials below. (You can also access/download these materials and more at this Website; go to: Textbooks, Children's Books and Animations, or Children's Audio Books.)

A new textbook, the first volume in a projected four-volume series, is now available from Kyobo.  Jejueo: Volume 1 consists of 15 chapters, each with accompanying audio-files and practice exercises. It is intended for learners with no previous background in Jejueo. For more information, see then next page in this section.