The Testing culture and the role of private education

Entrance to prestigious four-year colleges in South Korea depends heavily on secondary school curricula and scoring high enough on the university entrance exam known as the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). The current national policy has elevated English to the same level of importance as math and Korean on the CSAT. Private English lessons, a part of the burgeoning shadow education, are vital to high school students seeking to obtain a high score, since students do not perceive that public school English education suffices for this immediate goal. Through an analysis of survey data gained from 420 high school students and semi-structured interviews with 15 English teachers, this study shows that Korea’s testing culture leads to the devaluing of public school teachers and curricula and does not promote competences in speaking and writing. Our analysis suggests the necessity of curriculum reform that advances the empowerment of public school English teachers while ensuring a focus on all four language competences.