English speech contest, flea market and Halloween party set to liven up autumn


Busan Global Village, a leading English education center in Busan, offers a variety of English immersion programs from October to November for students and citizens of all ages.

BGV is to hold an English speech contest as the first of three English enrichment programs. Held successfully for the last two years, the contest will help students improve proficiency in both English language and public speaking. Self-confidence to be experienced through participation in the contest will help them grow into global leaders, BGV officials said.

Elementary to high school students are eligible to enter the contest with application open until Oct. 12 at www.bgv.co.kr. Applicants may choose a speech subject from five themes ― International City of Busan, leadership of Korea, global warming, Dokdo and its territorial dispute and hallyu, Korean wave.

Winners will be selected in two stages, a preliminary test on Nov. 5 and a final test on Nov. 12. Prizes will be presented by Busan Mayor, Busan educational superintendent, along with the presidents of Herald Media and BGV.

Aside from the speech contest, an English flea market and a Halloween party will offer students and citizens a chance to fully immerse themselves in English. The English flea market scheduled for Nov. 12 has become one of the most popular English programs at BGV. A total of 2,500 citizens have participated in the event since last year.

Students and citizens who want to participate in the market should bring items from home and speak English at the market. Middle school students and younger children should be accompanied by parents to the market.

Part of the flea market’s proceeds will go to charities to help the elderly living alone. Lotte Department Store and Lotte Mart in Busan also plan to donate some items to the market. 

The Halloween Party during the event will give students who want to improve their English comprehension and conversational skills a chance to learn about Western culture while enjoying holiday activities, BGV officials said.

At the party, children will have fun joining activities such as making their own Halloween costumes and participating in a ghost fashion show with Halloween-themed makeup. All activities will be assisted by English-speaking teachers from BGV.

Two years of success

Opened in 2009, Busan Global Village has taken hold as a prominent English education center, thanks to its own programs tailored to the needs of different age groups and its easy access due to its location at the center of the southeastern port city.

Over the past two years since its opening, more than 110,000 people have learned English at BGV and showed high satisfaction with its various language programs designed for different age groups.

A survey conducted by the city’s education office found that on average, respondents were more than 95 percent satisfied with teaching methods, educational programs, facilities and meals provided by BGV.

And 99 percent of the respondents answered yes when asked if course content corresponded with real-life situations. Asked whether the classes were fun and interesting, 98 percent of respondents answered positively.

BGV officials attribute the success to the fun and comfortable environment which enables students to fully immerse themselves in English while lowering language barriers.

While many other English institutes focus on teaching English for school tests and college entrance exam, BGV concentrates on active participation in 50 real-life situations, including going through immigration office at airports, shopping and boarding airplanes.

It also stimulates students’ curiosity at its culture center, which introduces various cultures of English-speaking countries.

Located at the center of Busan, BGV boasts cutting-edge facilities and highly qualified native English-speaking teachers.

In such settings as theater class and broadcast room, students can experience immersion in English more vividly as they act or sing in English and play anchor or debater for news programs.

Thanks to its location in downtown Busan, students are able to visit the center after school, enjoying chances to become exposed to the English language environment.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)