Last year, the New York State Board of Education changed its rules for secondary language teacher's licensing including French, German, and Korean. This year, teachers who want to be licensed for Korean are able to reap the benefits of the changes. The revised rules, designed to ease the licensing process, apply to teachers who are already licensed for an academic field and want to add licensing for teaching secondary languages. Normally, the candidate must meet the requirement of 30 completed semester hours of course work in the target language, and possess an MA. However, when the language license is in addition to an existing license, the applicant need only pass a language test administered by the State's Board of Education.
In the case of Korean-language teachers, while there are some classes on aspects of Korean culture, there are no instructors for the language or course offerings in New York universities, making it very difficult to fulfill the 30-semester-hours requirement to obtain a license in the language let alone a full-time position teaching it; therefore, the change in requirements is a welcome development for the Korean community in New York, which it considers will help ease the situation for many teachers in the area.
The revised rules, in discussion throughout 2008, were approved in October of last year. The first teacher to take advantage of the new rules was Hyun-joo Kwon, at JHS 142. Kwon passed the exam and was licensed prior to the fall semester. Other teachers have since followed in Kwon's footsteps and many more are currently preparing for the exam.
Kwon noted, "New York City public schools started and then discontinued Korean-language classes; there was often confusion about the qualifications. The new regulations fix that, and this is a welcome change."
Ms. Eun-joo Kim, the director of Korean-American Teachers in New York (KATNY), is also very excited about the new developments, and openly stands for a full-scale expansion of Korean-language teachers and Korean classes in both public and private schools in the Northeast, especially in the Tristate area. In October 2009, Kim and former KATNY Director Ms. Chong-hye Lee were named co-directors of the Korean Language Development Association (Hangugo Chinghung Chaedan), located in Los Angeles. The Association promises Kim and Lee full funding and support for opening Korean-language classes. Both will attend an Association meeting this month to discuss planning and support issues surrounding Korean-language classes in the Northeast.
KATNY will also hold a free seminar for Korean teachers and teacher candidates at the East-West School of International Studies (EWSIS), on December 19, where licensing requirements, the Korean Regents exam, management of Korean-language classes in public schools, teaching Korean through Korean cuisine, the new Korean textbook, and a number of other topics will be discussed. KATNY urges those involved in Korean-language instruction at any level – public and private school Korean language teachers; after-school teachers; Sunday-school teachers; principals, etc – to attend.
