Analysis Of Factors Affecting Of Curriculum Setting Of Confucius Institute In South Korea

Based on the statistical data in the official website of Confucius Institute Headquarter, from the first Confucius Institute established in South Korea in2004to the end of2013, China has established440Confucius Institutes and646Confucius Classrooms in more than120countries and regions. Among which19ones are established in South Korea, and it is with the highest distribution density of Confucius institute in the world.Curriculum is an important part of the teaching of Confucius Institute, which is directly related to educational quality and sustainable development of Confucius Institutes. In this paper, using the investigation of questionnaire survey, we inspect the status of the curriculum of17Confucius Institutes in South Korea. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the basic condition of curriculum design, the overall characteristic, the main problem, etc. We analyze the current curriculum and reform expectations of Confucius Institute in the aspects of Confucius Institute, teachers and students. Meanwhile, we analyze the case of Confucius Institute at Soon Chun Hyang, and provide the ideas and suggestions to optimize the Confucius Institute curriculum in South Korea.The research and conclusions can be summarized as follows:1. Chinese teaching of Confucius Institute in South Korea. The students in Korean Confucius Institute have distinct characteristics, complex and varied identities, diverse learning objectives and sources, and hence it is hard to meet the learning needs of all students. Most of the teachers in Confucius Institute are graduate students, so professional backgrounds are diverse, and most of the teachers are young, the majority of the teachers is female and the retain teachers share a small proportion. The sources of the textbooks are diverse, and the explanatory notes and annotated words are mostly Korean translated. However, the local textbook construction is slightly lagging, and lack of continuity. The teaching conditions facilities are advanced and perfect, the transportation of the teaching space are convenient. However, teaching evaluation are difficult, and the teaching system needs to be established more sound, and the management should be improved. 2. The main course types of Confucius Institute in South Korea. The courses of Confucius Institute in South Korea can be divided into language class, cultural classes and cultural activities. Chinese language teaching and training play key roles in the curriculum, cultural courses and cultural activities are an important part of the business carried out by the Confucius Institute on Chinese language teaching. The degree of integration of the Confucius Institute at the community is high, and the Confucius Institutes have close relationship with the local schools and government departments, moreover, and continue to explore ways and means into the local education system has made some breakthroughs. However, the depth is insufficient, especially in terms of being recognized by society. Cultural lectures and cultural activities are various with certain character and brand. But the repeated phenomenon is serious, and the innovations are not enough. The implementations of such activities among different Confucius Institutes are lack of effective channels, resource sharing.3. Curriculum assessment and improvement expectation for Confucius Institutes in South Korea. Generally speaking, the current curriculum of Confucius Institute is successful and reasonable. The teachers and students are satisfied with the textbook selection, the arrangements of the course schedule and location. And all of the students are given high evaluations of their teachers. This means that the teachers of the Confucius Institutes are qualified and competent, and the work of Confucius Institute Headquarter in Chinese language teacher training, mechanism construction are effective. Especially in the aspects of the establishment of Chinese international education and professional Chinese teacher volunteer selection and training, which offers a strong ground personnel security to promote the further development of Chinese language overseas.The students have high satisfaction with the current curriculum, but they still hope to add some special skills courses, audio-visual course and more Chinese culture knowledge, especially the incensement of Chinese daily usage and contemporary Chinese culture. Deans of the Confucius Institute are also considering the various needs of their students, and follow basic principles of "adjust measures to local conditions", actively seek a breakthrough to explore a long-term development for Confucius Institute. 4. The main problems and optimization suggestions for curriculum of Confucius Institutes in South Korea. Confucius Institutes in South Korea have been highly valued in curriculum setting, but there are still many problems to be solved. This paper focuses on the class schedule, teaching conditions, sources of students, faculty and textbook. And propose a solution method based on precise positioning, perfect curriculum system and developing special courses. The other solutions are as follows:improve the quality of cultural courses and activities, strengthen teacher training, guidance and timely support, strengthen cooperation among Confucius Institutes to improve propaganda efforts to expand the students, establish a unified system and the system, such as a reference to assess proposals.