Current Chinese Character Teaching In Korean Primary Schools And Attitudes Toward Chinese Characters In The Korean Populace

Through use of questionnaires,this article investigates current Korean elementary school education in Chinese characters;teaching conditions of Korean teachers of Chinese characters;as well as inquiry and analysis of the typical Korean outlook on Chinese characters.This provides a better understanding,both of current teaching of Chinese characters in Korean elementary school,and of typical Korean views on Chinese characters,and will serve as a reference for formulating Korean government policy regarding Chinese characters.The first questionnaire is of "Chinese character learning among Korean elementary students(grades 1-6)".The findings are as follows:Of the respondents,more than 50%do not know Chinese characters at all;none of the students know more than 400 Chinese characters;and finally,6th grade students maintain a pessimistic attitude to toward Chinese characters.The second questionnaire studies "Current teaching by Elementary School Teachers of Chinese characters".In the majority of schools,classes in Chinese characters are not required.More often,they are electives or comprise extracurricular independent study.Chinese character teaching material includes:basic level-"Chinese Characters for Elementary School"(Level 1-6);teaching material for Chinese character tests-"Chinese Character Qualifying Exam"(Levels 1-6).Classes have no separate test in Chinese characters.The third questionnaire investigates attitudes toward Chinese characters in the Korean populace.Except for the 31-39 age group,the proportion of respondents unable to encourage their own children to study Chinese characters is relatively high.However,outside of holding a very unoptimistic view of Chinese characters,respondents in other age groups all recognize the importance of Chinese characters.In light of these findings,it appears that most of the Korean populace carries a positive attitude toward the study of Chinese characters,and furthermore acknowledges their importance.