Korean traditional fairy tales books gifted to Indian schools in Delhi NCR, Chennai, Chandigarh, Pathankot, and Imphal
NEW DELHI: The students of 15 Indian schools in Delhi NCR, Chennai, Chandigarh, Pathankot, and Imphal where Korean language classes are being held as a part of the curriculum would now get to enjoy Korean traditional fairy tales.
The Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI) has gifted Korean traditional fairy tales books written in English languages to these students. The giveaways include 88 Korean traditional fairy tale books along with 4 DVD sets to each of the 15 Indian schools.
These books consist of representative Korean traditional fairy tales containing the primary emotions of Koreans and are expected to narrow the emotional distance by understanding Korean culture through Korean traditional fairy tales books as well as learning the Korean Language.
The beneficiary schools are ASN Sr Sec School, Greenway Modern School, Mount Abu Public School, BVB Mehta Vidyalaya, Ganga International School, Mount Litera Zee School (all in New Delhi), Learners International School, Greater Noida, Green Valley Academy, Noida, Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) School, Faridabad, Hindustan International School, Padur, Hindustan International School, Guindy, and Hindustan International School, Karapakkam (all 3 in Chennai), St. Ezra International Senior Secondary School, Caledonian International School, Pathankot, and Mangal Kids School, Imphal, Manipur.
KCCI had conducted pilot classes for Korean Language Education at Indian schools in 2015 and later began Korean language education at 14 Indian schools full-fledged from 2019.
In January 2021, 50 schools in Delhi and Delhi NCR were surveyed on demand for Korean Language classes, an MOU was signed with Indian schools that expressed their enthusiasm to conduct Korean language classes.
According to KCCI, currently, 15 schools (18 classes, 607 students) are conducting Korean Language classes as a part of their curriculum, 18 schools (27 classes, 929 students) are conducting Korean Language classes as hobby classes.
Nine of them are in Delhi and nearby, 3 in Chennai, 2 in Punjab, and 1 in Imphal.
Particularly, 7 schools are conducting Korean Language classes as a part of their curriculum and hobby classes at the same time this year. 1,536 students have been learning the Korean Language from a total of 26 schools. Among these schools, ASN Sr Sec School and Learners International School (LIS) held an Hangeul Day ceremony to mark the 575th anniversary of the Hangeul (the name of the Korean script) Day, making it the first time for Indian schools to celebrate Hangeul Day with their students.
Hwang Il-yong, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India, said, “I hope Indian students can not only learn Korean Language but also understand Korean Culture by reading Korean traditional fairy tales,” adding, “In particular, I hope that the psychological bond will be able to deepen by narrowing the cultural distance between Korea and India through the similarities of traditional fairy tales of each country.”
Meanwhile, since October, KCCI has been conducting Taekwondo (Korean martial arts) classes in 8 Indian schools (11 classes, 716 students) as face-to-face classes.
