The Coreans and the English Language.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 458, 29 March 1890, Page 6

The Coreans and the English Language.

A Corean correspondent of the “Japan Weekly Mail ” describes an examination by the King at Seoul of the students of a college which he has lately established there for the purpose of teaching young Coreans the English language and various branches of Western science. The King has taken a warm interest in the institution from the first, and has nominated to it as students young men who belong to families with which he is well acquainted, and in which he is interested. It is due to his personal interest in the school that it has survived the violent opposition, not only of the Conservative party, but also of those foreign residents of Corea who deem educational work bo be unnecessary at present. Recently his Majesty conceived the idea of examining the students in person. The instructors, being informed that their attendance was desired at the pulace on a certain day bo superintend the examination of the students, found themselves at the appointed time at the great triple stone arch which forms the front gate of the palace enclosure. An official was waiting there to conduct them through the labyrinth of passages and courts and alleys which are so characteristic of Corean architecture. The King holds his court from late in the afternoon till an early hour the following morning, so that night was turned into day—a singular custom, and one which is of comparatively recent origin. It was nob, therefore, till 4 o’clock that the instructors were summoned to His Majesty’s presence. He was seated in an open room, behind a small foreign table covered with a handsomely-embroidered crimson satin cloth. He was dressed in crimson robes, with the Royal dragon embroidered in gold upon the breast and shoulders. On the King’s left sat the Prince similarly attired, bub in purple instead of red. On each side of the room were ranged the courtiers and noblemen. After the presentation and interchange of compliments, the instructors took their places at the right of the King, with an interpreter. The King does not know English, but a ponderous volume had been prepared, containing a large number of English sentences, and from this book the students were examined, a similar book having been prepared for His Majesty, containing the English sentences, written phonetically in Corean characters, and beneath each sentence its meaning in Chinese. When all was ready the marshal called out the name of a student, who immediately appeared from an adjoining apartment, ascended the stone steps, and after bowing to the ground outside the door, entered and prostrated himself before the King, evidently with some trepidation. While in this position a vase was pushed towards him containing a number of slips of bamboo, each numbered. Drawing one of these, he turned to the page indicated by the number on the slip, and began to read the English sentences. His Majesty meanwhile watched the Corean characters in his book and never failed to detset a mistake in pronunciation. After reading, the student translated the sentences into Corean. At the conclusion, after consulting with the instructors as to the merits of the student, his Majesty gave him his “mark.” There were four grades—“ Tong ” for first, and “Yak,” “Chan,” and “Poul,” for the second, third and fourth respectively. On a salver were four pieces of wood, on each of which one of these four words was written, and as one of them was pronounced by the King an attendant, taking the piece of wood on which that word was written, elevated it before the King with both hands, at the same time pronouncing it in a loud voice. Upon this the student retired, and another came. For three successive days’ the examination was continued, the third being occupied by the students in writing English sentences at the dictation of the instructors. After each session the instructors enjoyed the hospitality of His Majesty at a banquet, at which the official of the institution presided. On the following day. prizes were given in thQ solid form of political office or rank, the dearest thing to the heart of the true Corean.