Tongue Tied - South Korea

Uploaded by: journeymanpictures
Video Description:
April 2005
Learning English is so important in Korea that parents are paying out to have their kids' tongues modified to help English pronunciation. It's a trend worrying the government.
Many parents are convinced their children won't be able to learn English properly because their tongues are the wrong shape. This has led to growing business among surgeons prepared to modify children's tongues. "We cut this band and release the tongue and then it can move freely," explains Dr Jin. Learning English has become a national obsession. The pressure begins before birth when mothers play English nursery rhymes to their babies in the womb. One year olds have private tutors. By high school, children often study from 7 am to midnight. "Education has become a social disease," complains university professor Dr Lee. In the past 50 years, Korea has increased its GDP by 200%. The investment in education has paid off. But for children, has it come at too high a price?

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