설문조사를 통해 본 EPS-TOPIK 발전 방안

Abstract

EPS-TOPIK is a test of Korean proficiency which is enforced at the level of Korean government for the selection of competent foreign workers. Therefore, it must ensure validity and reliability, and practicability as a language assessment tool. To present a suggestion for achieving these goals,in this paper, questionnaires have been conducted to the foreign workers who have come to Korea under the scheme of "Employment Permit System" after taking EPS-TOPIK, and Korean teachers teaching in the King Sejong Institute which is run by the connection with the Human Recourses Development Service of Korea. Based on the survey results, some proposals are suggested for the development of EPS-TOPIK, and for the enhancement of Korean language proficiency of foreign workers. According to the survey results, as expected, the local environment of Korean education is poor in a number of ways to improve the Korean communication skills of foreign workers, as well as to prepare the EPS-TOPIK. In addition, it is shown that foreign workers need effective Korean language textbooks and other materials for the preparation of EPS-TOPIK, and that EPS-TOPIK be improved in a number of ways,including the difficulty of the test. To improve the efficiency of the EPS-TOPIK and to enhance the Korean communication skills of foreign workers, the Korean language institutions including the King Sejong Institute, which are in charge of the Korean language education should closely cooperate with the Human Resources Development Service of Korea, which is responsible for all of the influx of foreign workers. It is also suggested that various types of useful teaching materials are developed, and distributed efficiently.