Robot Teacher “Engkey” Begins English Classes in South Korea

According to CNN, which reported on October 22, 2010, English classes using the teleoperated robot teacher “Engkey” are being conducted on a trial basis at two elementary schools in Masan, South Korea. The program was launched by the South Korean government as part of its robot learning (R-learning) plan.

The initiative is significant because the South Korean government has begun testing, in classes at two schools, whether teleoperated robots can be used in elementary school English lessons. For schools and education authorities responsible for English instruction, the trial offers a way to assess an approach different from lessons taught by a person at the front of the classroom. It is also a concrete example of the government’s policy to expand its robot learning plan.