Classes For Apartment Residents’ Children

In a growing number of apartment complexes, children do not go to private academic institutes or Hakwon during vacations.

In the residential facilities in the apartment complexes, various classes such as piano, English and writing are taught to children free of charge.

Teachers are their neighbors. Parents say they are comforted in that they do not have to send their children to far-away private schools and let them study with their neighbors. Sometimes educational institutions are commissioned to provide special programs.

This is a new trend since various facilities for residents such as ballrooms, guest houses, business rooms, and fitness centers are built in many apartment complexes. As residents met more often to take advantage of the facilities, they came up with the idea to set up education programs for children.

Some construction companies offer education programs for children from the sale of newly-built apartments as a marketing strategy.

Residents of Dongil High Ville apartments in Buldang-dong, Chunan City, South Chungcheong Province, opened a free “children’s learning camp” where children can learn 12 subjects including English, Chinese character, painting, writing, and musical instruments.

Those who hold certificates or are capable of teaching children in particular subjects voluntarily took charges of the classes. The classes open two to four times a week with some 100 students.

Kim Guk-jin, the leader of residents’ committee, said, “As residents use public facilities, they are more actively participating in various residential communities. We developed education programs for children of residents to boost participation.”

Some new apartments will take care of children’s English education. In “English villages” of Xi (brand name of LG apartments) apartment complexes in Sangin-dong, Dalseo-gu, Daegu and in Yonji-dong, Jin-gu, Busan, English teachers from abroad will live in the apartment complexes to give English classes to children.

Within two years of moving in, the construction company will foot the bill of operating the classes, and then the residents’ communities will run the classes.

imsoo@donga.com