Understanding the Importance of English Education in South Korea and Exploring the Reasons Why South Korean Students Come to a University in the Midwest

Good quality of higher education.  Generally, people know that there are an 
abundance of well-known colleges and universities in the United States.  For example, 
anywhere in the world, people instantly recognize the following schools’ names: Harvard 
University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Yale University, University of 
California-Berkeley, and so forth. Moreover, foreign students from all around the globe 
want to gain admission to the above schools.  According to U.S. News & World Report 
(2012), these schools have high national rankings: Harvard University is number one in 
the United States, MIT is number six, Yale University is number three, and University of 
California-Berkeley is number twenty-one.  Moreover, these four schools are ranked 
globally as well, and this specific information is available through the QS website: MIT 
is ranked as number one in the world, Harvard University is ranked as number three, Yale 
University is ranked as number seven, and University of California-Berkeley is ranked as 
number twenty-two (U.S. News & World Report, 2012).   
The above national and world rankings show that the American higher education 
is significantly outstanding around the world. Although only four universities are listed 
above, Labi (2007) stated, “American institutions dominate the latest edition of a ranking 
of the world’s top 200 international universities by The Times Higher Education 
Supplement and Quacquarelli Symonds [(QS)].  Fifty-seven American institutions made 
this year's list” (para.1).  Therefore, those famous colleges and universities definitely 
affect the decision of the Korean students who decide to come to the United States.  
The following article reveals some valuable results.  The article was written by 
Patricia Chow, Assistant Director of Research and Evaluation at the Institute of 

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International Education (IIE).  This article significantly points out the perception of U.S. 
higher education based upon the point of view of diverse international students from all 
around the world.  Chow used several methodologies, such as quantitative research and 
qualitative research, to find valuable results.  Chow said that there were 9,330 valid 
students who participated in her research.  Through her article, Chow (2011) mentioned 
“The high quality of U.S. education is a prime factor, with over three-quarters of 
respondents worldwide rating the U.S. positively in this dimension” (p. 29).  In other 
words, approximately 7,000 students felt that the system of the U.S. higher education is 
the best of the best, especially compared to the other English speaking countries.