Gyeonggi Academy of Foreign Languages (GAFL) - 142 out of 272 students who graduated this year had passed SKY (Seoul Univ., Korea Univ., Yeonsei Univ.) entrance exam.

A lot of GAFL students who took 2014 university entrance exam had passed elite universities in both Korea and outside of Korea. 142 students out of 272 (52.2%) passed SKY university entrance exam and it is an increase of 9 percent compared with the previous year. The pass rate includes other domestic elite universities exam, such as SungKyunKwan University, SeoGang University, the Korea Military Academy and Police Academy, it became 99.6%.

The result for overseas university entrance exam did not come out yet but 11 out of 26 students who completed International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB Diploma) has already passed universities exam that are in ranking 50 of QS Academic Ranking of World Universities.

The list of above universities are as followed:
London University (WR 4), Imperial College (WR 5), Oxford University (WR 6), Hong Kong University (WR 26), Bristol University (WR 30), Melbourne University (WR 31), Manchester University (WR 33), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Students are still waiting to receive resuslt from Harvard Univ., Yale Univ. and Duke University.


◇99.6% of the Students Make It Into Prestigious Universities in Korea -
Big Support is the Key

Secrets behind 99.6% of Gyeonggi Academy of Foreign Languages (GAFL) students’ entering prestigious universities in Korea are generous support of Bong-Ahm Institute and its differentiated educational program. Principal Jeon, Seong-eun of the GAFL said, “The Academy has been providing high-level foreign language education that befits the school’s identity as a ‘foreign language high school’ to nurture global leaders.” “Since Chairman Kang, Young-joong, famous for the ‘Eye-Level Education,’ took office as Chief Director of Bong-Ahm Educational Foundation, he has not spared support for the school. He is committed to nurturing future leaders,” he added. In fact, the Institute is the only one among a number of private foreign language high schools in Gyeonggi Province that pays more than 100% of its share of legal contributions. Moreover, it is making utmost effort to improve school facilities and to scout talented teachers.

Principal Jeon took office last April, and has been working to create an atmosphere where students could feel like they’re the real owners of the school under his educational philosophy of “Making a School Where Students are Happy.” As a result, the school’s “Rainbow Curriculum 7.7” was created, a balanced education program composed of 7 curricular and 7 extracurricular programs.
Seven curricular research rooms were prepared so as to help teachers of different subjects share contents of their researches without having to set up a meeting. By having students to actively take part in the class such as giving presentations and doing group studies, the school enables students to learn and study by themselves and prepare to participate in various competitions. As part of extracurricular program, the school runs the “7 Certificate System of GAFL” ? volunteer activities, self-management, 1 sport & 1 art (selecting and learning 1 sport and 1 art), reading, club activity, writing a research paper, and language capability. And the school continues to further improve the 7 extracurricular programs.
Furthermore, the GAFL will continue to forge cooperative relationships with prestigious schools in the world. Already, the school has tied cooperative relationship with the ACS International School in Singapore and Guangdong Country Garden IB World School and is now working to tie another relationship with Ritsumeikan Uji Junior and Senior High School in Japan.


◇Standing Shoulder to Shoulder with Prestigious High Schools in the World -
IB Diploma Curriculum of the GAFL

In 2010, the GAFL became the first high school in Korea to introduce the IB diploma program, which is being adopted in some 2,400 high schools in 140 countries. Having completed the program, the students of GAFL get to receive both domestic and international high school diploma, with which they can enter universities in Korea and in other countries. In 2012, out of 38 students who had first completed the IB diploma, 24 students entered world-famous universities such as Cornell University, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, Imperial College London, etc., creating a big sensation.
Last year, the students with the IB diploma achieved a great result in entering world-class universities, proving the excellent education system of the GAFL. In particular, students’ average grade for the IB diploma test held in last November was 36.85/45, the highest in the Asia-Pacific region.

The GAFL allows students in IB diploma program to freely select subjects to promote academic achievement. Out of a total of 6 different areas, namely language & literature study, language learning & its use, individuals and the society, experimental science, math & computer science, and art, students can choose one subject considering their aptitude. For the IB diploma program at the GAFL, the number of students in a class is limited to a maximum of 15, and all classes except for the Korean Language class is given in English. All tests are given in essay type, evaluation method mostly used in many of the Western countries. Teachers are graduates of prestigious universities in and out of Korea, and there are a number of excellent foreigner teachers.
Principal Jeon said, “Included in the IB diploma program at GAFL are character education, creative thinking education, foreign language education and globalization. We will continue to nurture future leaders who are capable of solving problems rationally based on upright character.”