The Marmot posts about N. Koreans going goo-goo over English and links to an article in the L.A. Times.

An expatriate living in Pyongyang who is involved with the nation’s English-language programs said English had replaced Russian as the largest department at the Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies, the leading foreign-language institute.

“There is a big drive now for learning and speaking English. The Ministry of Education is really trying to promote it,” said the expatriate, who asked not to be quoted by name because of the North Korean regime’s sensitivity about news coverage.

I would like to hear a first hand account of this ex-pats life in the North. How much of a social life does he have? what is the teaching like? What are the restrictions like for personal freedom, teaching, what about Internet access and international phone calls? I’m sure it would be quite the experience, but could just anyone hack it? How long could one live in such an environment?

Several young North Koreans interviewed in Pyongyang expressed both a desire to learn English and frustration at the difficulties.

The tour guide, a lanky 30-year-old with a passion for basketball, said he had spent years studying English, including one year as an English major at the University of Foreign Studies, but still couldn’t make small talk.

Aside from common courtesies, most of his vocabulary was made up of sports terminology.

“English is a common language between countries. Therefore, learning some basic English is helpful to our lives,” the guide, who asked to be quoted only by his family name, Kim, said this spring.

I would think having sufficient food and other basic necessities would be more helpful to your lives than learning English.

Another woman, also a tour guide, lamented that she was told to study Russian in high school instead of English.

“My father said that three things needed to be done in one’s life — to get married, to drive a car and to learn English,” said the woman.

substitute drive a car for acquire some sort of status symbol in South Korea and everything sounds about the same.

A few elite students have been trained with Hollywood movies — “Titanic,” “Jaws” and “The Sound of Music” are among a select number of titles deemed acceptable — but most students have to settle for English translations of the sayings of Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s founder. To the extent that any Western literature makes it into North Korea, it is usually from the 19th century. Charles Dickens, for example, is popular.

Well at least there are some authentic materials.  Can you imagine meeting a North Korean and having him talk in Victorian English? For example a random page from Bleak House by Dickens:
‘Sit down, my dear,’ said Mr Jarndyce. ‘This, you must know, is the Grolery. When I am out of humour, I come and growl here.’
‘You must be here very Seldom, Sir,’ said I.
‘O, you don’t know me!’ he returned. ‘When I am decieved or disappointed in-- the wind, and it’s Easterly, I take rfuge here. The Growlery is the best used room in the house You are not aware of half my humours yet. My dear, how you are trembling!’

Jake Buhler, a Canadian who taught English last summer in Pyongyang, said he was shocked that some of the best libraries in the capital had no books produced in the West other than various out-of-date oddities, such as a 1950s manual of shipping terminology.

Shocking, I think not. We’re talking about North Korea, not just any third world country.

Some critics of the North Korean regime believe that it wants fluent English speakers mainly for nefarious purposes.

Really. Another shocking idea. The best part of this article is the sample dialogue from a textbook.

Teacher: Han Il Nam, how do you spell the word “revolution”?

Student A: R-e-v-o-l-u-t-i-o-n.

Teacher: Very good, thank you. Sit down. Ri Chol Su. What’s the Korean for “revolution”?

Student B: Hyekmyeng.

Teacher: Fine, thank you. Have you any questions?

Student C: No questions.

Teacher: Well, Kim In Su, what do you learn English for?

Student D: For our revolution.

Teacher: That’s right. It’s true that we learn English for our revolution.