SOUTH Korea recently introduced a pilot program using English-teaching robots at local schools, in an attempt to better serve students in provincial cities, according to the Yonhap News Agency.
The South Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy introduced two types of robots for the program: an “autonomous” unit that can detect its surrounding and has voice-recognition features and a “tele-presence” unit that a teacher can remotely control and communicate with the students through a built-in camera and microphone.
According to the ministry, the English-teaching robots will be used at elementary schools in Masan and Daejon till February on a trial basis.
The South Korea Institute of Science and Technology led in the implementation of this program. It needs the backing of the South Korean government, which has spent 400 million won ($ 356,000) for additional research and development in related areas.
