Reality show "My English Puberty" will show how six celebrities overcome their English phobia and improve their English proficiency. / Courtesy of tvN



By Rha Hae-sung, Park Si-soo

South Koreans' zeal for English education is known globally. But their relatively low proficiency compared with their massive investment is a bitter irony.

Average proficiency is improving as education programs evolve with scientifically tested methods and tools. But it still falls short of busting the so-called English "phobia."

A new reality TV show will shed light on the problem and suggest how to tackle it. "My English Puberty" will air its first episode on Dec. 4 on tvN, a cable channel specializing in entertainment content. It will feature six celebrities with poor English proficiency and show how they improve their skills under the guidance of well-known English tutor Lee Si-won.

The cast members are actress Hwang Shin-hye, singer Choi Whee-sung, singer Kim Hyo-yeon, actress Jeong Si-a, comedian Ji Sang-ryeol and model Han Hyun-min.

The eight-episode program will show them studying English for various reasons, which include making foreign friends, working overseas and teaching children English.

"The purpose of the show is to assuage ‘English phobia' that most Koreans experience when learning the language," Park Hyun-woo, the program's chief director, said.

"The main characters cover diverse age groups, from 10s to 50s, who are in desperate need of learning the language despite their high tension and fears. I hope the show can shed light on the excitement of learning English and guide the audience to an easy way of learning."