1752

Research in Social Stratification and Mobility

eleavear

2015

41

11–24

English proficiency , English training abroad , Human capital , Credentialism , Transition from college to the labor market

This study examines the effects of English training abroad (hereafter ETA) on labor mar-ket outcomes in South Korea. ETA has become increasingly popular in many non-Englishspeaking countries and refers to short-term language study training abroad where studentsspend anywhere from 6 months to 2 years taking language courses at an educational insti-tutions. In this article, I conduct survival analysis and quantile regression using data fromthe 2007 Korea Employment Information Service’s Graduate Occupational Mobility Survey.This study finds that although the average effects of ETA seem to be modest as most priorresearch has indicated, ETA does appear to have substantial positive effects on getting agood job and earning higher wages. ETA proved especially helpful for those who did notattend elite colleges. That is, ETA is a useful tool for students with weaker formal educa-tion (often non-elite students) to supplement their educational credentials. Based on thesefindings, I conclude that ETA has a substantial impact on labor market outcomes in SouthKorea. This means that labor market opportunities are strongly determined by an individ-ual’s socioeconomic background, as the cost of participation in ETA presents a barrier toentry for individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

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