한(韓),일(日) 한자능력검정시험(漢字能力檢定試驗) 비교연구(比較硏究) -초등학생용 급수를 중심으로- = A Comparative Study of Korea and Japan`s Chinese Characters Qualification Test -With a focus on the Level system for elementary school students-

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study is conducted to find out problems by examining current situations and systems of Korea and Japan`s Chinese characters qualification test and prepare countermeasures. Recently, the Chinese characters qualification test is popular to elementary school students. Accordingly, private education such as private institutes, Internet, and Chinese home-study materials is building preparative programs for the test and the interest in Chinese character education is growing. Elementary school students` ratio in Korea`s Chinese characters qualification test is about 60%. In addition, their level test types are not temporary but constant so the rate in the test is on the rise. On the other hand, Chinese characters in public education are not the regular subject, so systematic Chinese character education is not conducted due to lack of time. In addition, educational Chinese characters for elementary schools are not made so that Chinese education of Korea relying on private education brings about many problems. In particular, the test system was introduced by Japan but Korea`s Chinese characters qualification test shows many differences from Japan`s. With regard to current conditions of Korea`s Chinese characters qualification test, firstly, there are many institutions examining the test and their standards dividing the levels are different. In other words, basic Chinese characters for national elementary school education that sets a standard are not established so that Chinese characters allocated per grade by the test institutions and number of Chinese characters show different standards. This may drop professionalism of Chinese characters qualification test and weaken authentication of the test. Besides, test dates of the institutions are so different that they seem to be commercial. However, Japan doesn`t have many Chinese characters qualification test institutes, and the test is hosted by Japan Association of Chinese Characters Qualification Test. In addition, the level system of Chinese characters qualification test is related to Chinese character education so 1006-based Chinese characters allotted per grade are created by each grade. It clearly shows that Japan`s Chinese characters qualification test is being conducted on the basis of public education. Current Korea`s Chinese characters qualification test market is very big. To establish the prestige of elementary schools` Chinese character subject and create the system of desirable Chinese character education, it needs to improve the system of the current Chinese characters qualification test. Also, if systematic Chinese character education in public education is conducted and educational Chinese characters for each grade of elementary school students are enacted, ideal Chinese character education with relationship between public and private education will be realized.