Korea now using robots to teach their kids English

Apparently there's a real shortage of affordable English teachers in South Korea, so they're now testing a robot called Engkey to connect their students to cheaper teachers in the Philippines.

Unlike that Japanese version we saw last year, the rotund little Engkey robot doesn't really look very human, although it will roam around the classroom talking to students, and can do a little dance. One weird feature is that instead of a face, Engkey has a black and white TV screen with a Caucasian teacher's face.

While the robots cost about $10,000 each, the developer points out that they don't need health care, sick leave, or vacation pay, and they aren't likely to take off for a better paying gig in Japan. Better not let the American Federation of Teachers hear about that part.

De took our jawbs!

Outsourcing education, a classic.