Réflexion sur les facteurs d'augmentation du nombre d'étudiants de sexe masculin à l'École d'interprétation et de traduction de l'Université Hanguk des Études Étrangères1

A comparative analysis of the total number of admissions to the Graduate School of Interpretation & Translation (GSIT) at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) revealed that the number of male students drastically increased during certain years. A statistical analysis of GSIT total admissions at HUFS indicated that there is a correlation between the increased number of male students and job landing difficulties due to heightened unemployment following economic recession. In particular, the number of male students admitted to GSIT soared during the years when unemployment sky-rocketed due to economic recession. The first such instance occurred in 1999 following the Asian financial crisis when unemployment reached record highs, and the second occurrence was in 2014, when the unemployment rate was at its peak following another economic downturn.Since job seekers believe that the ability to communicate in foreign languages is a major requirement for gainful employment, they consider GSIT an option to improve their communication skills in foreign languages. Consequently, the number of male students attending GSIT increases when unemployment rates rise during economic recessions. Thus, it can be concluded that a functional relationship exists between economic recession and increasing numbers of male applicants to GSIT.