English Town
Gyeongsan, South Korea
Korean Language
The official language of Korea is 한국어 (Han-Gook-ah), developed in the 15th century by Sejong the Great, and is spoken by more than 78 million people worldwide. It is a beautiful language, elegantly written and spoken, and designed to be easily learned. It is rich with history and tradition, leveled with honorific tones, and is a treasure to the world of communication. As such, it should be valued with the greatest respect, protected for all time, and cherished as a language for the people.
English
English is the International language. This is fact. It is being taught worldwide at an incredible pace and proving its worth daily. English will be one important way people from different countries communicate, and therefore, can share their cultural history. I support English as a worldwide language, but I also encourage its use as a means to communicate the need for cultural preservation and valued as a system for which others can learn about the immensely diverse and colorful home we live on.
Korea is working hard to make English its second language. It is taught at every grade-level from Kindergarten to University. English words are quickly soaking into the Korean lexicon and it is visible on the streets in signs, menus, billboards, posters, etc. The diligence and commitment of the people to learn the language is astonishing. I am privileged to be a part of this process.
English Town
I work at one of many English Towns throughout the country. They serve as alternative locations for interactive language learning, giving students opportunities to practice their skills with native English speakers.
My English Town, in Gyeongsan, is housed on the third floor of a public elementary school where five rooms have been renovated to look like specific locations in a city. There is a hotel, a bank, a ticket booth, a department store, a Burger King, a post office, a medical clinic, and a residence.
The purpose of the lessons are to teach students basic dialogue pertaining to each section and allow them chances to use them in conversation-style interactions with the teachers. For example, at the department store, students learn how to buy a t-shirt and a backpack using vocabulary such as "I'd like", "buy", "receipt", etc. They read cards with the dialogue and then practice with the teacher. Students attend lessons in each section, experiencing what it might be like if they were visiting an English-speaking city.
In the afternoon, students participate in the Mission Story (see videos on the right). Students travel about the rooms pretending to be tourists in the city, following a mission itinerary, which takes them to each section at least twice to practice the dialogue they've learned in the lessons.
We teach different students every day. English Town is like a field trip for local schools, with students attending our program for only a single day. It's a lot of fun and a great way to meet and teach Korea's enthusiastic, motivated children.
Be sure to watch some videos and enjoy the site.
Stay Shiny