My contact, Ms.Nokes, graduated from a US school with a degree in business. Knowing she was not interested in business as a career, she talked with friends and family about her ambitions to travel. She was presented with an opportunity to travel to South Korea to get paid to teach English and decided it was a win-win. Her food and housing is paid for, and her salary allows her to travel frequently. She has noticed that many colleagues are teaching in S.Korea because they did not want to go through all the certifications necessary in their own countries.
In terms of poverty, she says there is a noticeable difference. She works at a private school in an English-speaking village. Public school children in grade 6 spend a week of 'camp' at the school to teach them subjects such as cooking, science, world currencies, global connections, and world festivals all in English. She expressed that the level of English competency in children is much higher with families who have money. Privileged children are often in English classes year round and many travel extensively, which gives them an opportunity to use their language skills outside of school. Underprivileged children are often embarrassed by their lack of experience visiting other countries and often have a very different view of the world than those who have.
I think it is unfortunate that the children only get a week of English intensive classes, and that in her area it is restricted to grade 6. One week is not enough for someone to fully grasp the basics of our language (or any, for that matter!!)
Hi Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI think that it is great that you have made professional contact. I am still waiting, but I haven't given up; I will continue to try. How awesome is that to get an opportunity to go to South Korea to teach English, have boarding and food paid for, plus get to travel! I thought it was interesting that many of her colleagues are teaching there also to avoid going through certification requirements.
I agree that it is unfortunate that the public school children only get a week of different classes in English and have to be in the 6th grade to receive that. Learning a foreign language definitely takes a lot of practice and time.
Hi Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous that you have made a professional contact outside of the U.S. I am still trying but am beginning to doubt that I will make a contact.
Ms. Nokes and her work in S. Korea sound very interesting. I'd like to hear more about the impact that poverty is having in S. Korea. Is learning English the only difference she sees?
I enjoyed reading your post about Ms. Nokes. She sounds like a very determined woman. Did Ms. Nokes speak of the living conditions of children in poverty? Did she talk to you about how the schools are in her country,in comparison to the US?
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed reading your post. I am very happy for you that you were able to reach your professional contact. I have yet to get in touch with mine. I think that is awesome that Ms. Nokes is able to move to another country to teach English with no house bill or food bill and still get a salary. Great!!
ReplyDeleteMr. Nokes has my dream job :) I can relate to her experiences working with youth from other countries who have had the opportunity to travel to English-speaking destinations and practice their English. I coordinate for an international student exchange program and am currently supervising four students who are living in Michigan for the school year. It is amazing to compare their skills at speaking English with their parent's skills back home. These students are so very lucky and privileged to have been given the opportunity to travel as they do!
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