Interview with Josh & Merly teacher

 Michuhol Foreign Language High School is a foreign language school, so we have a lot of foreign teachers from many different countries. The foreign teachers teach English or a major language, which is a feature of the school. In particular, they create their own curriculum to improve students' essay writing skills by teaching action plans, problem statements, how to refer to papers, and also improving their conversational skills. In addition, students can interact with teachers not only in class but also through various events held in the school, such as basketball games and small talk. We thought that these teachers would be able to give an objective judgment on the curriculum and the personalities of Korean students, so we interviewed two native teachers : A teacher from Canada (Joshua) and a teacher from Peru (Merly), about Korean schools and students.

 

Q1. Why did you decide to apply to a Korean school?

Josh : -I'm Korean-Canadian, so I wanted to explore my roots and try teaching.

Merly : I became a teacher because I love teaching. The reason I especially chose a Korean 

school was because my husband was Korean.  

 

Q1-1. How did you know how to apply to Korean schools?

Josh : There is a very popular program that allows teachers to apply to Korean schools. This led me to research about Korean schools and apply.

 

Q2. What is the most attractive aspect of Korean schools?

Josh : The students are very respectful. They are all nice, smart, and especially very hardworking.

Merly : I think the students are the best thing. They have a youthful energy, and it's a pleasure to teach and work with them. 

 

Q3. What are your thoughts on the education curriculum of Korean schools?

Josh : First of all, Korean students seem to study more than Canadian students, and it's nice to see them considering and challenging what they've learned. Also, there are other differences between the Korean and Canadian curriculum. In Canada, the atmosphere of studying is very free, and students actively raise their hands in class and share their opinions freely, which is a student-led class. Furthermore, unlike Korea, students in Canada go to university with essays and in-school grades, not a system like the SAT, so there is more competitive leadership or extra things.

 

Merly : I think the Korean school system is much more challenging than the education system in Peru, where I lived, but the good thing is that even though they have a busy and difficult lives now, they can have hope for a good future. 

 

Q4. In your opinion, what are the differences between Korean schools and schools in your home country?

Josh : First, there is no such thing as a foreign language high school in Canada. This is because many students in Canadian schools have different nationalities because their parents have another nationality, or because their parents are immigrants. As a result, students are free to speak their parents' native language or the language of their place of origin, so they are basically speaking five languages. Therefore, even if some students are speaking in different languages, everyone understands and responds. Second, I was surprised to see the similarity in hairstyles and fashion among people in Korea because in Canada, everyone has their own style, and distinct personality. It was very interesting to see that students use hair rollers. 

 

Merly : In Peru, and most schools in South America, students only study in the morning, so they don't eat at school, however, Korean schools have a much more rigorous education. MCH has a dormitory, but in Peru, dormitory is only for foreigners. It's very rare. 

 

Q5. What are your thoughts on the school system of MCH ?

Josh : I was impressed with the focus on foreign languages, and second languages.

I also thought it was great that the students were using high level books to study, and I was glad to teach these students. Also, the night study time was new to me in the school system. I understand that it provides an environment and time for students to study, but it was a bit of a shock when I first saw it because it felt like the military.

 

Merly : In most schools in Korea, there are 50 minutes of class and 10 minutes of break, but in Peru (South America), we have back-to-back classes and one break, which is about 20-25 minutes at a time.

 

Q6. Who do you think is the desirable student?

Josh : I think all students are beautiful, but I think the most desirable students are the ones who are not intimidated by new challenges and are constantly exploring new things. I also think students who turn in their assignments on time are really desirable.

 

Merly : I think students who study because they love it, not because they have to is desirable. For example, in the Spanish classes, the ones who study because they love the language, do much better than the ones who study because they regard it as their obligation.

 

 Two teachers were very different in many ways, including their nationalities and the reason they came to Korea, but they have both agreed that the Korean education system, especially at Michuhol Foreign Language High School, is strict and tough. Josh teacher has only been here for one semester, but he knows how hard the students study. We, who are in school, often feel mentally and physically exhausted, but we have a bright future ahead of us because we are living fiercely now. Even though we may not be satisfied with the results of our efforts at the moment, the fact that we have worked hard for something will light the way for us in the future. So, we wish the students of Michuhol Foreign Language High School the best. 

 

 

By Staff Reporter Kwon Seorim (2-1)

Kim Jihoo (2-2)