English teachers experience Korean culture

Published on 2011/08/23 | Source

Foreign teachers pose with a member of a traditional Korean folk dance troupe during their visit to Korean Folk Village in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. / Courtesy of NIIED

About 970 English teachers, newly hired to teach at public schools from the fall semester, have been participating in orientation programs that will help them more easily adapt to Korean culture and customs, the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) said Tuesday.

August is a month of new beginnings and new experiences for many of the English teachers invited to Korea through the government-run English Program in Korea (EPIK).

NIIED, a division of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST), hired some 970 teachers this term for placement in public schools across the nation.

"The orientation, running from Aug. 17 to 26, is aimed to prepare the teachers to not only be effective teachers here, but to also learn to adapt to Korean culture and customs", NIIED said in a statement.

The orientation is being held at three different venues - NIIED, Kyung Hee University and Jeonju University.

A total of 308 teachers, destined for schools in Seoul, took part in an eight-day orientation held at Kyung Hee University, in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

A field trip to The Korean Folk Village in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, was also a part of the schedule.

"The folk village was a wonderful cultural experience, giving insight into Korea and its rich history and traditions. I am so glad we were able to take part in it", said Cathy Rivera, who hails from the United States.

The village is a living museum displaying traditional elements of Korean life and culture including streetscapes, housing and craftwork of the late Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).

"The cultural experience was amazing! The equestrian performance was the one thing that stood out for me the most, there were men doing handstands while on horseback - truly incredible", said Elizabeth Daniel of the United Kingdom.