A different world

Taking a look at this picture, one can see that there’s something fairly odd with it. There sits an ancient Asian building yet no trees, woods, or cherry blossoms surrounds it. Not one tree is even sighted and instead, skyscrapers lay in the background. Though it may not seem obvious at first, this image symbolizes how South Korea has developed so much yet the history remains intact and treasured every day. This is a country that greatly values it’s past and to be a foreigner who understands this, it can be a very rewarding experience.

You may be wondering how this picture has anything to do with ESL when it relates so largely with it. Obviously, living in Korea (or any country abroad) is a complete culture change.  Teaching English requires open-minded people or people who are willing to step out of their shell and try something new. The person has to go into it with the utmost respect and will to be changed. An egotistical, pompous attitude will allow one to fail terribly.

Since this country has widened it’s relations a lot more with others in the past 50 years or so, the people have a huge desire to increase it’s knowledge and become more educated. This is where English as a Second Language comes in. English appears everywhere in the world even if some don’t even understand it. It appears in Japanese songs, Chinese songs, German songs, etc. What does this tell us? As the number one most commonly used language in the world, people want to be educated and learn it. It gives everyone a way to relate and communicate without the misunderstanding that occurs often when a native speaker talks to a non-native speaker.

From the picture, one possibly may feel that South Korea is not open to change since they admire their history so much, but that is not the case in any way. It is continuing to grow rapidly into an even more well-rounded nation and by doing so, it has become more understanding of other cultures. It welcomes any stranger who is willing to learn about Korea as well as them sharing their culture there. ESL teachers are precisely these strangers who bring their language to a country who is very willing to learn it.

Credit: Night Gate