<b>Henry Hurst became a Footprints teacher in June of this year and he is currently teaching South Korea with the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Office of Education and is LOVING it. He is the first foreign teacher that has ever taught at his school and because of this, the Korean Herald (largest English newspaper in South Korea) is writing an article on him. In addition – Henry has been appointed to the post of District Representative for a new Governmental initiative in Gyeonggi-do to oversee the treatment of foreign teachers in the province – CONGRATS HENRY!
A year ago, coming to South Korea to begin a career as an English teacher gave me this uncanny sense of destiny. I knew that I was going to teach English, but every other facet of my life, once the plan took off for Korea, was a relative unknown. The beginning of my sojourn in Korea was an emotional oxymoron to say the least. However, a year later, my destiny began to manifest as I became the very first non-Korean teacher at one of Korea’s oldest schools.
Established in 1900, Jinwi Elementary School is one of the oldest public schools in South Korea. Jinwi Elementary, a school with a 500-plus student body, has been educating Korean youth even before the Japanese invasion. This school’s touted 107-year history embodies many of the essence of classical Korea. It also stood as a stronghold for Korean culture during the Korean War. My school is located in the Korean country side of Jinwi-Meon, a small town in Pyeongteak City.
I remember the first time I stepped foot on the school grounds. It was like the calm before a storm. As I approached the school, there was not a soul on the playground but before I could get one foot out of the taxi, dozens of students burst through the doors and ran toward me; some pounced on me, grabbing my shirt while some grabbed my hair.<p>
The staff and students at Jinwi Elementary have embraced me with open arms. Many of the kids look up to me and on my way to class they greet me with deep-bows of respect throughout the hallways. I’ve never felt such sincere admiration and respect. During my first week at the school, students would stop at nothing to get a peek of me so I literally had to hide just to get some of my lesson plans finished.
One morning, I found myself surrounded by dozens of students begging me for autographs. That’s right! They asked me -- their teacher -- for an autograph. I could literally see their young minds expand through each set of eyes. They wanted me to scribble my name on anything they owned. I spent most of that afternoon writing my name in Korean on the back of my students’ hands. I spent my first year in Korea teaching at a hagwon in Suwon, but I never enjoyed rock star status like this. It was only through Footprints that I was placed in this outstanding public school.
It’s hard not to let the attention go to your head. But despite the initial frenzy, I’m really proud of my students. They have handled their curiosity about me in a mature way by asking me questions about my background and preferences.
My appointment to this position is just one example of how Korea is at the cusp of an English language renaissance. Public schools in Korea are currently undergoing a major overhaul in the foreign language department. The Korean Ministry of Education wants every public school in Korea to have at least one foreign English teacher by 2008.
In addition to ALL of this, teaching in public schools in Korea can give you opportunities beyond that of the classroom. My background as a journalist in Baltimore, Maryland has given me the opportunity to write for the Korean Herald—Korea’s largest English newspaper.
Since teaching in a public school, I now belong to the Gyeonggi-Do English Program in Korea (GEPIK), a program sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Education. GEPIK is rapidly reinventing itself. Just three weeks ago, I was appointed as one of two representatives for foreign teachers in Pyeongtaek City. I am one of only 18 representatives for the entire public school system in South Korea. I will have the honor of helping foreign teachers voice their concerns and to help shape policy to make life better for foreign teachers.
I’m the school’s first ever foreign teacher and, at 24-years old, I’m also its youngest teacher. Still, the entire school is looking to me for guidance on this program. As well, I have the responsibility of restructuring some of the current English curriculum; along with a Korean co-teacher, teaching every last English class for students, Korean staff, and even parents. I will also help design and run the school’s first ever foreign language lab.
This is a new and exciting era in my life and I have the chance to leave an everlasting impression on my students as the first foreign teacher they’ve ever had. I have a good feeling about this upcoming school year!
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“I had been teaching ESL in Europe and Asia for four years when I contacted Footprints. Before I found Footprints, I was independently searching for a position in Seoul and I was extremely hesitant to pursue any of the contracts that I was offered. The schools and other recruiting firms that I came into contact with were offering contracts with suspicious clauses and inadequate housing. I knew that Ben and Jeff ran a professional service as soon as I spoke to them on the phone. I have since completed my one year contract in Seoul and can honestly say that everything went well from beginning to end. Although Korea is not always the easiest place to live, Footprints makes the transition so much smoother. Footprints is upfront, honest and dependable. I would highly recommend their service for anyone considering teaching abroad and would not hesitate to re-sign with Footprints in the future.”
