Education majors visit South Korea
By Heidi Heater, a junior from Jackson, Ky.
WILMORE, KY— Summer classes don’t always mean missing out on fun and adventure. Asbury College students traveled to South Korea, May 14-27, to experience Korean life and gain a feel for what it’s like to teach internationally.
“Not all of our students will stay in the U.S. to teach,” said Dr. Shirley Pauler, professor of education. “If we look at where our alumni are now, we find them all over the world.”
Asbury College students visited two schools, one in Tejahn and Seoul, for three days each. In the schools, the students aided teachers in class activities or led a classroom routine; some even taught a few lessons. Even if the student was not an education major, he or she was able to be a classroom assistant.
I definitely fell in love with the Korean culture,” said Andrea Murdick, a junior education major from Pittsburgh, Pa. “I would love to be able to do my student teaching there and possibly teach there for a year or two.”
Through this trip, Pauler wanted students to gain a deeper knowledge of and appreciation for Korean culture, particularly the culture of the classroom.
“For education majors, this trip is a great way to gain understanding of how to teach not only children with Korean heritage, but also any child who’s ethnically different from the mainstream,” Pauler said. Since many children in American schools today come from diverse ethnic backgrounds, Pauler believes it is important for teachers to know how to relate to these students. 
The students didn’t spend all their time in the classroom. They experienced Korean life by eating in popular restaurants, shopping and bartering in the market, and visiting the de-militarized zone (DMZ).
Although the class is designed to give education majors an experience in cross-cultural teaching, all majors are welcome. As a sophomore health science major, Samantha Stearns from Littleton, N.H., said she traveled to South Korea for the cross-cultural experience. She wanted “to gain a better understanding of Eastern culture and of the issues between North and South Korea.”
Stearns said her visit to South Korea, particularly to the DMZ, taught her much about history. “My favorite part was the DMZ tour,” Stearns said. “I learned so much that day about the two countries and their struggles. I was able to go right up to the line and look over at the North Korean soldiers.”
While Stearns has no plans to be a teacher, she said the trip afforded her the opportunity to speak with one of the teachers about her service in the Peace Corps. “I love to travel and to learn about new cultures,” said Stearns. “The trip definitely got me thinking about what I could do abroad with a nursing degree.”
Released: July 10, 2007
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