I want to learn Korean

I want to learn Korean

 

[시사타임즈 = 이철원 시사타임즈 회장] As we moved to the disaster recovery site, we could see not only the banners that read ‘I love Korea’ and ‘I want to learn Korean!’ on the gates and windows of houses along the road, but also the Korean flags painted by the locals here and there. So, around April, a Korean language class was opened to reflect the residents' high interest in Korea and Korean culture.

 

▲I want to learn Korean (banner) (c)시사타임즈

 

The first Korean language classroom started with an interpreter officer as a teacher at their request while restoring Farwing Elementary School close to the garrison. They were students who were interested in Korean culture and Hangeul, and were recommended by teachers. Most of them were good students.

 

Around May, word of mouth about the Korean language school began to spread when the cast members briefly taught Korean to local children when they came to a Korean MBC station to film 'Real Man'. University students and adults also came to the unit to study Hangeul for study or employment in Korea. Therefore, Korean language classes for them were additionally opened at Arau Heavy Equipment Vocational School. It was operated between 18:00 and 20:00 in consideration of work life and university class hours. Also, after watching the broadcast at 'Normal University' in Tacloban, there was a request to open a Korean language course. Therefore, every Wednesday and Saturday, an interpreter officer who speaks Filipino language gave Korean lectures at ‘Normal University’ and connected Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) so that Korean language classes could continue even after we left.

 

▲Elementary school Korean class (c)시사타임즈

 

The purpose of many students learning Korean is to get a job in Korea or to be selected as an exchange student at a Korean university. To do this, they must take the Korean Language Proficiency Test [TOPIK] accredited by the Korean government and pass at least the TOPIK1 level to be eligible. The Korean language proficiency test is held on the same day only in designated places set by the evaluation agency around the world, and in the Philippines, the test could only be taken in Manila. However, at that time, it was not possible to move a total of 200 students from the Korean language school to Manila to take the test, and to go from Leyte here to Manila required a 21-hour journey by car. And few of these typhoon victims were able to afford the full cost of the journey. Therefore, we visited the Korean Cultural Center in Manila, which hosts the Korean Language Proficiency Test [TOPIK], and cooperated to take the test in Leyte.

 

▲High School Korean Class (c)시사타임즈

 

Fortunately, with the active support of the Korean Cultural Center, residents were able to take the Korean Language Proficiency Test [TOPIK] at Leyte Normal University. The first test was conducted in October, and 18 out of a total of 136 test takers [elementary school students are excluded] were able to obtain the TOPIK LEVEL1 qualification. They prepared for the exam for 3 months without any understanding of Hangeul, so they expected the pass rate of the top 5 people who learned it quickly, but unexpectedly 18 people passed the exam.

 

Students attending Korean language schools can be broadly classified into three types. The first is those who want to learn Korean because they are interested in Korea and Korean culture through K-pop or Korean dramas. As they have a high interest in Korea and Korean culture, they learn the contents of the class quickly and have a very high concentration. These are students who deliberately try to have a conversation when they see the Korean military and ask a lot of questions outside of the class content.

 

▲Evening Adult Korean Class (c)시사타임즈

 

Second, there are people who come to Hangeul school to overcome the “trauma” caused by the typhoon while socializing with people. By coming to a Hangeul school that shared common interests, they naturally wanted to get along with others and comfort their wounds. There was an 18-year-old female student in the adult class of a Korean language school who was always tired from sitting silently. She lost all of her family to the typhoon, and had to watch them die. She hates herself for living alone because of her guilt over her brother who died with her while trying to save her sister and her brother, who lost her hand and disappeared into her water, and she hates herself for living alone and drowns every day. She had a nightmare and was tormented. In Hangeul School, there were many students who suffered the pain of losing their husbands, parents, and children. She was slowly overcoming her trauma at her Hangeul school, being comforted by and working with people who had similar experiences to her.

 

The last ones were students who came to Korea to work or to work with Korean companies. They wanted to find Korea as a land of opportunity to earn more money for their family than they do for themselves. They were very enthusiastic because they had a clear goal for learning, but the learning level was rather low. Here, I realize once again how many opportunities and dreams Korea gives. The Hangeul School, which started with the hope that positive perceptions about Korea will spread and continue, have produced more than expected results by spreading Korean culture, healing the wounds of local residents caused by typhoons, and giving them new dreams. Regardless of what reason they visit the Korean language school of Arau Unit, I expect them to achieve their dreams through Hangeul.

 

글 : 이철원 시사타임즈 회장

 

 

<맑은 사회와 밝은 미래를 창조하는 시사타임즈>

<저작권자(C)시사타임즈. 무단전재-재배포금지>

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이철원 시사타임즈 회장 wangco123@timesisa.com