Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education Research Institute operates global culture understanding education program with the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education
Korean and foreign student team serve as one-day teachers at local elementary, middle and high schools
Popular for unique classes such as experiencing culture, language and traditional outfits of countries around the world
[May 7, 2019]
Students could be heard exploding in laughter at a classroom at Jeongpyeong Elementary School during the third period on the morning of the April 30. Chimereze Eden (26), a senior in international development and Saemaul Undong from Gabon currently studying at YU, and Kim Re-ah (22) majoring in sports science at YU became one-day teachers at an elementary school.
They taught a class on the theme of understanding Gabon culture. Chimereze Eden introduced the students about Gabon and talked about the language and foods of Gabon, while Kim Re-ah provided support such as materials needed for class. Students reacted very favorably to the unique class taught by a foreign college student. In particular, the elementary students were charmed by foreign cultures by experiencing the traditional outfits of Gabon.
Chimereze Eden said, “It felt great being given the opportunity to introduce the cultures of Gabon to Korean students. It was a lot of fun because I was able to interact with students at an elementary school classroom of Korea.” Kim Re-ah, who also helped teach students, said, “We carefully prepared materials to help explain in class, but once I got ready for class, I became worried. But, as soon as class started, the students reacted very well so we were able to have a fun class.”
Mr. Park Myeong-chan (48), a teacher at Jeongpyeong Elementary School, said, “It was great to see the students participate eagerly on global understanding education throughout the entire class. I think the students participated actively throughout the entire class because it was a new class format being able to learn about the culture of an unfamiliar country from a native college student.” He added, “The college students who came as one-day teachers prepared for class so well that they were able to stimulate curiosity among students. I wish there were more opportunities like this for students.”
The class that they held was part of the ‘2019 Foreigner Invitation Global Understanding Education’ hosted by the Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education Research Institute. Through this program, local elementary, middle and high school students can communicate naturally with foreign college students to experience cultures from around the world and was planned out by the Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education Research Institute to help students gain a global outlook. This education session conducted by a team of one international student and one Korean student is joined by 82 teams from 32 countries including Gabon, Ghana and China studying at YU. A total of more than 80 classes will be held until November in 16 elementary, middle and high schools such as Jeongpyeong Elementary School, Sadong High School, Gunwi Bugye Middle School, and other schools in the Gyeongsan, Cheongdo, Yeongcheon and Gunwi regions.
Meanwhile, YU has been operating ‘Global Harmony for the Future’ for global knowledge sharing volunteer work together with the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education since the second semester of last year. As part of the liberal grade system, seven teams made up of YU students and international students from sister schools in the Netherlands, Chile, Brazil and China participated in the second semester of last year to joint the creative experience activity classes and its program for communicating with popular culture such as music from different countries. They worked on global cultural communication in six middle schools in the Suseong-gu region of Daegu including Gosan Middle School, Daegu-dong Middle School, Maeho Middle School, Soseon Girls’ Middle School, Shiji Middle School and Shinmyung Middle School three times a semester. In this semester, exchange students from sister schools in seven different countries such as the USA, China, Germany, India, Bulgaria, Taiwan and Turkey will team up with Korean students to make a total of 15 teams to provide global knowledge sharing volunteer activities at four middle schools in the Buk-gu region of Daegu such as Gangbuk Middle School, Dongbyeon Middle School, Unam Middle School and Chilgok Middle School.
Regarding this, YU External Affairs Cooperation Office Director Heo Chang-deok said, “There are currently about 1,700 foreign students from over 60 countries working on their diplomas at YU and about 300 exchange students from sister schools from 20 countries come to study as well. In other worlds, it is a global campus university with over 2,000 foreign students studying here every year.” He added with emphasis, “Using the global education basis of YU, we will further promote various cooperation programs to share with the local communities.”
