On 29 June 2022, five KDI School students representing five countries donated their time and talent at Boram Elementary School in Sejong. Our KDI School volunteers, dressed in their best traditional attire, gave presentations on their countries and experienced working the English Teaching Department for the day. 

Lindsay Chiswe (Zimbabwe) was handling the 3rd grade students, Ha Thi Hoa (Vietnam) and Kevin Oluoch Ochieng (Kenya) were teaching the 4th graders together, and Hans Nkwati (Cameroon) and Ingyin Khin (Myanmar) were teaching the 5th and 6th graders. The KDI School volunteers taught an average of 3 classes each during their regular English classes helping them learn about the countries represented while practicing their English. 

Kevin Oluoch Ochieng (MDP, 2022) and Ha Thi Hoa (MDP, 2021) shared their experience teaching the 4th graders. 

Kevin and Ha wowed their classes with well-prepared presentations that covered highlights about the countries, including the UNESCO heritage sites and attractions in their countries, favorite local foods like Ugali in Kenya and Pho in Vietnam, and traditional dresses and attire for various tribes from their countries.

Ha shared that “this was the first time I had volunteered in a school environment and even though I have volunteered previously in Seoul, I felt this was a unique experience and really enjoyed it. I was nervous during my first class, but I adjusted as the day went along.”

Kevin too felt that this was a “wonderful day, enjoyed the challenge and looked forward to doing it again.”  He is scheduled to do one more talent donation session.

The question-and-answer sessions were engaging and competitive between both students and the KDI volunteer teachers. The school children were eager and engaged and showed how much they learnt from the presentations done by our KDIS students.

Hans Nkwati (MDP, 2021) and Ingyin Khin (MDP, 2021) teamed up to teach the 5th and 6th graders.

Hans and Ingyin had older students who were equally involved and excited especially to see our KDI students in their traditional attire. Hans and Ingyin also shared fun facts about their countries and introduced famous tourist locations to visit. Hans shared about museums, the different weddings attire worn in different provinces, and geographical and statistical facts about Cameroon. Ingyin shared about Myanmar traditional attire won by school children and the local games played. Hans and Ingyin were both impressed with the students, as they asked a lot of questions and they bonded with a lot of the children.

Ingyin also enjoyed sharing her culture, “the students enjoyed the games we played and learning about Myanmmar. We also got to dance some of our traditional dances, it was fun doing it with the kids.”

Hans said “this was my first experiencing teaching children, but it was a wonderful experience. It is an opportunity I would enjoy doing again”.

Hans and Ingyin shared dances from their countries and taught the students how to play some local games from Myanmar, which the children enjoyed a great deal with their teachers too! The students were also impressed with Ingyin’s command of Hangul and Hans’ love for Korean food. Hans told the class that he enjoys bibimpap and bulgogi. Ingyin spoke about how she had learnt Korean through KDI and other Korean teachers.

Lindsay Chiswe(MPP, 2022) taught the 3rd graders, the youngest students of the day.

Lindsay taught the 3rd graders by herself and enjoyed teaching about Zimbabwe, sharing the country’s neighboring countries, delicacies, famous tourist locations, different cultural dances, and instruments. She brought some of the musical instruments, which the children got to play with. She also prepared the flag of Zimbabwe, which they got to draw out and color for themselves. It was an involving arts and craft project for the day.

Lindsay articulated how she felt a new appreciation for teachers: “You must always bring energy and excitement to the classroom and find ways to keep the children interested in the lessons. I found out and learnt ways to keep changing my approach as I taught other students’ classes to make them more connected with my lessons. I needed sweets just to keep my energy up!” 

Lindsay also shared that “I enjoyed feeling like a rockstar as the students were excited to see us. I’m also impressed with the facilities as this is a government school, but the facilities are topnotch”. 

The KDIS students felt welcomed and had a wonderful warm reception from both staff and teachers at Boram Elementary School. The school children made the KDIS volunteers feel appreciated with frequent hellos, bowing, and waving in the hallways, making what was a gloomy day outside special. KDIS volunteers would recommend the Talent Donation Program to any KDIS student who might be interested and look forward to engaging again with similar programs in KDI School. The KDIS students got to engage with the children in the Sejong area- a rare and insightful opportunity to experience a Korean public school.

The KDIS students also wanted to give a special thank you to all the English teachers at Boram Elementary School for making sure the KDIS students were effective in their delivery and engagements.