Natasha Caroline Yang

As 2020 is coming to a close, I reflect on what has happened in my life this past year. Many would agree that 2020 has been a year of global turmoil, a time of financial and economic hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the medical uncertainties regarding one’s physical health. We fear losing loved ones to the deadly virus and wonder if our lives can ever be the same again. But despite all that is going on in the world, this period of uncertainty was also an unusual time for opportunity to arise, as was certainly the case for me.

  If you had told me that I would be living abroad, teaching English in a foreign country for a year, I wouldn’t have believed you. It would be out of my comfort zone and I wouldn’t think it to be possible. But deep down, I knew this was something that I always wanted to do. I wanted to stop feeling lost and gain a clearer sense of purpose in my life. So, after feeling stuck in my previous 9-5 job in Canada, I decided to take a chance and try something new! Fast-forward to February 2020, and I arrived in South Korea to embark on this incredible, once-in-a-life-time journey! I felt a wave of excitement come across me, as I knew that coming to South Korea to experience a new culture was exactly the sort of adventure I was craving for in my life!

However, it was a difficult time to arrive in South Korea as the pandemic was starting to hit. Some people would call it bad timing or even bad luck, as the pandemic could affect the quality of my TaLK experience. To some extent, it did limit my activity and immersion in the culture. But I saw this situation as nothing more than a blessing in disguise. I was initially only planning to stay in Korea for 6 months, not wanting to take too much time off from my Canadian employers. But since the schools re-opened late in the academic year, I didn’t start teaching until June, which gave me little time to gain actual, hands-on teaching experience.

Thus, the pandemic provided a unique opportunity for me to stay in South Korea longer and allowed me to experience more what this beautiful country has to offer. And surprisingly, my Canadian employers were very understanding of the situation and gave me the green light to extend my teaching contract. What an incredible blessing! From that moment onwards, I decided to take on the motto of “take life as it comes” and to make the most of what I’ve been given. As I reflect on my experience, I have to say that my TaLK experience has been nothing short of amazing and it has been one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

Despite all the safety restrictions set by the COVID-19 situation, I am still able to enjoy the different aspects of Korean culture and the benefits of the TaLK program. These include (but are not limited to) attending many different cultural experiences and field trips; learning a beautiful new language; exploring different areas of the Korean Peninsula; and meeting many great people from various backgrounds and nationalities, many of whom I have developed life-long friendships. Being exposed to these experiences have broadened my perspective on life, and has helped me find many opportunities for personal growth. I think this is what makes the TaLK Program so unique and special, and I am sad to hear of the discontinuation of the program in the Jeonbuk province effective 2021.

My Teaching Experience & Some Tips

Without a doubt, my teaching experience has been quite the challenge so far. As an introvert, teaching doesn’t come naturally to me, so I often feel like I am performing in front of the students, presenting a different side of myself. I am constantly pushing the bounds of my comfort zone, which is also very tiresome. My heart sank when I first heard that I would be solo teaching all of my classes (for both after-school and curriculum classes), and that I would not have a co-teacher. This meant that I would be solely responsible for coming up with all classroom material and creating my own afterschool curriculum. And if that isn’t daunting enough, I also don’t have the luxury of having a Korean co-teacher to help with translation and classroom management! As you can probably imagine, things can get pretty hectic not having another teacher to help reign in the kids when things get out of control! (Tip: Make sure to take a couple minutes to breathe before class starts to be in a positive headspace. And when things get out of hand, it is important to never give up!)

Each day is never the same, so anything can happen in the classroom. I constantly have to be well prepared and be on my toes to avoid any potential disasters. This is usually achieved through effective lesson planning, which can be an overwhelming process for new and inexperienced teachers. It is a difficult process to choose the right activities that will cater to students in a way that is fun, engaging and as well as educational, and it can be different for every class. It is a never-ending battle of trial and error, to see what works and what doesn’t, which often takes a lot of time, energy, and effort. At least it seems like that in the beginning. But with more experience, lesson planning becomes easier and less daunting over time. (Tip: Prepare more activities than what you have already planned. This can help save any embarrassment, and avoid making up something on the spot in case your class finishes early!)



Another factor that makes teaching difficult is the language barrier. Without the aid of a Korean co-teacher, teaching English to students with low levels of English, is incredibly challenging. This is especially true when it comes to explaining any games, rules or grammar points, and I often see blank stares and puzzled looks on the students’ faces. This forces me to think outside the box, and to simplify my language in the simplest way possible. I ask myself, ‘how can I explain this game or idea to the students in a way that is easy to understand?” I often try to think from the students’ perspective and incorporate games that are both interesting and easy enough to understand. (Tip: Apply the concept of “show, don’t tell.” Model the examples for students to produce the best results. This helps students understand the concepts, as they can easily visualize what you mean.)

In addition, with the added impact of the pandemic, the activities I choose for class are often limited, which makes teaching even more difficult. I am restricted to selecting activities that allows proper social distancing measures and safety precautions in the classroom. I cannot choose any group-based activities, which makes my lessons seem less fun and engaging than what it would normally be. Moreover, it is disheartening to see students skip English class when they find it boring, especially after working so hard to put something together! But it only motivates me to work harder as I evaluate my lessons to improve for the next time. (Tip: Self-evaluation is a critical step in making your lessons better. Once class is over, take a moment to reflect on how your lesson went. Write down what worked, what didn’t work, and how you can improve for the next time.)



By now, you can understand that at the end of the day, I am always so overwhelmed by the amount of work that goes into lesson planning and teaching, that I am often too exhausted to study Korean. No kidding, teaching is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining! I often joke to my friends that teaching children is more difficult, and strenuous, than passing my basic military training in the Canadian Armed Forces! There is some truth to that, as I really give it my all to survive each day in the classroom!

But although there is a steep learning curve, teaching also has its high points too.
There are many moments when I feel that the students are a joy to be around. Being able to witness their faces light up when they receive a small prize, or to feel their energy and excitement when they play a new game, makes my teaching experience seem much more enjoyable and worthwhile. I may even have some bad days, but I am amazed at how one student’s simple words of encouragement can instantly uplift my spirits as a teacher. In addition, being exposed to their youth, innocence and simplicity, makes me want to be a better teacher for them; for I know that these students are the future of Korea. To think that I can somehow impact them in my English class, that could ultimately influence their future, makes being an English teacher a very important and meaningful job.

In conclusion, I have about a month of teaching left, so I find myself cherishing my time with the students, for I know that this precious time will soon become a distant memory in the near future. Once this experience is over, I know that I will immediately start to miss it, and that I would wish I could go back in time. I am grateful to the TaLK Program for being able to have this incredible once-in-a-life-time experience, as I have learned and grown so much this past year. No longer feeling lost, I have now found my way, with a greater sense of purpose in life. Upon my return to Canada in 2021, I know that I will be a different person, so watch out Canada!