I have to admit that I had some preconceived notions as to what I would discover when visiting Korean schools. From the reading I had done before our trip, I got the impression that classes in Korea were going to be very structured and mostly in lecture form. I felt like I would see stressed out students preparing for exams, and very little fun in the classroom. However, what I have seen, while structured, has been students receiving a high-tech education in a cooperative way.
The other day we had the opportunity to visit Seosang Elementary School, a Samsung Smart School. This small school was located in the middle of a buckwheat field on the outskirts of Chuncheon. The school limits class size for each grade to around 12 students, and boasts of an extensive after school program that allows students to explore different areas of interest. The school had been recently remodeled and each classroom was built with eco-friendly woods. The aroma of fresh cut timber filled many of the classrooms. Gardens surround much of the school grounds, and students are encouraged to plant whatever they want. Pride in the school was evident in the teachers, students, and principal alike. When asked what goal did the Principal have for the students at this school, he responded: “To make students happy.” It was so refreshing to hear! Not for students to get high scores, or be at the top of the class. He wanted students to feel happy. What a concept!
After our tour of school grounds ended, we were allowed some free-time to visit classrooms and watch teachers teach. I ended up in an upper grade science classroom where students appeared to be playing the Korean equivalent to Kahoot, called Thinkerbell. The teacher expertly guided students through her interactive lesson. Even though everything was taught in Korean, a language I have struggled to understand, I could relate to nearly everything happening in that room. Student’s reacted the same way when racing to answer a question. The teacher joked with students when she got caught making a mistake. I admired the teacher’s ability to transition students from game to textbook to science experiment in a matter of seconds, without any loss of learning. Students were supportive of each other, and the teacher was respected. I did not want to leave! I could have stayed and watched and interacted with those students all day.
We only spent a few short hours at that school, and it poured rain during our entire stay. This did not dampen spirits or hinder our visit in any way. It was so refreshing to see a school that had high expectations for students, but didn’t bog them down with getting the perfect test score. The school valued happiness and exploration, and students were highly engaged. After our visit I feel a renewed sense of energy and excitement to start another school year!
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