A report by CHRIS DALY, one of the students who visited Korea.

Thirteen final-year CQU BLM (Bachelor of Learning Management) students, along with their 3 mentors, have returned to their respective campuses, after spending the summer teaching English to Korean students.

The entourage, headed by CQU Emerald coordinator and Sub-dean Pat Moran, taught at the prestigious Ulsan College in the southern part of South Korea.

Aided by Jan Bulman and Jann Houley, the students were; Dean Hardy (Mackay), Sharon Griffin, Shonel Murnane, Peter Kirby (Bundaberg), Karissa Brunker, Tamara Watson, Aimee Nordheim, Aleece Cini, Michael Weldon, Simone Ganter, Lisa Donohoe (Rockhampton), while Emerald was represented by Patsy Ritchings and Chris Daly.

“We were billeted out to home-stay families who welcomed all of us into their homes and looked after each one of us as though we were family,” said Pat.

“The experience was priceless because it was the first time each student had been allocated a class of their own. There were 11 classes, with students ranging in age from 8 to 17. Most had limited knowledge of English and I am proud of the way my students prepared and presented their classes,” continued Pat.

The relationship CQU has with Ulsan College is very close and the ties between the two educational institutions were strengthened as a result of some dazzling techniques used by these outstanding students.

The 13 CQU students taught from 9.30am until 3.30pm Monday to Friday, which included sports in the gymnasium.

The weekends were spent touring the sights of Ulsan and neighbouring Busan, with the evenings being wrapped up sharing a traditional Korean meal – complete with sitting on the floor and consuming the dreaded soju.

As well, tobogganing and skating on frozen creek beds were highlights for the students who were quite exhausted at the end of each week.

“For New Years, we were bussed to the Lotte hotel in the heart of Ulsan for some real celebrating,” recalled Pat. ” When midnight came, we celebrated as Australians do, much to the amusement of the Koreans, who definitely do not celebrate as openly as what our students did. In all honesty, each student conducted themselves in a manner fit for representing their university, not to mention their country. But the locals really loved us and we made many friends in Korea,” beamed a proud Pat.

Special mention must go to Dean, Michael and Chris for their efforts in presenting a fabulous sports day. Ending with the Hokey Pokey was one of the proudest memories we shared as over 120 students joined hands and really let themselves have fun, after some serious study.

However, all good things must end and it was a very sad afternoon at Ulsan airport as we bid our families farewell. Tears flowed openly as everyone promised to keep in touch and remain friends for life. There is no doubt that the 13 students who left Australia have come back much wiser and knowledgeable thanks to their teaching efforts in Korea. There is a hint that 1 or 2 may even return to pursue a career teaching in the beautiful surrounds of Ulsan.