November 2, 2024
On November 2, 2024, the Korean School of Eindhoven (KSE) hosted its 11th annual teacher training, an event that brought together 61 dedicated educators from Korean schools in Eindhoven, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam. Zoe Kang, a teacher at the KSE and one of the event organizers, reported, "This year's program was designed to refresh, support, and build pride among the teachers. We centered it around self-care and team-building." Self-care is an important topic because heritage language educators have a tendency to work tirelessly to keep Korean language and culture alive in the Netherlands. Having a support network is vital.
Kicking off the event was an hour of lively ice-breaking activities, creating a relaxed and connected atmosphere among teachers from all three schools. The day featured lectures from two esteemed educators: Jieun Kim, a specialist in child and adolescent psychology who presented about teaching young children, and Professor M.S. Chi, a retired Korean Studies professor from Leiden University, who led discussions on Korean language education for adults. Between sessions, teachers met in small groups to exchange classroom insights and share best practices.
At the end of the long day, we were all feeling ready and motivated to go back to teach a the Korean school!
-Zoe Kang, teacher at the Korean School of Eindhoven
The day closed with three spirited activities: a lucky draw encouraging cross-school conversation, a group photo challenge, and a teamwork exercise with a balloon relay. All of these activities helped build bonds and reminded teachers of the joy and support they bring to one another and their students. With months of preparation by the event organizers, this memorable day strengthened connections and reinvigorated teachers as they return to their classrooms, ready to inspire the next generation of Korean language learners.
Want to read about this in Korean in the Korean news? See Lisa Cha's article here.
Curious to hear from a teacher at the Korean School of Eindhoven about how she motivates older students to develop their language through drama techniques? Be sure to sign up for the FOHLC Europe free online conference for November 15 and 16, 2024.
Zoe Kang
Inspiration from the Korean School of Eindhoven: motivating children aged 9 - 16 through Drama and Project-Based Learning
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