Patrick graduated with Japanese Major and International Studies Minor in Fall 2019. He was the first student to graduate from our Japanese major program.
Where are you living/working? How long have you been there AND how long will you be there? If you are in a different place, how does your current location compare to the city/town/country where you studied abroad as an undergraduate?
I currently live and work in Gifu, Japan. While at ²Ø¾«¸ó, I studied abroad at Gifu University for one year from 2018 to 2019. I graduated with a major in Japanese and a minor in International Studies in the fall of 2019. I have been working in Gifu now for about one year as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) in a Japanese public middle school. My work and home is about an hour by train and bus to Gifu University. So, I am extremely lucky to already be familiarized with the area and it is really nice to have some close friends that I know from Gifu University who live nearby. However, I plan to get a different job, preferably a job in which I can use my Japanese and International Studies skills, in Tokyo starting early 2023.
What classes/age groups are you teaching? How has your experience gone thus far (ups, downs, challenges, rewards….)?
I work at a public middle school with about 800 students and without a doubt, every day is a new adventure. I have also worked as a substitute teacher in America and despite all the cultural differences between Japan and America, middle school students are the same. Some days they are so funny, energetic and so eager to learn. On the other hand, they can be stubborn and not as willing to study, making teaching a little difficult at times. But when you teach them and you can see that light bulb go off in their eyes and they get so excited that they learned something new, there really is no better reward. Being able to have such a positive impact on someone's life is truly an amazing experience. Working as a teacher in a foreign country is a very challenging job, but with motivation and effort you will have some of the best experiences of your life.
You did study abroad when you were an undergraduate. How is living and working abroad different from being a student abroad?
Being a student versus working full time is without a doubt a very different lifestyle. Now being a student and working in a foreign country is even more of a challenging lifestyle. Studying abroad at Gifu University was the best time of my life. I was able to meet so many new friends, travel to so many new places including Taiwan, improve my language skills drastically and I was able to have so many more wonderful experiences that I would have never been able to have if I had never studied abroad. That said, working abroad in Japan is very different from being a student. There are the normal things of being an adult such as paying rent, bills, insurance and so on. If I had a question before I was able to ask the University for assistance, however now I don’t have that support. I am very confident in my Japanese abilities but without a doubt doing these kinds of documents is much easier in English. It’s also strange coming back and revisiting old places, seeing how much things have changed. It is really nice though to meet old friends again.
How has your experience as a student of another language influenced how you approach teaching English as a second language?
Patience. Patience is very important to learn and teach a language, especially if you're teaching children. Some students can pick up on learning English faster than some students and some students just don't like learning English at all. But by having patience and realizing how much time, effort and dedication I had put into learning Japanese, I know that it is really hard to learn a foreign language. Also, learning a language can be very dull and boring if you use the same learning methods. So, by making the lessons fun and more personalized, students can enjoy learning English.
Have you had a particularly unique/interesting experience while teaching/working abroad that you can share?
Working at a middle school, I have so many funny and unique experiences. Out of all of the funny and unexpected experiences I've had while teaching in Japan, there is one that surprised me more than the most. I have performance tests with my students once a semester. This is when I sit down one on one with my students and they have some sort of speaking test with me and I grade their English abilities. However, there was one student who spoke fluent English and totally surprised me. He continued to say that he lived in Kentucky for most of his life and moved back to Japan for his parents' work. At the end of his performance test, he asked me not to tell the teacher or the other students about his perfect English abilities because he didn't want to help them with their English homework. He is most definitely a smart kid.
What advice do you have for students who want to teach abroad after they graduate?
As for teaching advice, be flexible and patient. Every country, school, grade level, and student is different. So, be observant and try your best to personalize your teachings for the students. Doing so will make your students respect you and it will motivate them to learn more. As for general advice, get out of your comfort zone and enjoy it. Living and working as a teacher in another country can seem difficult and challenging. But through those challenges you will have experiences that will create memories that you will never forget.
Jack graduated with a double major in German and International Studies in Fall 2020.
Where are you living/working? How long have you been there AND how long will you be there? If you are in a different place, how is does your current location compare to the city/town/country where you studied abroad as an undergraduate?
I am currently living and working in Vienna, Austria. I teach at two schools in the seventh district, a Bundesrealgymnasium and Musikgymnasium. I moved to Vienna on September 8th and began teaching on October 1st. My teaching contract ends the last week of May.
What classes/age groups are you teaching? How has your experience gone thus far (ups, downs, challenges, rewards….)?
I teach forums 5-8 in the Austrian school system. This is equivalent to our grades 9-12 in the US. Teaching English has been a whirlwind. Of course, there are ups and downs to the experience, but overall, it has been a very rewarding experience. I would summarize my teaching experiences in three categories.
First, there are the 13 English teachers at my two schools, with whom I am working as an English teaching assistant. Each teacher has unique demeanor, teaching style, expectations, goals, interests and more. In short, each teacher is an individual. No longer seeing teachers from the back of the classroom, I realize how all these factors contribute greatly to their job as teachers and my work with them. Learning who my teachers are and how to work with them has been a significant learning curve though very rewarding. Just today, I had a great conversation with one of my teachers about her time living, working, and studying in London. The wonder in her expression gave me a deeper sense of who she is and made me feel more connected to her. To me, building that connection with my host environment, in this case my teachers, is the essence of my adventure.
Second, just as I learn the unique characteristics of each teacher, I also endeavor to learn the distinguishing aspects of each of the 25 classes I teach. Sharing my time across so many classrooms, I unfortunately cannot establish one-to-one relationships with the vast majority of my students. Instead, in showing themselves to me, my students show me the nature of their classroom. Piecing together the 13-person to 27-person puzzles of each class takes more time than I have. They keep me on my toes and teach me something new each time we interact. Though I cannot build as tightly bound relationships with my students as I can my teachers, the teaching environment is the most dynamic and most rewarding. Connecting with my students and classes is really where the rubber meets the road for my teaching assistantship.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the broader topic of assimilating to the Austrian culture, especially outside the classroom. This is not my first time living abroad, but that does not mean this moment is any less exciting. The teaching assistantship comes at a unique time in my life when I am exploring my goals and pursuits post-undergrad while still soaking up as much of the world as a young person can. I am older than when I lived in Germany during a gap-year cultural exchange between high school and university or when I studied abroad in Germany for a semester. The big questions in my life and the habits I have built loom larger now. As I assimilate to the Austrian culture, I dive deeper into who I am than I could have imagined even one year ago.
You did study abroad when you were an undergraduate. How is living and working abroad different from being a student abroad?
Being a student abroad is certainly a life-changing experience. Nonetheless, students abroad live in a more well-defined space than people working abroad. There are no paid classes with impacts on a multi-year college degree. The responsibilities I take on abroad have little long-term impacts outside what I bestow on them. Put simply, there are more choices to be made. This can be overwhelming and breed doubt. However, it can also be very rewarding. The world is too big to take on every opportunity or possibility. Some might say it is unfortunate we have to make decisions, to settle with choices. I consider it a genuine fortune. In my case, I have decided to continue my habit of regularly working out since arriving in Vienna and established a network of friends outside of my teaching assistantship program and my schools, upon which I can build. I find the closest connection to my host environment in this network. In lockdown, I take the streetcar to my friend Will's house to workout, hang out, or have dinner. When I have felt homesick or struggled in my assimilation process, I do not need to rely only on my family back home or my fellow teaching assistants. I can call one of the friends I see regularly in training. When working abroad, it is more crucial to establish yourself in the life of your host community. Students can rely on the dual-university lives from home and abroad. Expats working abroad must rely on their work environment and the community they choose to establish around themselves.
How has your experience as a student of another language influenced how you approach teaching English as a second language?
I initially approach many lessons with the goal of communicating cultural and historical impacts of the topic at hand. That is what I tried to draw from my German studies at university. Working with full-time English teachers, I have realized how my experience as a student of another language, primarily in a university setting, is different than foreign language students in a primary or secondary school setting. While learning the cultural and historical subjects related to English as a language are important, it is more crucial the students grasp the language. In secondary schooling, the students are still in a form of holistic learning where they take subjects from all matters of disciplines. They have less time than a university student to study material deeply. I have thus learned to prioritize the language over the depth and thoroughness of cultural, historical, or any number of classroom topics. As I have come to understand this aspect more, I have been able to apply my firsthand knowledge of how to learn a foreign language to my lessons. Each class I grasp more acutely where my students are in their English-learning journey and where I can relate to them to support them on their road.
Have you had a particularly unique/interesting experience while teaching/working abroad that you can share?
One of my teachers is half American-half Austrian. Her younger sister is dating an American from New York, Jared. Jared moved to Europe four years ago to work at a Swedish finance firm but now lives in Vienna with his girlfriend. My teacher put us in contact, and I have found a surprise ski buddy. Austria is, in many ways, the epitome of skiing and ski culture in Europe. Our time skiing just in the short time slopes have been open this winter has inspired me to use my weekends for ski trips across Austria. I might not have a better time to do this in the future. Also, what better way to get in touch with my host culture than their 'national pastime' of a sport!
What advice do you have for students who want to teach abroad after they graduate?
Like with study abroad, if you have any inkling you might want to teach abroad, do it. I have learned much about myself over the course of my first four months in Vienna and learn more each day. In my experience, there is no more dynamic environment than living abroad. The experience will uncover depths of yourself that you did not know existed. Even if you do not have long-term plans to live or work abroad, the experience will enrich your life and paint it in a new perspective permanently. Trust yourself and take a leap of faith. You might find solid ground near to where you set sail or across the sea. Stay aware of your journey, establish your community, take each day and its inevitable curveballs as an opportunity to find yourself in this new place.
Cassie graduated with a double major in French and English in Fall 2020.
Where are you living/working? How long have you been there AND how long will you be there? If you are in a different place, how is does your current location compare to the city/town/country where you studied abroad as an undergraduate?
I am currently living in Strasbourg, located in Northeastern France on the border with Germany. I’m teaching English part-time in a smaller town called Sélestat, about twenty minutes by train from Strasbourg. I have been here since the end of September 2021 and will be here definitively until the end of my contract in May 2022 — it’s still up in the air in regards to what I will do after! Perhaps renewal of my contract, perhaps not, I am still deciding.
I had done two semesters abroad studying French at the University of Caen in Normandie, France — Strasbourg is much bigger and more bustling, and I like it for that aspect. The Franco-German heritage and history makes it really stand out as well in comparison.
What classes/age groups are you teaching? How has your experience gone thus far (ups, downs, challenges, rewards….)?
I am currently working with all grade levels in both a general and vocational high school — that includes students whose speciality is English as well as students studying general trades. I’ve been given a lot of responsibility in terms of lesson plans and handling the classes, which can be challenging but in the end has been good for my independence and knowledge of how to manage a classroom. Seeing their progress in English language acquisition has been special and I really adore the students who have a particular passion for the language.
You did study abroad when you were an undergraduate. How is living and working abroad different from being a student abroad?
In terms of the difference in studying and working abroad — there is quite a world of difference. I realized I took for granted the support network that comes with studying abroad, between both schools in the partnership, the administration on the ground, fellow students, etc. Working and establishing yourself abroad is a whole different ballgame which requires a lot of independence and managing difficult tasks nearly completely on your own. In my case, my job and program has very little support and I felt as though I had a baptism-by-fire sort of situation, where pretty big things like housing and medical insurance etc. were left solely to me. It was difficult but having survived it I feel more capable for similar future endeavors. I also took for granted the easy, natural friendships that come with studying abroad. Being in class / being in a similar boat as other international students is conducive to making friendships — these opportunities can be a bit more difficult to come by while primarily working.
How has your experience as a student of another language influenced how you approach teaching English as a second language?
I think being a student and learner myself of a foreign language has helped me tons in learning how to be a better educator of English as a second language. I can relate to the students in their passions and frustrations. I feel as though I can explain concepts and ideas more genuinely as I’ve been in their shoes before. I think I can make language-learning more interesting for them because I know how it was made interesting for me. I like sharing in their small victories and grand strides, as well as working through the inevitable mistakes that are also just as important parts of the process.
What advice do you have for students who want to teach abroad after they graduate?
My advice for students who want to teach abroad after you graduate is this: do not be afraid to advocate for yourself !!! Working abroad requires a lot of independence and it’s really important to remember to put yourself and your needs first. Whether it’s about schedules or comfortability with lesson plans or needing more support from your program, don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and do what feels best for you.
Where are you originally from?
I was born in Seoul, South Korea and lived there for the first 28 years of my life.
Where did you earn your undergraduate and graduate degrees, and what were your major(s) and minor(s)?
I was always interested in literature, so I earned a BA and MA in Korean Literature from Kyunghee University in Seoul.
For a while I thought I wanted to be a professor of literature in Korea, but at that point academic positions for women were very scarce. So I decided to do a complete 180 change. I went to the US as an international student where I started all over again in Bachelor's and then Master's programs in Computer Science at Wayne State University in Detroit.
How long have you been teaching, what and where?
I began teaching as a part-time instructor in Computer Science at ²Ø¾«¸ó in the late 1990s, and even now I usually teach one section of computer programming in the Python language each semester. But one of the great turning points in my teaching life was when I was encouraged to develop an introductory Korean course for the ²Ø¾«¸ó World Languages and Literature department. I first taught it as a special topics course, and then Korean 101-102 became part of the ²Ø¾«¸ó catalog in 2010. I've been teaching it ever since, including for a while in 2020 synchronously online from a quarantine hotel room in Seoul.
What do you like about working at ²Ø¾«¸ó?
I love seeing the passion of students for different cultures, and having US students of Korean make lasting friendships with ²Ø¾«¸ó's international students from Korea. Lately so many US students are into K-pop and Korean food. They even start out in Korean knowing phrases of the language they picked up from Korean shows on Netflix. When I see my students demonstrate their skills in the Python language it makes me smile with happiness. But when I see my students demonstrate their skills in the Korean language, it makes me cry with happiness!
What is an interesting fact about yourself that people might not know?
I have been studying Tae Kwon Do since 1994, and last year I passed my promotion test to become a 6th Degree Black Belt. I also have been involved with the Cincinnati Opera for many years, and in 2015 I played the (non-singing) role of the Executioner in their production of the opera Turandot.
"I am so amazed, so humbled by the tenacity of my colleagues and their students throughout the pandemic. All I did was six weeks of online teaching and then I retired! And retirement in a pandemic is pretty laid back, too—none of this "I'm busier now than when I was working" stuff. Therefore, this account of what I've been up to will be brief and contain pictures.
A few scholarly projects have intrigued me. I've edited a book for home schoolers learning German that was co-written by a WLL alumnus, uncovered some family information for local individuals through my knowledge of the old German script and I continue to present at the annual meetings of the Kentucky Philological Association. There has also been more time for writing and I continue to enjoy writing, sharing and publishing poetry. The manuscript of a poetry collection I prepared with the help of a 2020 grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women was accepted in June 2021 and will appear as Between the Rows in 2022, and be published by Shanti Arts.
One of the high points of my retirement was the surprise Zoom party the German Club and WLL put on for me. It was actually a hybrid event, with a gift appearing on my doorstep! I miss my colleagues and students and hope to spend a bit more time at ²Ø¾«¸ó events in the coming months as our lives ease back into non-distant masklessness.â€
The personal side of my retirement includes frequent trips to Dayton, Ohio, to hear my husband perform with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and many hours spent at home with my grandson, Joseph, who was born in December 2020. I thoroughly enjoy my time with him. We read much of the time and his language comprehension amazes me every day anew."
These sweet corn pancakes from Venezuela, known as cachapas, make the perfect breakfast. Cachapas are made with simple ingredients—fresh corn, a bit of butter, cream, and salt—and are a nice alternative to the average flour-based pancake. Check out the full recipe at the link below:
