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Yenny Van Andel (above), was born, raised and educated in Port Perry and for the past year, this 24 year-old graduate of Port Perry High School, has been teaching English in South Korea. This young graduate of communication studies at Wilfred Laurier Univer- sity, Waterloo, has a passion for travelling and says her dream job is to be a travel journalist. And travel she does! She’s spent one summer in Spain as an Au Pair, two summers in the moun- tains of western Canada as a server, a semester in Budapest, Hungary and last summer as a receptionist in the Bahamas. But, for the past year, Yenny has been an English teacher for kids aged 4-12 in Seoul, South Korea. Jenny’s journalistic passion in- spired her to send Focus on Scugog this story about her experiences in South Korea and an overview of the challenges of teaching in a foreign culture and the experiences she has experienced over the past year. 30 FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 2012 09,FOCUS. SEPTEMBER.48 pgsindd 30 Tales of a wandering English teacher Young Scugog woman teaching English to kids in South Korea The job market for recent graduates is abysmal in the Greater Toronto Area, so like many other Canadians, I decided to go elsewhere for my first post-graduate job. South Korea has a high demand for English teachers at this time, and the pay seemed to be the highest around, (in comparison to their neigh- bour, Japan, which is double the cost of living). South Korea intrigued me since it borders North Korea; thus, the jour- nalist in me wanted to come to South Korea for that reason. Tama full-time English teacher at a school in Seoul. There are forty students, as well as many after-school students, and they range from ages 4-12. Interestingly, in South Korea, when a baby is born they are already one year old! So I have to clarify the kids I teach are “Canadian 4” which is “Korean 5”! My contract is for one year, however if I am still enjoying my job in one year, I could renew for another year. This is quite common, and I know a number of people who are staying a second year. Teaching English to these students has changed my future plans. I have always wanted to be a journalist which I will continue to do (that is the beauty of journalism, you can be anywhere in the world). How- ever, upon returning back to Canada in a year, I am considering going to Teachers College. I have found these two months here very rewarding on Please turn to page 39 12-08-20 8:38 AM