South Korea Cultural Experience Paper

Culture Experience Extra Credit

The cultural experience I will be discussing is my showing an interest in teaching English in South Korea. I first heard about the opportunity to teach English in Asia from a classmate in class. I went home to research the website he referenced, and from there I began the recruitment process. To date, I have received two offers to teach English in South Korea. I chose this cultural experience because I may very well be living in South Korea for at least one year. Although I have not officially signed the paperwork, all contracts are at least one year in length.

The South Korean culture is different from my United States culture in many ways. First, the Korean language is much different from English. Rather than using twenty six letters in their alphabet, Koreans use many different symbols to communicate. Although the language barrier can be difficult to overcome, software such as Rosetta Stone allows the process to be more achievable. South Korea also boasts the second fastest growing economy for four straight decades. Finding a job in corporate America is very difficult right now but I was able to discover opportunities in Asia. South Korea is home for different religions such as Christianity and Buddhism.

I learned many things through the recruiting process. I talked to my friend Michael who is Filipino about Asian culture and traditions. We were able to watch the travel channel, food network channel, and have conversations about the Asian culture. I began to ask myself and others questions that I previously never considered. Most importantly, I became curious about the Asian history. The topics noted in class that relate to my experience include understanding cultural values, learning about social situations, and identifying subcultures.