What’s it like to be a teacher in South Korea?

I was lucky enough to spend 10 days in Seoul with nine other pre-service teaching students and our two incredible tutors, Jo and Pauline. We visited three different high schools: Beomback High School, SNU Boys’ Middle School and SNU Girls’ Middle School – each giving us valuable insight into Korean education.

One of the biggest takeaways? Korean students are so disciplined and well-behaved. It was amazing to observe classrooms where students were consistently engaged and respectful. Honestly, Korean teachers have it so easy! Jokes aside, the dedication and passion we saw from both students and teachers were inspiring. The students were all so friendly and excited to see us.

We observed some incredible teaching practices — from “cold calling” using student ID photos to engaging digital quizzes on iPads. It was fascinating to see how technology is seamlessly integrated into the classroom. The teachers we watched had such a captivating presence; I genuinely couldn’t take my eyes off them.

During our school visits, we were also given school tours. Korean schools have incredible facilities such as advanced sports halls (one included a rock climbing wall!), others have prestigious music rooms, large auditoriums, robotics labs, and spotless cafeterias. We observed a range of subjects such as English, Philosophy, Robotics, Social Studies and History. We even got to eat in the cafeterias at SNU Boys’ and Girls’ Middle Schools – and let me tell you, Korean students eat well. The food was delicious!

One of my favourite days of the trip was visiting Seoul National University (SNU). UTS was able to gain a partnership with SNU for this trip. SNU is like Seoul’s version of Harvard! It’s incredibly prestigious and hard to get into, so being on campus and connecting with SNU pre-service teachers was such a privilege. UTS was able to connect with SNU pre-service teachers, and we had fun presenting information on comparing Korea VS Australia about the Teacher and Education systems. UTS students also got to learn a lot about SNU’s campus life and what they offer. We had lots of fun asking questions, exploring the campus and their 24-hour libraries! The day ended with some well-earned bingsu shared with our new friends.

We also enjoyed two cultural days in Seoul. One involved a 1.5km hike up to N Seoul Tower, where we were rewarded with sweeping views of the city and a picnic at the top. Another day took us back in time at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village – a beautiful area full of traditional Korean houses and rich history from the Joseon dynasty.

Honourable food mentions in Seoul:

• Crown butter waffles
• Dakgalbi
• Bingsu at Sulbing
• Korean Fried Chicken at BHC and Kyochon
• Tteokbokki at Yupgi
• Myeongdon Kyoja (Michelin Star!)

Overall, this experience was one I’ll never forget. I’m so glad I pushed myself to take part in this Global Short Program. I learned so much, not just about teaching strategies, but also about Korean culture and education, and I can’t wait to apply this knowledge as I begin my teaching career in Australia. I made lifelong friendships and will forever cherish this bittersweet and educational adventure.

Gamsahabnida! (Thank you!)

Isabella Mantakul
Master of Teaching in Secondary Education
Faculty Led – FASS – Education Practicum, South Korea
Global Short Programs Travel Scholarship

For more information about the UTS Global Short Program visit: www.uts.edu.au/thinkglobal