Amukelane Ringane



Island life is usually supposed to be fun-filled, hot and humid and very relaxed right? Well, in my experience - it is. It is fun-filled as there is so much to do, it is quite hot in the summer and the people are very relaxed and kind. As an EPIK teacher who is originally from South Africa, my journey to Korea was one that I didn’t know what kind of expectations I should have. Nonetheless, when I landed in the country, I was received with warmth and kindness from the citizens, my school and students. I have been on Jeju for more than a year and I am currently on my second contract which is something I did not expect. I did not expect to extend my stay mainly because I was coming from a corporate background and was quite nervous about being a teacher to elementary school students. My first day of teaching was accompanied with great assistance from my co-teachers, who helped with getting my bank card, gave me a breakdown of Korean culture and even taught me a few Korean words! I also got assistance in teaching strategies and the different ways I can apply myself in the classroom whether it be from online classes or interpersonal interactions. I then met my students who overwhelmed me with so much charisma and warmth. My students were quite interested in my culture and background which was a great ice-breaker and opportunity to learn from one another. Due to Covid-19, it was first a challenge to manage the classroom in a way where I could adhere to social distancing rules while making the classes as interactive as possible, but with creating a community and speaking with different native teachers, I have found ways to incorporate social distancing activities, games and material where the students can participate and adhere to the rules while having lots of fun.

As an elementary school teacher, one would assume that being in a classroom as an English native speaker may be intimidating or there would be a language barrier. It is with the support of my co-teachers and home-room teachers that I have been able to set communication standards as well as behavioral standards for the students to co-operate and participate in the classroom. Support is not only required in the classroom but it is also required outside the school. Korea is full of culture and traditions that the people hold strong and it is important as a guest native English speaker to immerse myself in the culture. I have done this by visiting temples, attending language exchanges to meet people who were born in Jeju Island and take every opportunity to learn new things about the culture as well as eating different types of food.



Before coming to Korea, I had never been a fan of seafood- I now eat sea food regularly as Jeju Island is quite famous for the variety in seafood options. As traveling has been difficult due to the pandemic, I have found myself exploring the island more. I am quite lucky to be on Jeju as there is so much to do and learn from. Health is an important part of my life and the Jeju Olle Trails which is a long-distance footpath in Jeju Island have been great for hiking and keeping a healthy balanced life. Overall, being on the EPIK program has helped me learn so much about Korea, Korean traditions and the language. I have managed to learn how to read in Korean and have learnt more about the history and culture.

Not only so, but I have learnt a few things about myself too, such as knowing how to adapt in a completely new environment and learning how to survive in situations that I may never have come across in my life. I have also learnt to be more patient as teaching children has taught more about managing students and leading a classroom. If you are considering joining the EPIK program, it is important to understand that it is a big step that requires one to be mentally prepared and it is worth it! The experience cannot compare to anything I have been through and it gets better by the day. It’s been a remarkable journey that I hope to continue for a long time.