Learning English in South Korea: A Japanese Teacher's Immersion Experience
Updated: 9 hours ago
STUDENT STORIES • SOUTH KOREA
A Japanese Teacher’s Unforgettable Language Immersion Experience
A memorable day with her host teacher and his wife in South Korea
Who says you need to travel to the UK or the USA to improve your English? For one Japanese English teacher, a week in South Korea became far more than a language learning trip. It was an unforgettable experience that also gave her the chance to discover Korean culture and make new friends.
To boost her own English as a teacher, Kyoko chose an Influent Home Tuition programme combining 10 hours of private English lessons and 5 hours of activities, while staying with a British host teacher and his wife.
Here is her experience, in her own words.
01 / FIRST IMPRESSIONS
An Experience Beyond Expectations
In a word, it was an unforgettable and wonderful experience that far exceeded my expectations!
As this was her first trip abroad since the pandemic, Kyoko was excited to discover Korea, but she was uncertain about improving her English in a country where she knew very little of the local language.
It was my first trip abroad since the COVID pandemic, and my first time visiting Korea. Of course, I was excited, but to be honest, I was also more nervous than usual. My main purpose was to improve my English, but as this trip was also part of my professional training, I was honestly a little worried about going to a country where I barely knew the language apart from a few basic greetings. Naturally, I wondered whether I would be able to make the progress I was hoping for.
02 / THE WELCOME
Feeling at Home From the Very First Day
Her worries faded as soon as she met her hosts at the airport, despite an unexpected delay with her luggage.
However, all my worries disappeared as soon as I met my host couple at the airport and saw their warm smiles. This was despite the fact that they had to wait quite a while because my luggage briefly went missing! From that moment on, the entire week was filled with wonderful experiences, and by the time I was leaving, I almost didn't want to return to Japan!
The couple were both very friendly and considerate, and they always made sure I felt comfortable throughout my stay. Their kindness and genuine thoughtfulness made me feel completely at ease, and I was especially touched by the way they treated me like a friend.
03 / PERSONALIZED LEARNING
Private English Lessons With a British Teacher
The program gave her the opportunity not only to develop her English skills, but also to share ideas and learn from an experienced teacher, making it particularly valuable for her own teaching career in Japan.
My programme consisted of 10 hours of English lessons and 5 hours of activities. My lessons were taught by the husband, who is British and had been involved in teacher training at a well-known language school in the UK until a few years ago.
He took the time to properly assess my English level and prepared lessons tailored to my needs. The lessons were not only educational but also genuinely enjoyable. Sometimes we explored the history of language, while at other times we simply enjoyed casual conversations, all with a wonderful sense of humour.
As an English teacher myself in Japan, I naturally gained a great deal from studying English with him. One of the most valuable aspects of the experience was being able to exchange ideas with him and learn from his experience as a teacher.
04 / CONNECTIONS THAT LAST
More Than Just English Lessons
The program offered more than language tuition, with thoughful gestures and shared activities that made the stay memorable.
At the end of my stay, they even recorded video messages for my students in Japan. I would love to find ways to maintain a good relationship with them in the future.
The activities were also arranged thoughtfully, and they always discussed the plans with me beforehand. I really enjoyed the time we spent together, and I believe they enjoyed it too.
05 / LASTING IMPRESSIONS
A Week to Remember
The week went by so quickly, and it was such a valuable experience. I am truly grateful to everyone who made it possible.
Her story is a reminder that English immersion doesn’t have to mean travelling to an English-speaking country. With the right host teacher, students can enjoy personalised English lessons while discovering the culture and everyday life of another destination.
LEARN A LANGUAGE BY LIVING IT
Discover English Immersion Beyond the UK
At Influent Language Immersion, students live and learn in their teacher’s home, combining one-to-one tuition with everyday conversations and cultural experiences.
Comments