Flipping the Classroom: Walking in Students’ Shoes

By Chris Judd

TEACHING & LEARNING On returning in January 2021 from a two-year stint back home in England, I noticed my Korean language skills had seriously faded. The frustration of struggling to find words again told me loud and clear: This language learning fossil needed an urgent booster shot of Korean.

An internet search for available Korean language classes in Gwangju revealed only a couple of viable options: language exchange by Zoom or a face-to-face class at the Gwangju International Center (GIC). Having had quite enough of Zooming of late, the GIC class it had to be. Fortunately, the application process was very smooth, consisting of a simple, self-administered level test from the GIC website and then selecting a time that suited me. The GIC staff were quick to reply by email and managed to squeeze me in at the last minute to join a Saturday class.

It was from here on that the lessons really began, but not just in terms of studying Korean. I quickly realized that this experience would provide a great opportunity to pick up some teaching tips and insights along the way. I had flashbacks to why I fell in love with teaching as a new EPIK teacher in Pohang back in 2012. It was while learning Korean in classes at POSTECH, and at language exchange meetups in cafes, that I experienced what fun and power there was in learning a language. This realization energized my teaching practice and eventually made me join Korea TESOL to help develop my craft.

After packing my bag in the morning, as I approached the GIC, the old familiar first lesson nerves kicked in. Who would be in my class? How would the teacher be? Having not been a student for some time, this gave me a good chance to empathize with how the students in my English classes at Chosun University must feel. Luckily, the class had a relaxed vibe, so after a quick round of selfintroductions, everyone in the class quickly settled. This must be a nervous time for freshman, too, so this was a reminder to be especially kind and patient in those first lessons of the semester.

On the morning of the first lesson, I made a string of rookie errors – far from ideal when you are a teacher and know the value of making a good first impression with your new teacher and classmates. Having signed up at the last minute, not yet having bought the textbook, and

▲ Presentation: Receiving my completion certificate. ▲ GIC Korean Class Certificate: The completion certificate given at the end of the course.

never having been to the GIC before, I left myself too much to do. Having parked the car a fair distance away, I speed-walked to the GIC, planning to visit a nearby bookshop to get the textbook on route. First problem, the bookshop was closed. After this setback and deciding that I would pop out at the break to get the book, I carried on to the GIC. Second problem, it was much further than I had thought, and I was walking down the wrong road. After all this, I finally arrived at the classroom, almost 15 minutes late and somewhat disheveled. Luckily, the teacher was very welcoming, greeting me kindly with “Finally a male student!” and arranged for photocopies of the book for those without for the first lesson. This warm welcome reminded me to be mindful of our students’ current circumstances; they may just be having a bad morning when they arrive late without the required materials.

Once lessons were underway, I felt the importance of another crucial part of second language lessons from the student perspective: keeping visual materials simple. Our teacher used very effective PowerPoint presentations with simple and clear examples of target expressions and nice photos. Compared to the textbook examples, these PowerPoints were a lot easier to make sense of and something we could use as a bridge to making our own examples in pair work, which we were frequently encouraged to do. This personalizing of expressions was also a lot more fun for us students than simply going through the book.

The last tip I picked up was to do something that is pure fun and not learning-focused at all. As we finished the course the week before Christmas, the teacher prepared a cookie decorating activity. It was during this time that we got to practice the most free-flowing, spontaneous conversations in Korean, with the cookie decorating turning into a sideshow.

So, overall, I got much more than the booster shot of Korean I had bargained for. I got a healthy reminder of how students experience lessons and some great reminders of tips to take into my classroom for the coming semester. If you are looking to take a Korean language class, I wholeheartedly recommend the GIC lessons; you may just benefit your teaching skills, too.

Photographs by Chris Judd.

Chris Judd is an ESL teacher and researcher who returned from his native UK to live in Gwangju in 2021. He has lived in five different cities in Korea over an eight-year period, enjoying learning a bit of the language and getting out and about on family trips along the way.

By Melline Galani

Though situated on two different continents, Italy, the Iberian Peninsula, and Korea have more in common than one may think: They are all peninsulas and they have four seasons, but what brings them together is food and their common passion for noodles, pastas, and rice. And, if you have lived here for a while, you know that Italian-style restaurants are hot spots for dates and other significant outings.

Downtown Gwangju is a great area for trying different cuisines from Japan, China, Vietnam, the USA, Italy, and of course, Korea. Since I am always in search of nice places to eat, I like to explore what our amazing City of Light has to offer. Among the places I enjoy eating at is 1st Recipe, a Mediterranean fusion restaurant situated on the second floor of a building near Wedding Street, just a three-minute walk from the Asia Culture Center, Exit 3. The place has been around for some time and is well known in the neighborhood.

The moment you step inside, you are welcomed by nice decorations (especially during Christmas time), beautiful plants, and a smiling staff who are always eager to help you and make your visit comfortable. If you are lucky enough to meet the owner in person, the experience will become perfect. I have not seen such a warmhearted and

kind individual in a while. The ambiance is warm and cozy, giving the place a home-like feeling. The restaurant is spacious and the tables are remotely arranged, making the dining experience not only pleasant but also safe, considering social distancing regulations.

The food menu is diverse, offering a wide range of options like fresh salads, pilaf, pastas, pizzas, and steak accompanied by an extensive selection of drinks – liquors, wines, and other beverages – to meet all tastes. All recipes are fusion-style Mediterranean food to meet the tastes of the locals. Some of the combinations are quite interesting.

Since I like greens, I always order salads too, but be aware that the size is quite large, I would say for 2–3 people. I could never eat one by myself no matter how hungry I might be. Their servings are more than enough, so one will not leave the place unsatisfied. Appetizers are on the house and so are coffee or teas after the meal. Moreover, you will get a pack of Mentos on your way out.

The pizza crust they make is different, being made of puff pastry and not dough, but it is nevertheless appetizing. I also enjoyed their assorted pastas, especially the lasagna, since it is among my favorite foods. Their pilaf is also delicious,

▲ Shrimp risotto ▲ Margerita pizza

especially if it is spicy. Honestly, the entire menu is inviting, making the eating experience very enjoyable. My favorite items include the salads, lasagna, vongole, carbonara, rose sauce pastas, and paella, the most popular dish of Spain, which is a blend of rice, saffron, vegetables, and seafood mixed in a delicious way. Adding a glass of wine to the meal makes the culinary experience pure pleasure.

Prices are more than reasonable, ranging from 15,000 up to 35,000 won for the steak. The servings are more than generous, and the food is appetizing. One glass of red or white wine is just 3,000 won.

If you are in downtown Gwangju and feel like sampling something other than Korean food, then give this restaurant a try. With nice staff, savory food, substantial servings, diverse and complex dishes, and decent prices, there is nothing more one could ask for.

Photographs by Melline Galani.

Chungjang-ro An-gil 44-1 (Hwanggeum-dong 76-2), Dong-gu, Gwangju 광주 동구 충장로 안길 44-1 (황금동 76-2) Operating Hours: 11:00–22:30, closed Tuesdays Phone: 062-234-4567; 010-2222-9878 Instagram: @1strecipe_master

Melline Galani is a Romanian enthusiast, born and raised in the capital city of Bucharest, and currently living in Gwangju. She likes new challenges and learning interesting things, and she is incurably optimistic. She enjoys tasty food and is always in search of great places to dine, and 1st Recipe is one of the places she likes to eat at. @melligalanis