LONG before finger hearts were a thing and Hallyu clubs grew in popularity, I gained my first-hand experience on South Korean culture in a quaint commercial building-turned-English School along Kamuning, Quezon City – KorEx Language Center.

It was 2009. I was a communication arts fresh graduate and enthusiastically applying for my “dream job” as a broadcaster. After a few weeks of submitting resumes and several we will call you-s, I decided to park my plans and take on an interim job. I saw a posting of an English teacher vacancy online and took my chance. I’m so glad I did!

Lee Min-ho on my mind

I developed an affinity with K-pop largely because of the Boys Over Flowers TV series – an offshoot of the F4 Meteor Garden Taiwanese shows that debuted years back. Which I also loved!

What made Boys Over Flowers extra special were its lead characters, of course, led by the charming actor Lee Min-ho, who has a well-chiseled face.

The show was something to look forward to, relatable, and it stirred my interest in Korean’s way of life.

Traveling to South Korea was definitely out of the question because I was unemployed, but coming across the English teacher job application on Jobstreet was a pleasant coincidence. This paved the way for my Korean pop culture immersion. 

First day on the job

I was offered to work on weekdays, 9 to 4pm at P60 per hour. I thought to myself, I’m after the adventure!

I was introduced to my first student, Yuki, a mother of two with immaculate glass skin and model-like physique.

The author and Yuki | Photo courtesy: Jan Egot

She was timid but very much willing to learn the language. I remember her adorable reaction when I was introducing myself for the first time: She was just looking at me, smiling with eyes wide open and nodding to every English phrase I uttered.

When it was her turn, boy, did I have a hard time deciphering her words through that thick accent!

We proceeded with the one-on-one session and opened the first chapter of the English Workbook for Beginners. She followed my lead and took a rest after finishing the workbook test.

In our spare time, I listened to the stories of her teenage years; how she met her husband; and how she enjoys her career as a Japanese interpreter.

My four Korean dolls

I was in my second month when the school conducted an English Camp. It is an annual activity where the school brings Korean students to the Philippines to learn and get immersed in the English program for a short period of time – usually during Korea’s summer season.

That was the time I met Bea, Mimi, Kim and Jessica, the four youngsters who made my budding teaching career more colorful.

I would tutor them every morning for two hours and the beauty of it was that we did not follow any textbook or curriculum. It was all freestyle and spontaneous.

I would let them draw and explain to me their artworks— in English of course! There are days when we would watch an English movie and I will let them tell the whole story. It was fun!

They can easily remember English phrases and expressions and would often ask me anything under the sun. I would sneak in Filipino snacks and biscuits like Marie, Do-do, and Mik-Mik and give these to them as prizes whenever they do their workbook tasks.

At the end of each class, they would give me the tightest hugs! On their last day of English Camp, the four girls gave me goodbye cards with both English words and Hanggul written all over the paper and performed (as a group) K-Pop band Wonder Girls’ “Nobody, nobody but you!” song and dance number. What a bittersweet moment!

Tiffany and Company

One of the most memorable students I had was Tiffany. She was around my age. She was sweet and smart.

She would often marvel at my double eyelids, which at first weirded me out.

Looking back, I think Tiffany would actually pass for a Korean actress. She’s pretty, a bit edgy in style, and very charismatic.

Her beaming smile would lighten up our afternoon classes and we would always have extra time to chit chat because she would finish answering her workbook quizzes ahead of time. Sometimes, her boyfriend Sam and best friend Jess would join our classes.

One of my fondest memories with them was when we would sneak out after class and eat street food. Fishball, isaw and chicken feet were their favorites!

Tiffany lived with her aunt and cousin Johnny, whom I was able to meet during my teaching days in KorEx. They rented a house in an affluent subdivision in Quezon City and would sometimes invite me over for dinner. The dinners also initiated my taste buds to delicious Korean cuisine.

Saying goodbye

In my fourth month at KorEx, Tiffany invited me to tutor her and her cousin at their home in Fairview. I immediately said yes though it was farther away from the school. Again, I said to myself, I’m all in for the adventure!

It was rather easier than I imagined.

Months later, I had to resign. Before letting me go, the headmaster made sure that she handed me my certificate of employment and referral form before I left the school. She was very kind.

Another package

Tiffany’s aunt offered me an attractive package, a higher rate of Php110 per hour plus free bibimbap, an offer I couldn’t resist. The tasks were rather simple: converse with Johnny in English and Tagalog for an hour; and help Tiffany review for her university entrance exam.

I had been teaching English for seven months when I got a call. On my way home from Fairview, my mobile phone rang. A lady working for the country’s leading broadcasting company asked if I was available for a job interview the following day. I paused for a moment and said yes.

Looking back

It was during the Christmas season when I bid farewell to Tiffany and the rest of my students. We promised to get in touch through Facebook messenger, and we still do!

Though I felt a twinge of uncertainty and sadness at first, I recalled that my stint as an English teacher was an unexpected surprise. It’s something I would always be grateful for.

It did not only enrich myself with life skills, but I was able to gain new friends and broaden my perspective of the outside world.