Summer camp to help kids go native

Volunteers and donors are being sought to give kids a taste of native English teaching in South Jeolla Province.

The 2nd Annual HOPE Summer English Camp is to take 10 skilled ESL teachers to a rural elementary school in Suncheon. 

Organizers said the camp would give students at Haeryong Elementary School a rare chance to interact with foreigners.

“Although Gyeonggi Provincal Office of Education has provided funding for public schools to have native speaking English teachers in most elementary, middle and high schools for a number of years now, there are still many regional areas of Korea who have yet to experience ESL teachers from abroad. Haeryong Elementary School is no exception,” Project Director Eddie Robinson said.

“It was an absolute joy to share our knowledge and teaching skills with the 100 students from 1st through 6th grade in August last year,” he said, adding that it was the first time some of the students had ever spoken to a foreigner close-hand.

“They were teeming with energy, bright smiles and loads of eagerness. The small bit of apprehension was easily overcome when they spent the first two minutes of introductions with each of our volunteer teachers.”

Around eight volunteers are still being sought for the camp running from Aug. 5-7. Food and accommodation are provided by the school with bus fares paid for by HOPE. The weekend camp will include fun activities such as music from a traditional Korean quartet, a tour of Naganupseong Folk Village and sightseeing on the Suncheon coast.

HOPE is a Seoul-based non-profit NGO which provides free English language teaching to children from lower income, disadvantaged families and orphanages. In 2010 alone, HOPE’s volunteers taught in more than 30 different welfare centers throughout Seoul for more than 200 underprivileged students.

The summer school project is being supported by 3-Alley Pub in Itaewon, Bar Adrenalin in Guri City and Teach ESL Korea, as well as individual donations. The group is always looking for further financial support.

Anyone interested in helping can email eddierobinson@alwayshope.or.kr or public.hope@gmail.com. Go to www.alwayshope.or.kr for further information.

By Kirsty Taylor (sharing@heraldcorp.com)