Moving from Kindergarten into Elementary School in South Korea
Apparently, my husband and I had a skewed view of reality when it came to public education. We thought when my son reached the kindergarten milestone we’d jump up and high five and congratulate ourselves on winning parenthood. We made it. We had ushered him into good human status and now he would showcase it to the world through show-and-tell and friendship superlatives.
Of course, covid had other plans – and ruined what would have been an epic high five. The start of his kindergarten year looked drastically different than we had imagined, and online circle time left a lot to be desired.
Then we moved to South Korea.
Chosing a School in Near Camp Humphreys
When we arrived in late July, I thought a lot about what his education could be like for first grade; I dreamed about his current worldview and what his tiny little sponge brain would pick up over the next five years in a foreign country. He needed a base of not only the Korean language but an understanding of customs and the people who will occupy his day-to-day.
Hana Korean School – a Korean immersion school located close to ‘The Ville’ outside Camp Humphreys – checked all the boxes.
About Hana Korean School
The cool thing about Hana Korean School is that it’s designed specifically for American and non-Korean students. So I didn’t feel guilty dropping my kid headfirst into a new experience in a new country. He was able to ease in with other students that spoke his native tongue and, although of varying ages, they were all learning at the same pace.
For owner Diana Kim, opening this type of school was a lifelong dream. Being both a Japanese teacher and a recruiter for English teachers for more than a decade, she knows firsthand how important language skills can be.
“It broadens your way of thinking,” she told me. “It gives your view more meaning. I see that in the students already.”
The school was a few years in the making, although officially opened its doors in February 2021.
The Hana Korean School Programs
There are currently three programs offered at Hana Korean School:
- full immersion at five-days a week 8a.m. – 2 p.m.
- two-day program designed for homeschoolers with hours from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursdays
- Afterschool program Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-5 p.m.
The Program We Chose
My son has been going five days a week for more than three months and not only corrects my attempts at the Korean language, but tells me Korean folklore, navigates the 3/8 market with confidence, and calls stray cats by their Korean moniker. But most of all – he’s happy. He loves his school. He knows he’s a part of something special.
And as a mom, I know he’s learning. The curriculum features grammar, dictation, mathematics, science, art, calligraphy, and cooking. Students also engage in weekly outings with locals to practice their language skills – including buying ingredients for cooking classes themselves at the outdoor market.
I asked Diana what the biggest impact she has seen since the school opened and she said: “I see the students become the bridge between two countries. They are building confidence for this new world. They will become the peacemakers.”
Before now, I thought that was something that couldn’t be taught
Learn More About Hana Korean School
For more information on Hana Korean School, visit them on Facebook. They are happy to answer your questions and provide you with a tour. You can also feel free to reach out to Diana at 010 3748-4714.
Journalist Molly Hayden has worked in the journalism field in Germany and the United States. In 2021 she relocated to South Korea.
As a volunteer Cultural Liason and Content Creator, Ms. Hayden reports on a variety of life & style topics with a focus on families living in rural South Korea.