A Place That Let me Teach

I started my time teaching at Twin.kle Daechi back in the fall of 2021 and stayed until spring of 2026. To say I was nervous applying for teaching positions in Korea would have been a massive understatement. Between the pandemic and the fact so many schools were willing to hire me just because I spoke English and had a heartbeat, I was more than apprehensive when sending out applications. However, then I stumbled across Twin.kle. I immediately resonated with Twin.kle’s core belief in fostering a love of learning. Then throughout the application process I was treated not just as a potential warm body in a classroom, but as an educator with my own strengths to bring to the table. And that’s what I’ve enjoyed most about my time at Twin.kle.

Twin.kle did a wonderful job allowing me to be an educator. The curriculum was engaging and gave me room to play to my strengths. Just like I told teachers when training them, teaching at Twin.kle is a little like playing with Legos. Every teacher is given the same curriculum (the same Legos) and we are trusted to build to our own strengths. As I grew more comfortable with the curriculum, I was able to build on it in my own unique way to best engage my students and enrich my class. I played a vocabulary scavenger hunt that students went crazy for, made bread dough to teach about microorganisms, held a recycled fashion show, adapted the Oregon Trail game to be about space travel, and created countless activities for all grade levels. I couldn’t have done this without the quality of the curriculum, flexibility within the classroom, or without my supervisors trusting me to be the best educator possible. Thanks to all of these factors, I was able to do everything in my power to make learning fun for my students. And in turn, teaching was fun for me. I entered into teaching with a background in environmental/agricultural science and multicultural studies, however teaching at Twin.kle allowed me to unlock a new passion for new subjects like history. The joy I felt resonated into my teaching, my classroom, and my students.

In addition to infusing joy into learning, there are a few other strengths I’d like to go over. First, Twin.kle does a wonderful job growing, adapting, and improving. Every year the quality of the curriculum increased. I was often asked about my feedback on the material, schedule, etc. and was always welcome to provide suggestions. Likewise, the head teachers and administration always did a good job listening to my feedback, concerns, or suggestions. Teaching by nature is challenging. As a child of two teachers I knew that better than most before I even stepped foot into my classroom. However, the support I received and the trust instilled in me allowed me to face the day to day challenges of being an educator and continually improve. I am far more competent and confident in my teaching skills than when I first started at Twin.kle. Although my time at Twin.kle has come to an end, I will cherish the time I spent with my students and the fun I had with my classes. Because at the end of the day, I am grateful for all the time I spent instilling minds with wonder and joy.