More Than a Job: Teaching at Twinkle

I didn’t know I would love my job. It’s rare for people to say that, but I truly love my work at Twinkle. When I first started, I was 25 and beginning my first full-time career. I came in wanting to make a difference, but I wasn’t exactly sure how. I also knew that I loved learning Korean, and that was what originally brought me to Korea. At the time, I never imagined that the best part of being here would be the kids.

I can still remember when that realization first clicked. During teacher training in Daechi, a little boy walked into the room. I don’t remember his real name, only that everyone called him “Apple.” His head was just a little too big for his body, and even his mom leaned into it by styling a small sprig of hair on top like a stem. I remember thinking, “Wow, he’s so adorable.” But more than that, something about that moment stayed with me. It was the first time I felt completely certain that I was meant to be a teacher.

After a few months in Korea, especially in Daechi, I started to understand something more about teaching. Of course, students need to work hard, but I began to see how much a parent’s attitude can shape how that effort feels. Most of my students were supported and happy, but every so often there was a child who seemed under pressure, like they were never quite doing enough. Those were the students I thought about the most, and it became my goal to brighten their day.

At Twinkle, I don’t just stand in front of a class and deliver information or try to fill an hour. I get to show students that learning can actually be enjoyable. That might sound simple, but it is something not every child gets to experience, especially in an environment that can be so focused on memorization and testing. That is what makes Twinkle feel different. Rather than focusing only on facts, Twinkle emphasizes creativity, logic, and critical thinking. Students are encouraged to think for themselves and develop their own ideas about the world.

Now I am 28 and teaching at Twinkle Busan, and I feel like I have grown just as much as my students have. I am not a perfect teacher, and I have made my share of mistakes, but one goal has stayed the same from the beginning: I want my students to love learning.

Twinkle is not an easy job, and I do not think it should be. If someone is looking for something simple or low effort, this is not the place. The students work incredibly hard, and as teachers we have to meet that energy. When we do, something special happens in the classroom, and all of that effort becomes worth it. If you care about kids and want your work to truly matter, Twinkle is a place where you can find that.