​Embracing Duty-Driven Learning: A Two-Year Journey with Korean Educators​

Over the past two years, I've had the privilege of conducting online English classes with a dedicated group of Korean educators. This experience has highlighted the effectiveness of a duty-driven approach to professional development, aligning with their intrinsic motivation and commitment to continuous improvement.​

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Class Composition and Observations

The class comprises hagwon owners and English teachers—professionals deeply committed to their roles. Their approach to learning is predominantly duty-driven, focusing on fulfilling responsibilities and enhancing their instructional skills. Recognizing this, I structured the classes to align with their sense of duty, ensuring the content was relevant and immediately applicable to their professional contexts.​

Structured Teaching Methodology

To support their duty-oriented learning style, the class structure included:​

• Curriculum-Focused Discussions: Engaging in dialogues centered around curriculum development and effective teaching strategies.​

• Practical Application Projects: Collaborating on projects that could be directly implemented in their classrooms, enhancing the learning experience for their students.​

• Reflective Practices: Implementing regular self-reflection sessions to assess teaching methods and identify areas for improvement.​

Sessions were scheduled as follows:​

• 60-minute sessions for two participants.​

• 80-minute sessions for groups of three or four.​

To enrich the learning experience, guest native speakers were invited during larger group sessions, providing diverse perspectives and enhancing their teaching methodologies.​

Reinforcing a Culture of Duty

This approach reinforced the educators' commitment to their professional responsibilities. They consistently sought to refine their teaching practices, ensuring they met the highest standards of education. This duty-driven methodology proved effective in fostering a culture of excellence and accountability.​

Reflections and Future Aspirations

This experience has underscored the value of aligning professional development with educators' inherent sense of duty. Moving forward, the goal is to continue providing structured learning environments that support their commitment to excellence, ensuring both educators and their students benefit from high-quality education.​

Looking Ahead

In our next article, we'll explore the experience of teaching a KAIST student, delving into how our lessons ventured into the realms of CRISPR technology and the intersection of biochemistry with artificial intelligence.