Korean-Speaking Supporter Hong Hyun-jin,
a friend of learners at Metaverse King Sejong Institute

Korean language learners who visit Metaverse King Sejong Institute are greeted by friendly Korean supporters and have a tour with them. We met with Hong Hyun-jin, a Korean-speaking supporter who builds relationships with online Korean learners from all over the world and keeps them motivated to learn Korean.

Greetings! Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you.

Hello. My name is Hong Hyun-jin, and I am majoring in Korean language education at the Graduate School of Teaching Foreign Languages, Ewha Womans University. Before studying Korean education, I worked in web design and public relations. I became very interested in utilizing IT-media, so I applied when I saw the recruitment notice for Metaverse King Sejong Institute supporters on the KSI website. I did my first and second terms starting in June this year, and am currently working on my third term.

Have you ever worked as a Korean language teacher before working as a supporter at Metaverse King Sejong Institute?

After completing the Korean as a second language education course at Kyung Hee University and obtaining a level-2 Korean Language Teacher Qualification, I participated as a volunteer in a Korean language education course for foreign workers at a multicultural center. I am also teaching Korean to international students at the Seojeong University Korean Language Education Center since the winter semester last year.

What roles do you play as a Korean-speaking supporter at Metaverse King Sejong Institute?

I talk in Korean to foreign learners visiting Metaverse King Sejong Institute, and help them practice their Korean. For those who visit for the first time, I tell them how to operate the avatar and its functions, take tours of various maps of Metaverse King Sejong Institute, and introduce them to games and contents.

What are the Korean learners of Metaverse King Sejong Institute most curious about regarding Korean language and culture? What topics do you talk about the most?

We talk about a variety of topics, starting with schools in Korea, the weather, K-pop, travel, movies, history, and art. I have met with an Indian learner and talked about the similarities between Tamil and Korean; and a Russian learner who majored in art and makes 3D animation, and who had asked in detail about Dancheong and Saekdong Jeogori of Korea. I also learn about aspects of history and geography that I didn’t know about before I talked to learners from different countries.

Among learners you met at Metaverse King Sejong Institute, were there any memorable learners or special moments you felt rewarding?

There are learners who I meet almost every day since my first term. We became friends, sharing our concerns with each other. The avatars at Metaverse King Sejong Institute dance when you press “0.” One day, we happened to dance together and formed an online K-pop idol group. We danced and talked every day under the pretext of practicing. There was also a moment when I felt much rewarded. One day, a learner whom I met with often said that she came because she lost confidence in Korean. We talked about my experiences and thoughts on learning a foreign language, and the activity time flew by. She told me that she had regained her confidence, and promised to study Korean harder. We continued to talk regularly ever since.

Are there any difficulties in talking in Korean in the Metaverse space? If there were moments of awkwardness or difficulties, how did you overcome them?

Learners who access the Metaverse include people who do not speak Korean at all, or are at a beginner level. I greet them in Korean first, and when they greet me back in Korean we continue talking in Korean; and when there's no answer, I talk to them in English. As Metaverse King Sejong Institute is a Korean platform, I try to talk in Korean as much as possible. And I recommend to them games in the cultural experience space. When they play games together — such as “Avoid Poop,” “Bomberman,” “Zombie Game,” and “Paint Man” — they become closer and come back to Metaverse to meet up, and thus become more interested in Korean.

As a prospective Korean instructor, what do you think about the new learning method of the Metaverse?

When learning a foreign language, talking with a native speaker may be a burden to most people. I think Metaverse King Sejong Institute, where you can practice speaking using an avatar, can solve this problem. International students in Korea sometimes say it is difficult to make Korean friends in Korea. For such students, Metaverse could therefore be very helpful.

How do you think working as a Korean-speaking supporter at Metaverse King Sejong Institute will help you in your future career?

Conversations with foreign learners I met in Metaverse King Sejong Institute helped me identify common errors they make and forms of interlanguage. I also think that meeting learners from different cultures helps me to better understand the rich diversity of cultures. I believe that the demand for and possibilities of online education have expanded through COVID-19. I am sure my experiences as a Korean-speaking supporter will help me improve my Korean education capabilities using online media.