Johns Hopkins School of Education

Bo Eun Park had her dream come of becoming a teacher in US, which she had since her elementary school and after studying in US. Unlike Korea where it requires a national exam to become a teacher, students require step by step preparation since college to become a teacher in US. We have asked Bo Eun Park about course and qualifications to become a teacher in US. 

Q. Hello, please tell us about yourself.

I’m Bo Eun Park and I am a kindergarten teacher in an elementary school located in Baltimore. I began studying in US since the 6^th grade in an elementary school. I studied Early Childhood & Special Education and Family Science at University of Maryland, College Park, and now I am studying elementary education at Johns Hopkins School of Education.

Q. What made you study abroad at such early age?

When I was in the second year in an elementary school, I visited my aunt in US with my sister for a month, and I remember that life in US at the time was very different and exciting. Since, I have always wanted to study abroad, and first of all, I decided to start my study abroad because I don't have to go to a private academic institute. At the time, in US, I thought that I would go to the swimming pool in the apartment complex every day, eat delicious food, and easily make lots of friends thanks to my outgoing personality.

Q. Did you always want to become a teacher?

I began thinking of becoming a teacher since middle school. When I was young, my mother volunteered as a teacher in English class at a church, and my father took me and my sister to my mother. Such environmental factors naturally influenced me, and I was attracted to a career as a teacher as I watched my mother teaching.

Q. You have studied abroad for a long time. What do you think is the advantage of US education system?

In my opinion, the strength of US education system is that students freely share their thoughts and opinions and participates in discussion-based classes. Content of the classes and the curriculum of each county vary slightly depending on the curriculum used. Moreover, students don’t just sit around and listen to the lectures. Rather, students do lots of hands on activities in class, and students are inspired to learn and the quality of classes is improved. When you go to high school, you can choose and take the classes you want, just like college.

Q. Many students hope to get a job in US after a successful study abroad. What is the course to become a teacher in US?

Unlike other majors, education major is a two-year program for each university, and the curriculum is divided into early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, and special education. And students must meet the required qualifications in each program. Class size is limited, and students must take prerequisite and required classes during freshmen and sophomore years to apply for the school. With more prerequisite classes during freshmen and sophomore years, students do not have to take the summer or winter semester because you have to go according to the schedule set by the program in junior and senior years. Each school and each program have different qualifications, so it is stable to apply for the program after consulting with an advisor in freshmen year. You can become a teach if you following the help from the program and deadline because you have to take classes within the program you are taking, do internship, and take state-required tests.

Q. For students hoping to become a teacher in US, what would be good to prepare for during the study in US?

First of all, if you have education-based volunteer experience, it is definitely helpful when applying for college and for desired program in junior year. HR teacher of Connected has guided me for the preparation since I was in high school and helped me find activities that I could do. At the time, I liked volunteering, so I just did it. As I look back, it was a very important factor in college admission that works well with my desired major. For me, I have been serving as an infant teacher at a church for a long time, and I have tutored. If you do not attend church, I recommend that you can volunteer through Summer Camp.

Q. What are the important qualities you must have to become a teacher in US?

I believe that understanding the home environments, cultural backgrounds of students, how to apply them in class, and respect for students are the qualities you must have to become teachers in US. Don’t just follow the curriculum. Rather, how to lead and teach each student with the given curriculum is the most important aspect.

Q. How do you like being a teacher?

Now, I'm teaching kindergarten students at an elementary school in Baltimore. The greatest satisfaction is when I interact with children and see their growth. However, since it is an area where many low-income families live, I have to work harder because I can see the growth of my children by organizing lessons harder and giving them more love.

Q. What was rewarding and difficult during your time as a teacher?

It feels very rewarding when children come into the classroom with smile on their faces all the time. Children in poor home environments are sometimes left in traumatic conditions, but I am very happy when they give me feedback that they enjoyed participating in the lessons and they had fun. Difficulty was that I invested a lot of time to build a good relationship with children at the first. I have learned about what they like step by step. If students don't have faith in their teacher, they do not follow the teacher. I had difficulty in the beginning because there have been many such incidents and problems with relationships.