ESL Work in South Korea.

In December of 2006, my wife Dolores and I came to Seoul, South Korea, to help prepare high school students at East Seoul Canaan Church (ESCC) to attend Lutheran high schools in the United States. The congregation had started the program the previous year and needed to replace a teacher who was returning home. They also wanted to expand the program to enhance the outreach program of the congregation.

Upon arrival, I was assigned the high school preparation class. We finished our term in August with 15 students being placed at various WELS high schools. During the seven months of our session, we studied Old Testament History, reviewed math skills, honed English grammar and spelling skills, studied American culture and were thoroughly immersed in Christian doctrine classes. Pastor Young Ha Kim taught Catechism twice a week, and I assisted with daily review and practice. By August, all 15 of my students had been baptized and confirmed in the faith by Rev. Kim.

While my teaching schedule is relatively firm, Dolores takes on a totally different task. She teaches several smaller groups of students ranging in grade levels from first through eighth. My students are with me for over 6 hours a day, but her students come for 1 to 2.5 hours two or three times a week. Our day starts around 9:00 a.m. and sometimes goes until 7:30 p.m. She teaches Bible History, English grammar, spelling, vocabulary, some math and also American culture. Not all of Dolores’ students are necessarily preparing to go to the States someday, but they come to hear God’s Word and improve their English skills through our English Language Institute.

Our third full-time teacher is Margaret Kim, the pastor’s wife. She serves as the institute’s administrator and teaches a variety of special classes. She is an extremely hard worker and stays on top of all the government requirements necessary to keep us operating.

Many of the original students were members of the congregation, but Rev. Kim has used the Language Institute as an evangelism arm for the greater Seoul area. Several students in my last class, who travel two hours by subway/bus ride every day just to get here, came as a result of Pastor Kim’s efforts in mission work.

Most of the older students have been exposed to a fair amount of English language background, since they learn English in school from grade three on. But many have not had practice in using it outside of school since their parents do not speak English at all at home. We offer them the opportunity to practice and sharpen their English skills.

Along with teaching children, the Institute also teaches adults whenever there is an opening for the teachers to have a class. This past year, while Pastor Kim was teaching Catechism, I was teaching a class to adults who wanted to learn more English or practice what they already know. I thoroughly enjoy these sessions. The adults are working hard to keep up with their children. These classes also are serving as an outreach tool. Several new people to ESCC have come via the adult English classes.

In March 2007, the Board for Foreign Missions, in connection with East Seoul Canaan Church, called Dolores and me to be full-time church workers in this mission. We accepted God’s call to teach His lambs here, and we were commissioned on Palm Sunday. It is our prayer that God will continue to bless the ministry that has been started here.

Seoul has a population of about 11 million people, the third largest metropolitan population in the world. The opportunity for mission work here is immense. God-willing, the East Seoul Canaan Language Institute, as well as the Church, will be a means by which many will come to the knowledge of the truth and learn about their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Dennis Morrison is a teacher at the East Seoul Canaan Language Institute in Seoul, South Korea.