Originally published by Reach the World, November 13, 2015
*This is an interview with one of the non-English teachers who I teach once a week. She is one of my good friends at school.
Introduction:
Today, I interviewed one of the teachers at my high school about her family, her travels, and her life in Korea. She was so excited to introduce herself to American and Canadian students! We conducted most of the interview in English, but we also used some Korean and an on-line dictionary to help us out. The interview below has some minor edits for clarification.
What is your full name?:
My full name is Gu Gi Yeon (구기연).
Where do you live? What is your house like?:
I live in Gimhae. I live in a villa. It has three floors. It is shaped like a square. It is similar to an apartment. I live alone. My family lives in an apartment thirty minutes away by car.
What is your family like?:
There are four of us. I have a father, a mother, and a brother. I am not married. My father’s job is being a physical education teacher. My mother is a housewife now, but she will soon work in real estate. My brother is in college to be a cook for a hotel.
How do you get around?:
I take a bus. I also walk. I do not have a driver’s license, but I will get one soon during winter vacation. That’s my plan!
What types of clothing do you like to wear?:
I like simple clothing. I like black clothes. I also like layered clothing, like a jacket over a dress.
What do you like to do in your free time?:
My hobby is listening to music. I like ballads, R&B, hip-hop, and idol music (k-pop). My other hobby is watching TV. I like dramas, comedies and entertainment.
What language(s) do you speak? How do you say “Hello” in your language?:
I speak Korean. I also studied two languages in school, so I speak a little English and a little Japanese. To say “Hello!” in Korean, say “Annyeong! (안녕!)”
Do you have pets?:
No. I am allergic!
Have you traveled? Where have you traveled to?:
During college, I went to Osaka, Japan. I ate takoyaki, ramyeon and fried food. I went shopping and visited a college for a field trip and a college exchange program.
What do you do for work?:
I am a Home Economics teacher at Gimhae Jeil High School.
Come visit Korea! It’s a very beautiful country. Gimhae, Gyeongju, Seoul, and Busan are very dynamic, exciting, beautiful cities! Food is very delicious. Tell me if you have questions! If you plan a visit, I will introduce you to Korea.
Janine Perri 