The Unexpected Joys of Teaching English to Korean Senior Citizens

When I signed up to study abroad in South Korea, I imagined a whirlwind of new experiences in the neon-lit city of Seoul.  What I didn’t expect? My most fulfilling moments would involve a room full of Korean senior citizens repeating English expressions and discussing their daily routines.  

Every Wednesday afternoon, I trade my student role for a (albeit very unofficial) teacher’s role at the Seoul Senior Center, where I volunteer through CIEE to teach senior citizens English. It’s the kind of experience that doesn’t make it onto the front pages of study abroad guides or onto the Instagram feeds of the traveling upperclassman, but it has made Korea feel like home.  

Honestly, I almost didn’t partake in the program.  My Korean was (and still is) very beginner, and the idea of standing in a class of adults who had lived their entire lifetimes before I was even born was terrifying.  Then I thought: When else will I ever get to do something like this?  So, I bit the bullet and signed up, eventually being selected as one of the ten CIEE students to partake in the program.  Before I knew it, I was adopted by a room full of Korean elders who now talk to me like family and offer me snacks “for energy.” 

We don’t follow a strict curriculum in this program.  Some days, we practice ordering food, while on other days we may practice family terms because the class enjoys talking about their daily lives and loved ones.  Typically, we end up spending the whole class talking about our lives and random topics, despite the lesson for the day.  What really stands out from our classes, though, is when a student pulls out their phone to show me photos of their grandchildren, or when they tell me stories of the Korea from their childhood.  Last week, one of the students offered me homemade sweet potato snacks because I hadn’t eaten breakfast.  

Technically, I am the one at the front of the classroom, but let’s be honest—I’m learning way more than I am teaching. Throughout this program, I’ve learned invaluable lessons about persistence, connection, and culture. Watching a 75-year-old wrestle with English sentences and try to communicate in a language completely different from their own is more than enough motivation for me to keep working hard toward my goals.  

Studying abroad is about more than just attending classes in a new country. It’s about the random, unplanned connections that leave fingerprints on your heart. This volunteer program started as a line on my CIEE application and turned into the thing I look forward to most every week.

So, if you’re on the fence about volunteering while abroad, here’s your sign: Do it. You might end up with a notes app full of restaurant recommendations, insider knowledge on Korean life and culture, and a newfound appreciation for how much joy can come from simply showing up.