Airmen teach English to Korean students

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. David Herndon
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Airmen assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing are currently participating in a series of sessions aimed at teaching basic English skills to local children here through Aug 15. 

The Kunsan-sponsored English Discussion Camp, held at Jinp'yo Elementary School in neighboring Gunsan City, involves 15 base volunteers and more than 60 elementary and middle grade students from schools around the local area. 

"This program is exciting and is a great way for Kunsan service members to interact in the local community," said Rosemary Song, 8th Fighter Wing community relations director. 

This year's camp began July 30 and sessions intend to link three Airmen with approximately 20 Korean students and several English and Korean speaking teachers. Areas of emphasis include the strengthening of vocabulary and overall pronunciation for the students. 

"I'm working with elementary kids and they know English well enough to speak already, almost like what I would see from a 3rd or 4th year language student in the states," said Maj. Gerald Braley, 8th Medical Operations Squadron bioenvironmental engineer. 

The volunteer opportunity is a break from the fast-pace Kunsan Air Base operational tempo and carries out Kunsan leadership objectives, said Major Braley. 

"We're guests here, with our alliance partners," said the major. "It partly comes down to how I would want people to act if they were visiting my home - a little courtesy goes a long way." 

The program is just one of the many localized, wing-level efforts to promote the overall United States Forces Korea Good Neighbor Program, which aims to strengthen the Republic of Korea - United States Alliance through programs that engage the local community, governments, media, businesses, universities, schools, and ROK military. 

The English camp is normally held during summer and winter months and is in its second year.

"It makes me proud of our Wolf Pack members when I see the number of volunteers for our community relations programs each year," said Ms. Song. "The children are the future Korean society and we are reaching out to the next generation of society."