A teaching assistant who won an award said it was “a privilege” to share her Korean culture with students.
In Wha, Kim, who is of Korean descent, works at Queen Katharine Academy in Peterborough and runs a Korean club during the school’s lunch breaks.
She won the Teaching Assistant of the Year award in the 2023 Times Educational Supplement.
“As a Korean, I’m privileged to be able to help students learn Korean and share the culture,” she said.
Ms. Kim has been working as a teaching assistant for 16 years, helping students study in secondary school.
She started her Korean lunch club after a student approached her and asked to learn the Korean language.
“In sophomore year, I heard from a lot of students who liked K-pop music and would like to hear it, so I started a lunchtime K-pop club as an enrichment — and it was quite popular,” Ms. Kim said.
K-pop, which stands for Korean pop, is a multi-billion dollar music industry popular in South Korea and also around the world.
She said the club helps students “explore another culture — and broaden their knowledge and experiences.”
She said she was “honored and humbled” by the fact that they wanted to know more.
Laiba, a 13-year-old eighth-grade student, said the club is a place where “everyone comes and enjoys Korean culture, listens to K-pop and tastes Korean food.”
“School is fun and everyone comes in at lunchtime and… it’s just great. I really like Korean culture and… it makes me happy.”
“Miss Kim made everyone so proud. We are so proud that Miss Kim received the award for this.”
Anamika, also 13, said, “I just love Korea, I love K-pop.”
Of her teacher’s award, she said, “She deserves it, she works so hard, she’s like the best person – she’s so nice and like one of the best teachers here.”
Nikola, an eighth grader, said her friend Anamika introduced her to K-pop and she’s now a regular at the club.
“K-pop is like the best music ever, and I especially love the food — it’s so spicy that sometimes I just can’t handle it,” she admitted.
Miss Kim is “like the best teacher ever, she taught us so much,” she said, adding that listening to the music “brightens the mood for everyone.”
Her teaching assistant, Ms. Kim, said she was “delighted” to have won the TES award.
“It’s thanks to my students who made a big splash for my club and the colleagues who nominated me for it,” she said.
“I’m over the moon right now.”
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