Korean Job Discussion Forums

tomato · Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:45 am Post subject:

I visited the place in 2006.
At that time, it was like the OP's description in some ways and unlike his description in some ways.
The place was hopping with visitors and hopping with employees.
That was when the place was new.
Since then, the employees have made their dissatisfaction known to the rest of the world.
Judging from Wylies' post, it looks like employees are treated just as badly now.
That could well be the reason that the place has downsized.

As a second language experience, we were as disappointed as the OP.
Koreans spoke Korean to Koreans, just as they do in English class.
There was a program in the amphitheatre which contained dance numbers and circus acts which were very nice, but not very instructive for ESL students.

Like the OP and his group, we had to spend a lot of time waiting.
While we were waiting to get into one of the pavilions, I took out a set of musical pipes from my handbag and had my English student play some songs.
Other visitors, who were also bored from waiting, gathered round and watched.
It speaks very poorly for an entertainment center if a visitor can compete that easily for the other visitors' attention.

As I understand, Paju English Village has shifted its focus to intensive classes for older students.
An employee in that program once started a thread on this forum, indicating that he was quite happy with his job.
The intensive classes use only a small portion of the building space, however, leaving the many unoccupied buildings which the OP saw.
So the program goes a short way toward recouping their losses.

Shortly after the visit to English Village, the community where I lived had a festival for children.
They set up booths for arts and crafts activities and gross motor activities.
At each booth was an attendant who interacted with the visitors.
There was no time spent as a passive spectator.
Visitors were free to go from any booth to any other booth at any time.
There was no time spent waiting.
Although it was set up for Korean kids, it was a valuable KSL experience for me.
I encountered words which I didn't know and which I promptly looked up on the 전자사전.
At the jump rope booth, the attendants taught me the 꾜마야 song so that I could sing along.
If something like that were offered at an English Village, it would be perfect.

Rory_Calhoun27 · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

I thought the Double Decker was the best surprise there. Too bad it's closing.