Learn: A Culture That Promotes a Love of Learning
Our students study English with all native English-speaking teachers. Learning takes place logically through communication (listening and speaking) proceeding with reading and writing skills. Students are also taught grammar methodically with age-sensitive materials.
We create an environment that encourages students to be their best selves, immerse themselves in knowledge, and truly enjoy the learning experience.
We know that every student learns in a different way and for most students, the best way to learn are through fun, play based and creative activities. Programs are designed to promote creativity and give students the chance to engage with foreign teachers, fellow classmates and the environment.
Key aspects of learning:
- Minimize use of large group activities that require sitting and focus on individual engagement. Instead, most activities feature play-based, hands-on learning in small groups. Our classrooms are designed to host a maximum of 18 learners. To enhance the learning experience of students, we believe that smaller class sizes would complement the students’ interactions with their teacher and fellow classmates.
- Cooperation. We focus on the ability to work, learn, and get along with others. A year in DNA provides your child with the opportunity to learn patience, as well as the ability to take turns, share, and listen to others.
- The development of self-confidence. This is the process of helping the students feel good about who they are and confident in their ability to overcome the challenges of learning.
- Curiosity. Most children are naturally curious, but some do not know how to focus or use this curiosity. DNA strives to spark and direct the student’s curiosity and natural love of learning into productive learning experiences.
- Provide a combination of formal (teacher-initiated) and informal (child-initiated) activities. Investigations and projects allow students to work well under the guidance of the teacher and also to explore their own creativity and ideas with fellow classmates.
Play: This is an indispensable part of learning for young students. At DNA, “having fun” is used as a tool to achieve “learning” as an end goal. Students will be able to release their natural energy, develop creativity, and lighten their stress load from the intense schedule they follow at the Korean school through games, songs and enriching extra-curricular activities.
We believe that learning is fun and rewarding. Students can sometimes lose this passion when they become disengaged from the conventional educational system in South Korea. At DNA we provide an environment that not only encourages advanced learning, but also makes the experience fun and memorable. We are different from other centers in that our approach aims to restructure the way students think about learning. Learning can be fun and exciting! We reach this goal through play-based activities inside and outside of the classroom.
Inside the classroom:
Our qualified English teachers make use of new, creative and engaging activities and games with the aim to learn. Our modern classrooms are designed to create a fun learning atmosphere for students and teachers. Each classroom is fully equipped with a full-screen TV, internet, whiteboard, air-conditioner and other interesting items.
Outside of the classroom:
During each course, students get the opportunity to go on field trips.
Grow: Holistic growth is a high priority at DNA. Our soft skills department continues to develop exciting activities in and out of the classroom to help students grow in confidence, team-building- and life skills. Students learn about helping the environment, treating each other kindly, creating art projects, and even acquiring skills important for daily life, such as tying shoes.
Student growth is not only about their growth within the English language, it’s also about their personal growth and character during their time at DNA.
Professional growth will include a deeper understanding of the spoken English, syllables and sounds with specific focus on the final sounds. Older levels will focus more on the written language and grammar.
Personal growth will include focusing on students’ confidence, teamwork, life skills, caring for others and the environment, creating art projects, positive reinforcement and being kind towards one another.
Care: Care is offered by the teachers and Korean staff, in order to help each student at DNA feel special. This care is often shown through events such as birthdays, free tutoring, and grammar reviews, but it is present in every interaction at DNA. Top students are acknowledged during every course in order to encourage and reward those who have been working hard in the classroom.
DNA goes to great lengths to ensure that our teachers and staff members are cared for, both professionally and personally. We believe that if our staff members are well cared for then they will take care of their students. We accomplish this through various initiatives within our company like staff retreats, outreach programs aimed to reach out to the community, environmental projects, special events and professional development.
Teachers
When a foreign teacher joins our team we make sure that their paperwork is taken care of, so that they can work and live in South Korea with peace of mind. We help teachers with accommodation and personal requests.
Students
Teachers and staff members are fully equipped to take care of each child’s personal learning experience. We believe in positive reinforcement, we promote discipline while respecting and loving our students. Top students are acknowledged during every course in order to encourage and reward those who have been working hard.
Respect: Respect is given to all students at DNA. We focus on helping students recognize and display good behavior, through positive reinforcement and rewards. Students are taught how to behave well in class, as well as appropriate ways to treat other classmates and teachers in order to have a mutually respecting relationship.
Our hagwon shows respect to every single member of DNA and our community. We believe that we have a responsibility towards the community and environment. Students are taught to treat others how they would want to be treated themselves.
Your age, job or position in society doesn’t matter in how you treat people around you. Through positive reinforcement, the behavior of students is directed towards respectful and loving interactions.
Love: Teachers and staff members always make our students more eager to come to class. Students receive love through high-fives, hugs, verbal affirmations, and other ways when they study at DNA.
All our core values ties together with the love and passion we have for learning and people. “Love builds up, love enables, love edifies and love never fails”.
What makes DNA unique in the ESL community is that there exists a genuine love between teachers and students. Students form close relationships with their teachers over the courses. In a country where it’s a strange thing to say “I love you” to one-another, students constantly hears this from their teachers. Teachers show their love through hugs, high-fives, verbal affirmations and personal contact with the parents of their students.
Our center also knows that it is better to give than to receive. We organize charity events for students to spread their love through visiting and serving children with disabilities, orphans, and others in need.