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| Casey Lartigue Jr., right, co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center, at his office. |
Sunhee, female, arrived in South Korea in 2014
Some people think that because I am studying hair design and working in a beauty salon that I don't need English, but that is not true.
There are so many things about my work that require English, and of course there are also foreign customers that I need to communicate with properly. If I make a mistake because of English, then of course they will blame me and say that I made a mistake because I'm from North Korea.
"I have attended many workshops and career fairs where it is clear that you need English. I am at the final stage of a competition for an internship abroad for which there will be an individual English interview.
I am now really desperate to improve my English so I can pass that interview and get the internship.
Yoon-ho, male, arrived in South Korea in 2008
I took a leave of absence from my university because I was struggling with classes, mainly because of English. I had also applied for some opportunities abroad, but I as rejected because my English wasn't good enough.
I have had opportunities to meet visitors from around the world, but because of my poor English ability, I must rely on translators to help with most conversations.
When I visited the U.S. in 2014, I struggled at immigration. They asked me several questions that I couldn't understand, I was so worried at that moment that they would not allow me into the country.
In North Korea, I could not travel easily without permission, but now I might not be able to take advantage of my freedom because of my poor English.
It was my first chance to go abroad, but at that moment, I realized I needed to know English to have more opportunities in this world.
Hyunhee, female, arrived in South Korea in 2012
I feel pressure to learn English because so many people around me use it. I am desperate now because of my university classes, where sometimes I have to make presentations in English.
When it is time for discussion, I am quiet because I don't have confidence to say anything in English. It is so stressful because next semester I will have three classes in English. I tried to avoid such classes, but now I must face that.
My major is nursing, and there is so much English terminology that I must learn and memorize. I have gone to Itaewon a few times, but I was always worried that a foreigner would talk to me.
When I listen to them talking, I can't understand anything they are saying, there is so much slang and other words I don't understand.
Hea-young, female, arrived in South Korea in 2016
I remember the moment that I decided I would learn English. I was at church, a foreigner greeted me. But I could not reply, even the word "hello" was stuck in my brain but could not come out of my lips. I was thinking, "I escaped from North Korea where I was taught that foreigners are dangerous, but I was with some foreigners trying to talk to me, but I can't communicate at even a basic level."
At that moment, I decided that I would learn English. When I was in China, I had learned Chinese, I thought that knowing Chinese and Korean would be enough. In South Korea, I noticed that I would not be able to reach my goals without English. Because of my Chinese ability, I hope to work at a trading company dealing with China, and with English I will be a more attractive candidate and qualified employee.
I still have family in North Korea so I need to get a good job so I can support them and maybe one day I can even rescue them if North Korea doesn't change.
Mikyung, female, arrived in South Korea in 2007
I went to a meeting several years ago, where I was the only person who could not speak English or understand when some English words were used in Korean conversations.
I felt so nervous and embarrassed. I kept thinking that I should learn English, but I was busy trying to adjust to life here.
Then I saw Yeonmi Park give a speech at an international event, and I realized that I had been making excuses for myself. At that moment, I decided I would focus on English and stop making such excuses.
Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center, compiled these statements from interviews with refugees studying in TNKR. TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee translated their comments. from Korean to English.
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