Chungju Technical High School 충주공업고등학교

Chungju Technical High School or 충주공업고등학교 is an all boys school that was built in 1979. The current principal is 연남용. Grades 1 through 3 attend, which would be the US equivalent of sophomores through seniors. The students will enter the school and choose a course for their study, while it is possible to change departments, it is difficult and not common. The majority of students will remain in that department for the rest of their time. There are for main departments at the high school:

1. Construction: 건설정보
2. Architecture and design: 건축디자인과
3. System Electronics: 시스템 전자
4.Automated machinery: 자동화기계

Korean entrance to high school is largely (if not solely) based on your performance in middle school. There are a handful of different types of high schools, design schools, business schools, agricultural schools, internet, general, foreign language, etc. Technical HS happens to be on the lower end of the high school spectrum. It is easier to get into and does not require near perfect scores to be accepted.

As an English teacher at this school I have found that the majority of the students are not very motivated to learn English and do not see a purpose to studying it. It requires me as the teacher to try my best to motivate and encourage the students to learn English. It is easier to reach the students in smaller groups and to get to know as many of them as you can, they will respond better and respond you. Overall the students are good kids and if they put for the effort they can do wonderful things.  

Why can't I find anything about 충주?!

I'm an EPIK teacher and was assigned to teach in Chungju in the Chungcheongbuk-do province in central Korea. When I first found out my assignment I searched the web like a crazy person hoping to find anything I could about my new home. I found very little. I'm sure I could have found a lot more if I actually could speak korean, but I don't yet.

Since living here there have been times where I wondered where an art supply store was or this or that and searching the web it pretty much not helpful. There are so few people posting about things in Chungju that I thought I'd make a blog and post some different things for future curious English speaking individuals.