Bridging Unity with Diversity
B.U.D. is what we DO!
Students and interns pose with Korean “finger hearts” A popular hand sign similar to the peace sign.
BUD (Bridge of Unity in Diversity) Club is changing its mission as a Leadership Training Club to a more culturally enriched outreach for A-KEEP. This is an opportunity to recruit non-heritage students at local public and private K-12 schools and the community to take part in events designed to learn about Korean language, customs, mores, and other Montgomery area cultures. The Kite Festival held January 30th is a perfect example. We introduced the 2022 Lunar New Year as a lesson and students received a Korean kite during class to come to Blount Cultural Park to engage in an annual event in Korea and other Asian cultures.
Intern Eunhyeop Lee practices greetings with Brewbaker students
Students greet teacher in a culturally appropriate manner
Brewbaker’s BUD Club started on November 16th and meets every Friday during the students’ tech time which is 30 minutes. Students are learning daily conversational expressions but also about Korean culture. Teacher Brittany Payne is really enjoying her time with students. It is not only a chance to hone her Korean skills but to see students as motivated as she is to learn Korean and its culture. Students are not only happy for this 30-minute time every week, but are eager to learn outside of the class. They always have questions and are curious. These students especially understand the need to learn a critical language such as Korean. As students who are preparing for life in the “real world” they can add Korean to their list of interests and goals for career preparation.
In January, with A-KEEP’s visiting Korean STEM education interns, the Club students were able to play Korean games and use what they had already learned to communicate with a native speaker. Our plans for the future are keeping learners active and creating events/advocacy (volunteerism) as part of the Club’s activities.
By: Tiki Armstrong