[2024-11] Jeonghyun (15)

Hello, my name is Jeonghyun Kim, a 9th grader.

Ever since I found out about this program, I felt that this was a chance from God specifically meant for me, in many ways. It was a great opportunity to use English practically, which had only been something I studied passively until then. For the first time, I was able to communicate in English, correcting what I had misunderstood and having foreigners understand what I said, which was an entirely new experience.

As someone who rarely attended Kindergarten and has been homeschooling whole life, I saw this opportunity not only as a chance to improve my English but also as a way to grow and become a more independent person. This opportunity came to me at the perfect time and in the best way, and I truly believe it was a chance given by God.

At first, I was a little worried about which family I would be staying with. But once I knew, I began to feel not just excited, but truly thrilled, imagining my life in a huge house in the deep forest of Canada, surrounded by nature. At that point, English was no longer my primary focus.

When I first arrived in Canada, I realized that I would be living here for three months, surrounded by people who were all over 2 meters tall. I had been assigned to a family that was particularly tall even in Canada. Oldest brother, who was only a year older than me, was 30 cm taller, and younger brother, 3 years younger, was about the same height as me.

However, as I spent time with this family, my perspective began to change. I learned that while Canadians may be tall, they are warm-hearted and kind people. I found myself becoming like them, with a more open and positive attitude toward people. This was my first change thanks to my Canadian homestay experience.

The second change was in my physical strength. Angela's family, where I stayed, lived in a house deep in the forests, and everyone was very active. In Korea, I would tire after just a couple of hours of running and swimming for an hour, but in Canada, I was able to skate for 6 hours and ski for over 5 hours, without feeling exhausted. I gained the physical stamina to handle long outdoor activities like these. The increased physical activity, combined with better eating habits, marked the second change in me during my homestay.

The third change, of course, was my improvement in English. But wait! The reason why English is third on the list is that it's an essential part of this homestay program. I naturally had to speak English in the Canadian household, and as a result, I became much more comfortable speaking and listening. My English began to flow smoothly, and I stopped thinking in Korean before speaking English. I had always liked English, but being in a full English environment 24/7 made a huge difference!

In these 3 major ways, I grew throughout this program. While I still feel shy about my English when I hear myself speak, I no longer feel embarrassed by it. I continue to look for ways to practice and expose myself to English, but now I think of it as a fire that just needs a little more fuel to keep burning.

Finally, I would like to thank my parents, my host family, I’m Homeschooler, and God for opening up all of these opportunities for me.

2025.02.15. Jeonghyun Kim