Mutual learning
Among Korean population in New Jersey: ‘We are equal; we teach one another’ By Janet E. Blair
K
orean citizens Jaeyeal (Jay) and Kay Kim spent several years in New Jersey, where their two
daughters were born. Te couple went back to Korea but recently returned to the U.S. so their daugh- ters, now teenage U.S. citizens, as well as their 4-year-old son, could be educated here. Jay was ordained aſter studying at
the Biblical Teological Seminary in Hatfield, Pa. Now he would like to be a pastor in northern New Jersey, which is home to many Koreans and Korean-Americans. A steady influx of immigrants
over the past few decades has paved the way for the first and second gen- eration of Koreans to settle into this part of New Jersey. In some towns, Koreans and Korean Americans comprise 60 percent or more of the population. In this Korean community, the
Kims have little chance to interact with Americans. Te immigrants can socialize, work, attend church and shop in a completely Korean world. Tey can easily get by with- out learning any English or interact- ing with Americans until they face a situation that requires communicat-
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Jaeyeal Kim, with his son Joshua, participates in an ESL (English as a second language) Bible study at Zion Lutheran Church, Ridgefield, N.J. Jaeyeal and his wife, Kay Kim, are part of the study to improve their English fluency.
We are all enriched as we come together to learn
about each other and talk about God.
ing with hospital workers, police, their children’s teachers or social service workers (interpreters are sometimes available). “I want to learn English,” Jay
said. “But in this area, there are so many Koreans.” Tat’s why the Kims attend the “ESL (English as a second language) Bible study” at Zion Lutheran Church in Ridgefield, N.J. While their English is good, they want to improve their fluency. Jay speaks of the hard-to-cross
“boundaries” that exist between immigrants and Americans because of the differences in language and culture. With the goal of gently testing
these boundaries, two ESL teach- ers at Zion and I decided to reach out to the immigrant community. I had little idea how the Bible study would change me and my ideas
about Christian education. I now see myself as a student of the people who came to us to learn.
Multicultural mission is born Te ESL Bible study inspired the birth of Morning Star, a multicul- tural mission that works with Zion as a welcoming ministry in the com- munity. While the original goal may have been to help immigrants with English, the mission morphed into one of mutual sharing and mutual learning. During the Bible study we share
our faith stories, cultures and lan- guages. Te “teachers” who lead are also students, just as the students are also teachers. Te ministers walk with the learners in their journey in a new land, but they also are learn- ers whose multicultural horizons and self-understanding as Chris- tians are broadened. Each Bible study begins with an
English lesson, including exercises that help with learning words and usage. We help each other with pronunciation in both English and
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