English Class for Korean Birth Families
(For this info in Korean/한국어)

Beginning September 2007, the Birth Family Search Department at G.O.A.’L began offering classes to birth family members who wanted to learn the English language. The main purpose of this class is to assist with the often difficult communication process that occurs between Korean birth families and their relatives that were sent overseas for adoption. The class also facilitates building a supportive network for birth families to meet with other birth families and is designed for beginning level learners with little or no background in the English language. 

English classes are held every Saturday and are taught by an adoptee English language instructor. 

2009 Course Periods
Jan. - Mar., Apr. - Jun., Jul - Sep., Oct. - Dec.

Location: 
G.O.A.’L office

Frequency:
Every Saturday, 10am - 12pm

Tuition Fee: 
Free to registered members

Application Procedure: 
Please sign up for the class by emailing Lydia Kim, Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer@goal.or.kr or call the G.O.A.’L office for further inquiries at 02-325-6585. 

Program Regulations: 
1) This program is only for birth family members (e.g. mothers, fathers, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.)
2) You must be a current registered G.O.A.’L member

About the Instructors:
2009

Alice Flikweert was adopted in 1973 by Dutch parents and grew up in a small village with two Dutch brothers. She graduated as an elementary school teacher in 1991 and she was a vice principal at an elementary school in Amsterdam. Nowadays, as a TEFLl-instructor in Korea, she teaches English at two Kindergartens and an elementary school in Goyang for several hours a week. Because she is a big supporter of G.OA.’L, she is very pleased to teach G.OA.’L's English class. Alice also feels it’s great to have an opportunity to help birth families in Korea in this way.

2008
Nari Baker was adopted to the United States when she was four months old.  She grew up in Washington State and attended Hampshire College in Massachusetts.  Most recently, she moved back to Seoul in July 2007 on a research grant.  She is currently working towards progressive social change on the peninsula and working on several adoptee oral histories projects.  

Jean Davis

Mirjam Jongejeugd was adopted by a Dutch couple when she was about 3 years old.  She has one brother, also adopted from Korea.  She is married with three children, one son and two daughters.  Her husband is a Swiss Korean adoptee that works as an executive chef at five star hotels around the world.   Mirjam holds an MA in Korean Studies from Leiden University and is currently working on her Ph.D. about search and reunion between Korean birth families and Korean adult adoptees adopted abroad; and is studying to become a birth doula, childbirth educator and postpartum doula. 

Hokyung Lee (see below)

Robyn Shultz


2007 (Sep - Dec)

Maija Brown (adoptee, USA) has been working as a G.O.A.’L mentee since May 2007.    She has been working as an ESL instructor in Seoul for 2 years and currently teaches English language courses at Kookmin University in Seoul.    

Jooyeon Baek (Korean) is Volunteer Coordinator at G.O.A.’L. She’s in change of translation/interpretation services, and all Korean language programs and scholarships.  She also helps with specific communications between adoptees and their birth families.   

Hokyung Lee (Korean) has been with G.O.A.’L since 2004 as the Director of the Brith Family Search Department.  She is in charge of family searches and mainly works with the media, adoption agencies and orphanages.  She also helps adoptees who are  in need of birth family search, consultation and post reunion support.