Interview with David Park, August 19, 2020

Interview Summary

David Park was born in South Korea. His grandfather was a politician. He went to College of William & Mary for a B.A. in government. He received his first choice of China in the Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) project. The medical process was a challenge. Pre-Service Training was in Chengdu and at Sichuan Normal University. Training prepared the trainees well for their service. Park was assigned to Chong Quing Jaiotong University teaching English teachers. He had the freedom to teach a variety of content themes within his curriculum, including world politics and events and American culture, government, and politics. Beneath the surface, students were not so different from American students. He had some stereotypes about Chinese people but found them much more open and engaged as individuals. Medical staff told volunteers that there was little concern about COVID-19, then two weeks later evacuated. Park talks about accentuating being more Korean while in the U.S. and more American in China.

Interview Keyword

China (Country of service) 2019-2020 (Date of service) Korean Americans Sichuan Normal University College of William & Mary Emotional support English class content Training Diversity in the Peace Corps Chenydu Urban placement Stereotypes Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) Medical application Evacuation Chong Qing Jaiotong University

Interview LC Subject

Acculturation. COVID-19 (Disease) Communication and culture. Culture. Interpersonal communication and culture Interpersonal relations and culture Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--China Transportation Travel Voluntarism. Volunteers Intercultural communication. Language and culture. Language and languages. Teachers Teaching Volunteer workers in education

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.