Teachers are significant members of the community who perform an crucial function in helping to train students. Their function is a critical one mainly because they mold thoughts and influence their pupils’ contribution to community. Consequently, teachers also influence how the students may see life. Teachers usually take difficult facts and present it in such a manner that the material can be a lot more easily comprehended. It is expected that students learn and memorize a lot of facts, but it is the teacher who makes certain they do by reinforcing what they learn and helping in retention. Exams and tests also helps the student retain information. An environment of learning coupled with the teacher’s influence can help foster dramatic leaps in know-how.

In Korea, the term for educator is “Sunsengnim.” Take note that the suffix “-nim” at the end of the word is added to express high impression or respect for someone you are speaking about or referring to. “Suseong” or “Suseongnim” are words also used in the past to mean teacher. Today, however, these words have been scarcely used though they are still listed in the Korean dialect. These days, the word “sunsengnim” is used more often to refer to a teacher.

Here are a number of examples using words similar to education in the Korean language. The sentence “Teachers teach knowledge to students” is translated in Korean as “Sunsengnim-eun Jishik-eul Hakseng-ehgye Gareuchinda.” The word “Sunsengnim” is teacher; the word “gareuchinda” is teach; the term “Jisik” is knowledge and the term “Hakseng” is students.  If you want to declare “The teacher is coming” in Korean, you say “Sunsengnim-ggyesuh Oshinda.”

Normally, “Sunsengnim” in Korea applies to any individual who physically educates students in a  school. However, the word can also be used in a different context when one would like to pertain to a person in a much higher position than you are. The word further suggests that the individual is somebody we can learn from. Thus, a “Sunsengnim” is somebody who may not be an actual school teacher but someone who is highly reputable.

In English, educators who teach at the university level are called a “professor.” A similar term exists in Korean. In Korea, the words “Gyosu” or “Gyosunim” are the same as the word “professor.”  As mentioned above, the ending “-nim” is added to “gyosunim” to signify politeness and admiration. Some terms using the word professor in Korean are “professor’s office” which is “Gyosunim Samusil” in Korean and “interview with the professor” which is translated to Korean as “Gyosunimgwha-eui Myundam.”

Educators are important and respected members of the community. Not only are they mentors of educational information and pass on training to students but they can also be good influences.  Their role is a critical one mainly because they pass on information from which both the person and society can benefit.