Canadian teachers are not only ambassadors promoting study options in the Great White North, but can also influence the perception of Canadians in civil society.

To assist Canadian teachers to this end, the country’s embassy is holding two sessions for those working in South Korea.

“Canadian teachers in Korea are potential sources of information when approached by students seeking to learn more about studying options in Canada,” explained the embassy.

Hosted at the chancery’s Schofield Hall on Feb. 20, the first seminar will present the embassy’s education marketing strategy of the Education in Canada brand and explain how teachers could play a role in its success.

The second session will be a panel discussion examining the perception of foreign English teachers in Korea.

Invited speakers will address issues such as the portrayal of foreign English teachers in the media as well as statistics on foreigner criminality, society and stereotypes, in addition to legislation which affects teachers in Korea.

With the goal of promoting discussion, the embassy invites all current and former English teachers to join and actively participate in the discussion.

Speakers include Michael Hurt, member of the Presidential Committee for Nation Branding and author of the blog “Scribblings of the Metropolitician;” Benjamin Wagner associate Professor at Kyung-hee University’s Faculty of Law; Matt Van Volkenburg author of the blog “Gusts of Popular Feeling” and an English teacher; Robert Ouwehand former national communications director for the Association for Teachers of English in Korea and author of the blog “Roboseyo.”

Doors open at 1:30 p.m. with the first session running for about an hour from 2 p.m. The second session will kick off at 3 p.m.

To learn more about the event and to reserve a seat, visit www.korea.gc.ca.

By Yoav Cerralbo (yoav@heraldcorp.com)