In 1990, the Internet was released to the world. In my country, the United States, we accessed the Internet using dial-up or our household phone line. At first it was adequate since about all you could do was check email and chat by texting in chat rooms.

One country got it and declared that everyone would access the Internet via cable. That country was Korea. In comparison it would be like Lionel Messi playing soccer against a man who never got up. Dial-up was so slow you could click on a webpage go into the kitchen and make dinner come back and still it would only be halfway downloaded. To say the least, I was very envious of this small Asian country and its ability to see that the Internet would surpass television and other handwritten media. This ability continues today and it is happening at many of the universities in Korea.

Hanyang University is one of them. One of the most amazing benefits of working at Hanyang is that you are encouraged to create and teach a course in English. I joined the university in 2010 and put my interest in online activities and created a course that uses the online game “SimCity,” in which the player is tasked with founding and developing a city.

Many people would think it is just that, a game, but it is so much more. Game-based learning has become more prevalent in schools and teachers are more interested in using the online simulation game. As studies show, it gives students an education that they would only otherwise receive once they leave university and enter the real world.

Students are able to go to English-speaking countries without ever leaving their home or university. They interact, communicate and work together with the international community. They learn about cultures, leadership and working together to achieve goals. This has given students a rare exposure to other cultures that they could never get from a book or a lecture.

The students’ responses have been overwhelming and the opportunities are endless. Students in the online presentation English course have improved their English communication skills in conversation, writing and texting. They have also created new friendships with other international students. Sometimes they are the leaders and sometimes they are the followers.

One of the biggest challenges is motivating students to practice outside the classroom. Now they have to learn to say enough for tonight and get to sleep. The same thing happens in the classroom instead of students darting out the door as soon as the class ends. Many times I have to tell them an hour after the class has ended that I have to leave to teach another class.

This fall is the second time this course has been taught. Ten minutes after becoming available, the class was full. Essay writing will be implemented into their lesson creating plans, which their teams will implement and use in the English-speaking communities. The whole team will also present their plans and strategies to achieve their goals. Learning English is happening because they want to succeed, and because people depend on them and need them ― just like in real life at a real job.

By Todd Lee Doyle

Todd Lee Doyle is an assistant professor of the College English Education Committee at Hanyang University. ― Ed.