Faculty of the Month (April) - Mr. Hong Chang Jun

Welcome back, everyone! It’s hard to believe a month has already flown by. As we settle into our routines, school life might start to feel a bit repetitive, but the CSIA Quill is here to keep things fresh and exciting. We’re kicking off our new Community segment, Faculty of the Month, where we spotlight the amazing educators who guide us every day. 

This month, we sat down with our beloved math teacher, Mr. Hong Chang Jun. We at the CSIA Quill hope that all of our students at CSIA, especially middle schoolers, can learn from his thoughtful advice. A huge shoutout to Mr. Hong! 

Q. Mr. Hong, how does it feel to be back after a year away? Have you noticed anything that’s changed since your return?

Mr. Hong: During my leave, I didn’t think of work, and honestly? I didn’t want to. (laughs) But I have been looking forward to reuniting with the ninth graders since December. I enjoyed teaching them as seventh graders. I loved how energetic they were! 

Q. Why did you want to be a math teacher?

Mr. Hong: When I was a teenager, I enjoyed solving math problems, not so much math itself. One day, a student I was tutoring told me I was funny and had a knack for teaching. That planted the idea in my head. Ultimately, I chose this path because I genuinely liked teaching and found it fun.

Q. What are some dos and don’ts when studying math? 

Mr. Hong: If you understand how formulas are derived in textbooks or reference books, the school curriculum shouldn’t be difficult. The reality is that most students only listen to others explain, rather than taking the time to really make the material their own. You should never sacrifice gaps in your understanding for speed. 

Q. Because of the revised curriculum, there’s no differentiation between the domestic and international track. How will math classes be conducted from now on? 

Mr. Hong: It’s totally up to the students to choose which math subject they will take. Even if you want to study in Korea, you can still take PreCalculus, and vice versa. Most students alternate between the two tracks anyway. As for grading, absolute and relative evaluations will coexist. So you can still expect to see both ABCs and rankings on your report card. 

Q. How should students study to get good grades or GPA?

Mr. Hong: You have to remember that the tests are constructed by the teachers, so noting what teachers emphasize in class is important. You shouldn’t exert all your energy into hagwon material. For domestic students, you also have to consistently prepare for the KSAT. 

Q. Are there any books you want to recommend for students to study for the school tests? 

Mr. Hong: For domestic students, I’d recommend two. One for understanding the basic concepts and the other for building problem-solving skills. If you feel comfortable with English, English textbooks provide more detailed explanations of each concept. If you’re an international student, solving textbook practice questions will suffice.