From: Seoul, South Korea

Occupation: Deputy director in South Korea’s defense acquisition program.

Why he came to the U.S.: Attending MU, majoring in public affairs, as part of a government fellowship program.

Why he is taking ESL classes: ESL classes offer more options for him than private tutoring, including more interaction with teachers and students from different backgrounds, and they are less expensive than private lessons.

What he has learned from ESL: He has learned about American English and culture, including individual words such as “penny” and about pronunciation of American words, such as “Wal-Mart.”

Practice outside of class: Downloads White House radio addresses and watches television shows such as “The Apprentice” and DVDs.

Family: He lives in Columbia with his wife and children.