Tucked away in a little corner of Discord (an online platform for instant messaging and sharing digital content) is @BangtanAcademy_, facilitated by a passionate team of ARMYs dedicated to learning the Korean language. So much so that they “turned a discord server into a virtual school with 7 different ways to learn.” While the server has been active since March this year, the academy itself only debuted four months ago, but don’t be misled by its rookie status. Once you step through the doors of Bangtan Academy, you will see that it is a thriving and well-organized community of international members that caters to multiple learning styles and levels of proficiency.
Having opened the virtual doors to Bangtan Academy now would be an opportune time to introduce you all to Bex, who is like the all-seeing, all-knowing Head Admin. From humble beginnings as a lone class of students navigating Weverse’s “Learn Korean with BTS” online course to becoming a server that now hosts 850 students, Bangtan Academy’s growth is prolific. Currently, almost half of its membership are students actively engaged in a variety of Korean language courses, while others are in varying stages of commencing their studies.
Courses include “Go Billy! Korean,” “Learn Korean in Korean,” and “Talk To Me In Korean.” There is also a small collective of sunbae – 40 community members who achieved Level 3 proficiency or higher, including translators and native Korean speakers.
Bangtan Academy’s concept may have been Bex’s brainchild, but as she quickly points out, the school exists because of the collaborative efforts of her team of co-creators. As Head Admin, very little escapes her watchful eye, and if by chance that does happen, she’s a master at addressing things swiftly and professionally. As such, Bangtan Academy remains a safe and enjoyable space of learning and mutual respect for all who enter its doors.
In seeking an interview with Bex, I was cognisant of how busy she is in the server, yet her bubbly personality and willingness to contribute could not be dampened. Shining the spotlight on Bangtan Academy is therefore one way of honoring all that Bangtan Academy has achieved to date. In preparing this blog, Bex was invited to share her thoughts on four key areas.
Introducing Bangtan Academy!
1. Inspiration & Concept
Originally, when I came to this server, I hoped to meet and study with ARMYs because I was the only person I knew studying Korean. I wanted study buddies. I found them, but the server wasn’t really set up for studying. So, with a semester off from teaching to work on my dissertation and covid making me stay at home, I created Bangtan Academy — a class designed around the tiny “Learn! Korean with BTS” lessons on Weverse. Eventually, it became clear that it was more work than I had time for, so we just picked a popular Korean study series and started learning together. Word started to spread and the original study group evolved into admins who now run a full-blown school.
Our main concept is offering a free environment where people can study books, websites, and YouTube channels together. It's a place to escape the real world and dive into the Korean Language and Culture with new friends.
2. Behind the Scenes
Our team is built like a tree, roots, and branches — some working behind the scenes, others reaching out into the school. Everyone has main assignments but help with others and it's amazing how our admins, moderators, and prefects all complement each other — we're like puzzle pieces that fit together. The admins are constantly working behind the scenes in positions to control the chaos and our moderators are students that jumped in whole-heartedly to help the server stay the happy place that it is. We have prefects/class presidents, helping new students, and running topic channels based on their genuine interests. The school itself evolved with the way Discord formats its Categories and Channels so the whole place is set up like a giant index, carefully organized so students have a smooth experience and don't see the chaos backstage. Somehow, despite evolving instead of being planned from the start, it works. We love it.
3. Motivation
I think most of our students already come with that motivation — it’s why they seek us out. Many arrive already at level 2, 3, or 4 in their Korean studies, while some are translators or native speakers donating their time. Most are beginners, finally taking their first steps. The hardest part about studying outside formal classes is studying on a regular basis and sticking with it, especially when alone so that’s what we offer: study buddies. Even our toughest courses are voluntary so our school is mostly a major study server to help students reach their goals. There's nothing better than watching someone level up in their language skills and squeal with happiness. It makes it all worth it.
4. Future Aspirations
Our main goal is to keep our server the happy place that it is. Bangtan Academy is getting bigger but still feels small and we've set rules in place to keep it the safe and comforting environment it has been. We don't let the outside world in so that those who have chaos, or sadness, or mental pollution around them can have a safe haven to escape to and immerse themselves in learning and making new friends. We have an amazing team and I cannot thank them enough. They really do work every day to make it the place we want it to be.
We never planned this — it grew on its own, and I have no idea what it'll become. But I do hope people who find us have the same wonderful experience of discovering a positive learning environment. One with no pressures, plenty of encouragement, and people all over the world from different cultures who will cheer for them, every step of the way.
Ending Ment!
Bangtan Academy is helping to transform the lives of ARMYs and non-ARMY’s alike. While there are multiple benefits to learning the Korean language, perhaps the most rewarding of these for ARMY is the potential to embrace BTS’ music and messages on a much deeper level, followed by the opportunity to communicate with BTS in the language that they live and breathe — Korean.
If this blog has motivated you to want to learn Korean, just know that this doesn’t have to be a lonely journey. Keep an eye out for announcements from their Twitter account: @BangtanAcademy_, and you too could soon be attending Bangtan Academy, one of the coolest virtual schools of the year.
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Written By: Shelley
Edit By: Vera
Checked By: Aury