Who is Mr. Bondaygee (미스터 번데기)?

(한국말 이야기 밑에보세요!)

One day back in 1997 Canadian, UBC Graduate, James Purdie decided to move to Korea to teach ESL and learn about foreign culture and languages.

2000: While teaching children, English Teacher, James, has idea to make a “Bondaygee” song (번데기 송) after hearing children chant “bondaygee bondaygee” 번데기 번데기.  James later shares song with children who suddenly love it.

2002: James creates an English School in Cheongju, South Korea, named “JJ’s English Friends”, and starts to make his own curriculum while carefully watching how students learned.

2003: James starts using video as a teaching tool, putting children right into “video dialogues” and then giving digital copies of their work so they don’t forget the lessons and English dialogues. 

Later in 2003: James asks middle school students what kind of video they want to make.  Students cry for a “Bondaygee Song“-Musical Comedy.  James agrees and transforms into larger than life, hero, “James Bondaygee” for the film.  The film turns into a major success with all students. (This was also a funny coincidence since as a child idolized movie legend, James Bond 007!)

2004: James turns boring study word lists into musical songs and then videos.  The Very Good Words System is born!  Students thrive and beg for more.  James completes 8 Very Good Word Songs and videos without rest!

2005: James moves to Seoul and starting teaching in public schools.  For first time, James introduces himself as Mr. Bondaygee.  The students go wild with interest and imagination.  They learn “Mr. Bondaygee’s Very Good Word” Songs and incredible speed.  They thrive. It’s awesome. 

The rest is history!

2009 James returns to Canada, ending a ten year adventure, to share in stories with curious Canadians, (but still loves to speak Korean and meeting Korean people).

The Bondaygee Story 번데기 이야기

저에대해조금설명하자면,

1997년에처음한국에영어교사로갔었습니다.

처음든생각은신기함이고,

내나라와달라조금힘들었죠. 하지만차차좋아지게됐습니다.

어느날학원에서아이들가르치는도중

아이들이 ‘번데기하나, 번데기둘’ 하는게임을보게됐죠.

집에와서  내가그번데기노래를기타치며따라불렀습니다.

그런데진짜로시장에서팔고있는번데기를보게돼었죠.

그당시한국말은잘몰랐지만,

반가움에 ‘번데기’라고외쳤죠.

생긴게웃겨서웃음이나더라고요.

다시한번 ‘번데기’ 라고불러보니좋았습니다.

나중에찾아보니뜻있는상징이있다는걸알게됐죠.

인간은 아름다운 무언가를  향해 성장하고 변화 할 수 있다는 자연의 가르침,

저 뜻이 좋아서 번데기 노래를 만들어 불렀죠.

바로 다음날 학원에 가서 연주했더니, 학생들이 아주 좋아했어요</