Professor, Entrepreneur, and much more… Mr. Edmunds
Managing Editor Seo Yun-chan
danseo123@naver.com
At Busan University of Foreign Studies, there are a lot of foreign professors. These professors are always ready to help Korean students to learn their language, or help other foreign students to easily get comfortable with South Korea. Out of such foreign professors, there is one special professor. He does not only stick to being a professor. He does other things for living to. He is a professor, and a entrepreneur. He has a lot to say to BUFSians about the life he has lived.
Q. Tell us a little bit about yourself
A. My name is Michael Daniel Edmunds. I’m Canadian, but I’ve been living here in Busan for 15 years. My hometown is called Thunder Bay, Ontario. During university, I moved to Windsor, Ontario, and I double-majored in Economics and Business. I completed my MBA shortly before coming to Korea. I love music. I sing and play guitar as hobbies. I’m married and have a beautiful 3-year-old son.
Professor Edmunds is married to a lovely wife and has beautiful 3 year old son.
Provided by Mr. Edmunds
Q. Why did you decide to come to Korea?
A. I came to Korea to experience a new culture and a new way of life. I have always had a strong sense for adventure and a lot of curiosity, but I had only ever lived in Canada. In 2006, before I came to Korea, the office I was working in closed, and I didn’t much like the city I was living in. It was time for me to try something new. As an economist, I was fascinated to see how Korea’s rapid development through the 80s and 90s had impacted the nation’s ancient and rich culture.
Q. Why did you become a professor?
A. I came to BUFS in 2007, just one year after coming to Busan. After spending a year at a hagwon teaching conversation and grammar, I was excited to find a job in an Economics Department where I would be able to teach topics I am passionate about. I spent many years in the Economics and E-Business Departments, and now teach in the G2 (Chinese and American Convergence) Department, where I have fun challenging students to learn the cultural and economic intricacies of China and the USA, and those two very different ways of life and doing business.
Mr. Edmunds runs his own company named MEME CREATIVE.
Provided by Mr. Edmunds
Q. Do you do anything else for living except a professor?
A. I guess I have a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit. In 2013, I started a marketing company called Meme Creative Communications with a couple of partners. Our goal was to help Korean organizations communicate with their English customers by creating advertising campaigns, providing branding services, and other types of project management designed to make communication easier for them. While Meme remains a small company, we have worked with a long list of big clients since we started, and continue to work on projects.
Q. How can BUFS students get more familiar with English?
A. These days I like to recommend that my students use Netflix (and soon Disney +) as a learning tool. Watching English media, studying vocabulary, and practicing using shadowing can be great ways for students to improve their English abilities. Western TV shows are also a great way to observe some of the cultural differences that exist between East Asian and Western nations. I have been using Netflix as a teaching tool in recent semesters, and students always seem to enjoy that kind of learning.
Mr. Edmunds is appointed as a member of The 1 st Global Advisory Group for International Tourism City.
Provided by Mr. Edmunds
Q. Any last words for all BUFSians
A. Hello BUFSians. This pandemic has been a tremendous challenge to all of us. Keep pushing through and know that things will get back to normal soon! We are all looking forward to getting back on campus and returning to the classroom! Stay healthy and motivated!