Sherlock in Pyongyang

Abstract

Since 2000, the British Council, under the auspices of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office has run an English Language Teacher Training Programme in Pyongyang, North Korea. Its primary aim is to train North Korean teachers on best practices for instructing the English language. The program’s longevity and absence of drama underlines several important characteristics necessary for successful NGO work in North Korea. It highlights that the long-term vision of the DPRK and providing NGO must be shared, and that sustained engagement can lead to continued programming. Embassy support also plays a crucial role in protecting the capabilities of NGOs to perform their functions.