KF뉴스레터-Short-term Visit Program Created for Undergraduate Students

Short-term Visit Program Created for Undergraduate Students

The short-term visit program for overseas undergraduate students took place from July 7 through August 14 at the Language Education Institute of Seoul National University. This six-week program was initiated this year to provide foreign undergraduate students majoring in Korean Studies with an opportunity to have hands-on experience of Korean culture while improving their language skills. The Korea Foundation has to date offered intensive language education for M.A. and Ph.D. candidates, Korean Studies scholars and Korea specialists through its Fellowship for Korean Language Training, which lasts six to twelve months. The Foundation recently decided to set up the new short-term program as the number of students specializing in Korean Studies continues to record steady growth.

The Foundation has limited prospective candidates for the program to those living in eight Southeast and Northeast Asian countries, as students majoring in Korean Studies in these countries are given few opportunities to visit Korea, despite their growing interest. These countries include China, Mongolia, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Before embarking on the new program, the Foundation conducted surveys of a number of universities that boast substantial Korean Studies courses and several institutes with only Korean language programs. These efforts focused on several questions: when prospective students would like to visit Korea, how long they would stay, what they want to learn, how many would participate, and their Korean language proficiency.

Twelve Students from Southeast Asia Participate
Foreign undergraduate students pose after seeing nanta in seoul on July 12.

The Foundation decided to provide expenses to 12 students for their studies and accommodations in Korea, with airfares to be paid by the students themselves. Surprisingly, the number of applicants far exceeded expectations, and in order to help the selection process, a Korean language proficiency test was imposed. Finally, 12 students were selected. They were sophomores and seniors specializing in Korean Studies who are enrolled in seven universities: the National University of Mongolia, University of Foreign Languages-Hanoi, University of Social Sciences and Humanities-Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages and Information Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru University (India), Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia), and Prince of Songkla University (Thailand).

Hands-on Experience of Korean Society and Culture
This short-term visit program served multiple purposes, allowing its participants to experience many aspects of Korean society and culture while strengthening their Korean language skills. Four hours in the morning were devoted to Korean language training. This was followed by a Korean cultural experience program, under which the participants learned Taegwondo and traditional Korean dance twice a week.

Teamed up with three persons, including Korean nationals, the visitors also explored the COEX shopping mall, Daehangno Street, Dongdaemun Market, the Korean War Memorial, and other tourist attractions in Seoul. Their schedule also included tours of Gyeongju, capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom; and Ulsan, a major industrial port on the south coast.

Special lecture on Korea’s politics, economy and culture were also held. On the weekend, they took time out to view Nanta, an acclaimed percussion performance. Students also traveled to cultural heritage sites on Ganghwa Island and stayed with Korean families in their homes. There is no doubt that the students made much progress in their studies of Korea during their short stay.

Language training class

Most of the visitors, who have intermediate-level Korean language proficiency, hope to be admitted into graduate schools in Korea and ultimately work as Korean Studies teachers or at Korean embassies or enterprises. According to Choi Eun-kyu, a research fellow at the Language Education Institute who was in charge of the short-term visit program for undergraduate students, the participants demonstrated greater language proficiency than expected. Although they were coming to Korea for the first time, they explored without the aid of Koreans during their free time. They were very positive and open to new experiences while participating in the program.

The program has enabled its participants to enlarge their knowledge of Korean society and culture, of which they had only knowledge gleaned from books. Furthermore, they are expected to take more interest in Korea and play significant roles in various sectors related to Korea after graduation. Depending on the results of a survey involving the visitors, the Foundation plans to expand the visit program.

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Short-term Visit Program Created for Undergraduate Students

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Short-term Visit Program Created for Undergraduate Students

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