The Adventures of a Seoul Brother Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

As I said above, the Korean language coursework was very difficult, but the courses taught in English were quite easy. The intensive Korean courses were scheduled for four hours Monday through Friday in either the morning or afternoon. The language courses were taught by young and enthusiastic teachers who taught only in Korean. Everyday the main teacher taught new grammar and sentence structures and then facilitated the students practicing the new grammar, and listening comprehension exercises for the first three hours. The last hour was spent with the reading teacher. The reading portion of the class aimed to make sure every student could apply the new grammar and read Korean text at the same speed in which he or she spoke Korean. Every 4 weeks there is a testing period lasting 2 days for a total of eight hours. Not all eight hours of the period are spent testing. About four hours are spent in actual testing, and the other four hours are spent crashing last minute and anxiously awaiting your name to be called. Most days, these classes are very fun and you bond quickly with your teachers and classmates. Compared to the American education system, these classes are pretty relaxed and there are also class competitions and culture classes (for all intent and purposes, field trips) scheduled throughout the semester. The courses designed for foreigners taught in English are precisely what you would expect from a course in the United Sates. In fact, most of my professors were from, or had taught for several years in the United states. There were a few other professors from various counties in Europe, but I didn't take any of their classes so I can't properly evaluate them. While at Hanyang University's Ansan campus, I took a semester of Japanese courses. I know it's a bit strange to take Japanese course in Korea, but that's what I did. These course are far more difficult then Japanese course in the states, as most Koreans taking Japanese course have either studied abroad in Japan, or studied Japanese for several years in high school and college. The conversation course, or advanced culture courses were taught entirely in Japanese by native speakers of Japanese, and it was expected for the students to already be fluent. The Japanese reading course was the most difficult for me because the reading passages which often had to do with sociological theories about Japanese society were explained in Korean which was difficult for me, being someone whose Korean language skills were far beneath their Japanese language skills.

On-site administration of your program

This program did an excellent job of helping students get acclimated to being in Korea. The on-site support services are wonderful, and almost all of the professors on campus are willing to stop and help you. The people in the international office are extremely knowledgeable about Korea, and the American higher education system.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed in Hanyang University's international dormitory 2 located in Sageun Dong, Seoul, Hanyang University. The neighborhood is very safe, and I never heard anything about anyone being the victim of a crime of any sort. Hanyang University is shaped somewhat circular and the international dormitory is locate on the eastern outer rim of the circle. Walking to classes located in the center of campus take around ten to fifteen minutes, but there is a Hanyang Women's University bus that you can take to Hanyang University subway station. If you exit from exit number two, you will emerge right across from Hanyang Plaza which is located right across from the language school in the center of campus. Using this bus, you can get to class in less than ten minutes. The bus is also free to ride, and runs from about 8 a.m till 10 p.m. When you arrive at the dorm you will have to buy toiletries and bed sheets. Bed sheets are extremely expensive in Korea. If you have the room for it in your luggage, I recommend taking bed sheets along with you. If not be prepare to spend around fifty dollars for the sheets and another fifty dollars for a heavy comforter or bedspread.

Most of the food in Korea is fine unless you only eat very specific things. Vegetarians, Vegans and people who don't eat pork for religious reasons might have a little trouble finding places to eat. There are lots of "mom and pop restaurants" selling chicken. Most of them are fine, but I found that you have to be careful with chicken. I was food poisoned twice while in Korea, and both times it was from eating chicken.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My most memorable experience was going snowboarding with all of my language professors. We all pretended to be secret agents trying to escape a secret facility while being pursued by local police. As someone who was born and raised in Texas, I had never been snowboarding, and my language professor made it a very special experiences.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Crime rates in Seoul are far lower than than in the United States. While in Seoul or Ansan, I did not ever go to a hospital or clinic of any sort.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

The best way to improve your language skills is to go out into the city. Just go out into the city and use your language skills in restaurants and shopping malls. It is relatively difficult to make local friends when you spend the majority of your time in the language school, but there are plenty of other opportunities to use your language skills elsewhere.

Select all that apply

• Dorm

Select all that apply

• International Students

Select all that apply

• International Students

• I liked the professors in the language school
• I really liked the staff in the international office

• It would have been nice to have a Korean roommate