An incredible learning experience Past Review

By Emma Russell (University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh) - abroad from 06/26/2017 to 07/23/2017 with

Korea University: Seoul - International Summer Campus

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I gained not only a beginner's working knowledge of Korean, but also an insight into Korean culture and an idea of how America is viewed in Korea. I also discovered two new favorite foods in the restaurants of Anam! This program was indescribably worthwhile for me, both as a student and as an American citizen.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	I had an absolute blast at KU ISC this past summer - my only complaint is that the four weeks went by much too quickly! The academics were challenging but manageable (with plenty of studying and language practice, at least), and being able to apply what I was learning in Korean class in everyday situations was incredible. The university is friendly and welcoming, with adequate resources and friendly staff, students, and faculty. The campus was gorgeous and well maintained, with a lovely population of wild cats to keep me entertained on walks to and from class. The short walk to Anam was worth it - inexpensive and delicious food of all kinds was available a mere 5 minutes from my dormitory, and the nearby subway station gave me access to all of Seoul - a resource I frequently took advantage of! I arrived in Seoul nervous and alone, and left happy, fulfilled, and surrounded by friends. All in all, an incredible experience!
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	KU staff made sure all the international students felt like a part of the student body! Our orientation was well structured and fun - I especially enjoyed the KU Cheerleaders performance! Learning KU cheers helped me feel like I belonged. All the staff members I encountered were friendly and helpful. Even if they couldn't answer my questions, they knew who could. From my experience, the whole program - including the various excursions and cultural activities planned for us!
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I lived in the Anal dormitory with one roommate. Our room was small but comfortable, equipped with a desk, bed (with linens), and closet, along with a private bathroom attached. The whole building was very clean, with more than adequate spaces for students to gather. The laundry was confusing at first, but quite simple after the girls on my floor helped me figure it out. Personally, I appreciated the gender-separated dorms, and encountered no issues at all with security. The A.C. in my room worked smoothly, and the one time a lightbulb died, someone came to replace it very quickly and efficiently! The internet was more than fast - I almost wish I could have brought it home!
* Food:	Plenty of wonderful, affordable options on and off campus!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Despite some initial awkwardness, I quickly learned that the easiest way to integrate was to follow along what locals did. If they stood on the right side of the escalator and left space to walk on the left side, so did I. If young people gave their subway seats up to older people, so did I. When in Rome - or Seoul, I suppose! The culture (drinking, restaurant, etiquette, politeness, etc.) was very different from America, but everyone I encountered was very understanding.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	The information provided to us at orientation regarding health services was comprehensive and reminiscent of my own university's services!
* Safety:	I have lived in Texas, Arizona, Virginia, Manhattan, and Pittsburgh. I felt incredibly safe the entire time I was in Seoul. As a young woman and a foreigner, I did not feel like I was in danger at any point, even when walking around alone in relatively unfamiliar places. A little common sense goes a long way, but it is okay to let your guard down in Seoul (to some extent)! Campus was always well-lit, and I never felt unsafe there at any point.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes KU was a dream come true - challenging and engaging classes, a metropolitan location and easy access to every corner of Seoul. I learned so much in and out of the classroom, through cultural excursions planned by KU and through my own personal adventures around the city. KU gave me the freedom to learn as I explored a new culture!

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget? (1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)	As a shopaholic, I found it difficult to resist shopping frequently! However, as far as food goes, I spent much less than I anticipates - roughly $15 to $20 per day on food. Granted I ate a lot of convenience store food (which is much better than American convenience stores) and did not splurge on meals frequently. Souvenirs and experiences (like going to Namsan tower or COEX Shopping Center in Gangnam) took up most of my budget.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$120 to $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Eat at local restaurants - they tend to be more affordable than McDonald's, and when else will you get the chance to eat there? The portions are generally quite generous, and if you can handle the heat, there's nothing better than kimbap for $2!!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language	I was encouraged by my teacher to use Korean in the class for various speaking exercises, and encouraged to use it outside of the classroom because I was so excited to apply what I learned, to speak and be understood in a foreign language!
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program?	Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	N/A
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Don't be afraid to make mistakes! However, it never hurts to have a dictionary or translation app handy.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university?	Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Fun courses Incredible location Many resources
* What could be improved?	Cultural excursion sign-up process Graduation ceremony (4-week) seemed rushed and haphazard Buddy program - my buddy didn't do anything
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I knew that there would be no toilet paper in my dorm bathroom upon my arrival. I also wish I could have been in touch with my roommate and gotten to know her before the program, but I understand that this can prove difficult. Finally, I wish I had a better idea of how I could get my phone a Korean SD card in Seoul, and how to acquire a transit card (T-money card) These small things add up and can be overwhelming when you actually arrive.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.	The Academic or Linguist You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Beginning Korean I-H
Course Department:
Instructor:	Minji Jeon
Instruction Language:	Korean
Comments:	I could not have asked for a better introduction to Korean or a more entertaining, engaging and knowledgeable teacher! The course was fast-paced, as we only had 3.5 weeks (after the placement test) but we covered a huge amount. I came to Seoul with a very limited knowledge of the Korean language - hello, please, thank you, sorry, yes, no - and left able to construct sentences in past, present, and future tense. I learned how to ask and tell price, my age, nationality, and occupation, how to order food, how to count from one to 100,000 (in both number systems), how to say where I was going and for what reason, and much more! Our teacher was fun, sweet, and very funny, which kept me interested in the class for all 3 hours. Her English was very good, but she only used it as a last resort, ensuring that we got the most out of an immersive language class. We were able to participate frequently and practice speaking with fellow classmates. Homework was helpful and reasonably difficult, and the two exams were well suited to what we learned in class. I am forever grateful to 전 선생님 (our teacher) for all her hard work!
Credit Transfer Issues:	Be mindful of your home university's policies on summer semesters and/or study abroad credit - they may have a minimum number of weeks required to take the credit.