If it wasn't for school, I would have stayed until my 100th birthday. :) Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The program was AMAZING! It did not only encourage me to come out of my comfort zone, but it also taught me a lot. The teachers were of a very high standard, which gave for an in-depth course in regard to the material being studied. No class was the same, which allowed for a balanced and rigorous curicculum. The intensity of the course was just right and shifted depending on your interest in the topic/class of your choice. The resources provided to us were fantastic. We were able to freely use the libraries just as normal students attending Korea University for their studies. They had books in multiple languages ranging from educational to fictional to comic books - I even found a korean version of the book 'Mouse'. We were granted access to study areas like other students and were treated exactly the same as full time attending students - which I value a lot. This ranged from us being able to access gyms to us being allowed to print. The Korea University shop provided us with high quality notebooks and textbooks ranging from the diverse courses, otherwise the teachers gave us worksheets and other materials which would aid our education. Overall, the educational aspect was very well planned out, rigorous and provided many aspects of the subject in a limited time frame. The courses were of value to me, because it allowed me to gain further insight into the topic, from a professional. The levels provided for the different courses were accurately estimated and the courses are of great benefit if you wish to get more in depth knowledge in a specific field, and/or are in High School and are not sure yet what to study.

On-site administration of your program

The people in sight were very friendly and helpful, and there were so many of them, that even if you went out in the area of KU, you would still be able to find a lot of them. This was very nice because whenever you had a problem, you could easily ask them. It was also somewhat reassuring, since all the KU staff spoke English, and other languages very well. The buddy system worked fantastically and I am still to this day in contact with mine and plan on staying in contact with them, and even visiting them next summer. The buddies were incredibly nice and really made sure they would do everything necessary to make us feel welcome and comfortable in Korea. My buddy went to great lengths and even helped me buy tickets for an event (the website was in all Korean). We went to town with our buddies as well, and he showed us Seoul in all its glory and beauty. He was really friendly and kind and there was not a day, where he was not with us. The people really tried so hard, and it is very much appreciated by me and all the others. The buddies helped with translation issues, direction issues - basically anything and everything. I really want to praise the on-site administration! It could not have been better!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was very pleased with my living arrangements, there was no hassle as to which place I was able to/allowed to stay in. It was very straightforward and easy getting the key and remote control for the room. The room itself was large enough for two people and every person got a desk (for the double room). The AC worked perfectly fine and the rooms were clean and cleaned. The process of checking out likewise worked just as smooth.

I have not eaten at the Korea University cafeteria, however, the food in the area and the food, in general, was AMAZING. The nearby restaurants were of great variety, with food for everyone's taste. The proximity of these to the dorms and to the university is quite close.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very comfortable during my time there. I was able to communicate perfectly fine, both in English and my broken Korean. The volunteer staff at the university and the local people were incredibly nice and I felt so comfortable and happy! The people, in my case, no matter what age, were so friendly, helpful and interesting. I was able to communicate with them in any situation and was able to make friends outside of the program. The language course offered at the university helped me a lot in terms of reading signs and navigating around the city. The social aspects of things, personally, I did not experience any sort of discrimination against my gender, appearance or any of this sort, this includes when I accidentally talked informal Korean to someone older than me. I was taught and informed about certain cultural etiquettes, so this helped me integrate with the culture more, however, I was still a visitor in a foreign country, thus I tried my best to integrate myself into Korea, in a respectful manner. Overall, I was very very pleased with my stay and I really enjoyed it and the people made me feel so welcome wherever I went, and always greeted with a smile and helped me when I required help, or looked like I was :).

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I was very fortunate and did not require any health assistance in Korea. Health was one of the highest priorities of the University though. They made sure we were informed where to go and when for whatever issue we had. I felt very safe and taken care of, should anything have happened. The local healthcare system was of the same standard as I was used to at home, and it would not have been any problem connecting to my home country should anything have happened. I was very pleased and satisfied with how the university prioritized our safety. I did not require any specific vaccines for Korea, I was good to go.

I felt very safe in Korea. There was not a single circumstance, where I did not feel safe. I felt taken care of in every situation, no matter where I was. The only situation I had, where I was uncomfortable was in the metro in rush hour. It can be INSANELY crowded. I did not exactly know what to expect since this was the first time I ever took the metro. However, I would advise future students to avoid the rush hour (especially in the evening), if it is not possible to avoid, I would advise them to be very patient, since it could be that you have to wait for a couple of trains to pass before you find one that is not as crowded - and yes, it will be VERY crowded. The order, however, who gets to go on the train, when and where is very structured and organized from the public itself.

I would most definitely choose the same program, however for 6 weeks instead of 4. I actually stayed for two months in Korea, because I liked it so much, even though I only took the 4-week option. I would choose different courses because the diversity is amazing and I have a broad interest range. I would most definitely take the same language course again since it taught me so much!

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

I was very fortunate since my father took over all the fees, so I was not on a budget and had free range in this aspect. :)

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

The program encouraged to step out of my comfort zone and helped me be more confident in the language, even if I get it wrong. This helped me to use the language on a daily basis, whether it was when buying food, clothes, the subway or in a restaurant, it was so worthwhile taking the course. I was able to read the local subway station signs and was able to understand a significant amount of conversation.

Select all that apply

• Dorm
• Hotel

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• International Students
• Other

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The people (both local and in the program).
• The food (it was SO good).
• The courses and the scenery of Seoul and Korea in general.

• Maybe choosing dorm partners...(?)
• It would be amazing if the postal services could be explained slightly better.

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer