South Korea: Unexpected challenges & life changing lessons Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The teaching styles are completely different than the American teaching styles. Instructions to assignments are vague. I felt a majority of the time, we as students had to guess what the teacher wanted us to do rather than be directed on what to focus on. It was quantity of your work that mattered not the quality. When group presentations were taking place, new instructions to our assignments were constantly being announced. In the start of the semester I was determined to be an active participant in the classroom. I slowly became discouraged when I realized the classroom setting is not as engaging and vocal as I am used to in my home university. Most of the times I asked questions I felt I was offending they teacher, my questions were not answered or I was directed to a teachers assistant for an answer.

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

International House(I-House) and SK Global House are next to each other. I accidentally signed up to live in International House where I was living with Korean graduate students. I would recommend signing up to live in SK Global where all international exchange students reside. Living in SK Global House you have access to all your friends, places to eat, and a 24 hour convenient store with out having to get ready and walk outside. Dorms provided bedsheets. Bring your own pillow. They did not provide cookware. I-House has a lounge on each floor with one stove top to cook on that is shared by approximately 30 girls. They also have a microwave oven, no regular over and one refrigerator to share with the 30 girls. Each dorm however does have a mini fridge. SK Global House has bathrooms in the dorms. I-House has communal bathrooms. They are not sufficiently cleaned and get uncomfortably unsanitary on weekends. Restaurants outside the campus. It is also very close to a bus stop(about a 5 minute walk) and a 15 minute walk to the subway station. The location of the campus is conveniently located in one of the hottest neighborhoods for college students. You will find a variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The walk back to campus at night is pretty open and well lit, so I never felt I was in danger.

There is no meal plan so you have to cook your food or go out to eat. If you have a Costco card at home I would suggest you bring it with you to Korea. There you can find many things you can get at home and save a lot money as well. For example, I bought cereal to eat for breakfast and cold cuts to eat for lunch and I would go out for dinner with my friends. When going out to dinner with many friends, eating at Korean restaurants rather the restaurants that serve western food is the cheapest.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The clubs at Yonsei University at great at planning social gatherings to help you make friends and make you feel comfortable in Korea. The subway system is easy to understand and use. The government provides a free shuttle service to visit other parts of Korea to foreigners only. http://english.visitkoreayear.com/english/benefit/benefit_07_01_01.asp

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Seoul is a very safe city. Taking a taxi at night however is a very frightening experience. They speed, run red lights and watch TV while they are driving. My travel insurance made it easy for me to see a doctor. But make sure Korea has prescriptions you take on a regular basis. If they have a substitute make sure you try the substitute at home before you try it in Korea. Many of us got really severe colds. I recommend bringing plenty of cold medicine if your going to be there in the winter. Also bring some Advil and stomach pain medicine in case you don't react well to the different food.

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

Select all that apply

• Dorm

Select all that apply

• International Students
• Local Students