When in Seoul.... Past Review
By Jessie-Zoe R (Bachelor of Design and Communication, University of the Sunshine Coast) - abroad from 07/01/2013 to 07/26/2013 with
Hanyang University: Seoul - International Summer School
So worthwhile! I learnt so much more about the Korean culture and other cultures as well. Exchange programs really bring you out of your shell and Hanyang is so great at facilitating activities and classes that get you involved with local students and other international students. I have never met a person who has left South Korea with anything less than love for the country and fond memories. Hanyang International Summer Program does an incredible job at providing such a fun, and culture packed experience. I cannot recommend it enough!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
As the program is intensive, classes were rather long and jam packed. Because of this, I must give the teachers all the due credit and respect they deserve for making these classes interesting and effective in such a short time. There is a wide range of courses offered and each one is run by a professor who specialises in that field. Fantastic educational quality! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
So well organised and always available to answer any questions you may have. They are very welcoming and are the reason the program is as enjoyable and well run as it is. Absolutely fantastic staff. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was exactly what I had expected. A twin room with a bathroom, bed, desk and cupboard. There was a shared fridge down stairs but I never used it as we usually ate out. The RAs were always close by too, in case we needed any help. |
| * Food: |
If you like Korean food, you'll be happy to know that the cafeteria food is filling, tasty and CHEAP! So unbelievably cheap! If Korean food isn't your thing there are little corner shops and cafes all around campus, near classes and at the bottom of the dorms. If you have time to kill between classes, the neighbourhood is filled with great places to eat. We all had our favourite haunts by the time we left. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I don't even know where to begin with how impressed I was with Hanyang's efforts to expose us to Korean culture. Every week we did something new: the Seoul city tour, 'Nanta' show, Traditional village/Samsung, Caribbean Bay/Everland and my favourite, the weekend trip to the Boryeong Mud Festival. I had spent 6 months in Seoul prior to this program and didn't do half as many cultural activities as I did over the summer with Hanyang. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There is a hospital on campus. Although I have never been to Hanyang Hospital, my experience with Korean health care has been great. |
| * Safety: |
No need to feel unsafe. You will most likely be with others at all times anyway. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
About $100-$130 a week. But at no point was I trying to budget my money. This included a bit of shopping, food, transport, activities etc. Others got by on less. Korea is quite cheap, it depends on what you do with your time. As it was a summer course, we tried to do as much as we could in a short amount of time. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100-$130 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
There was the opportunity to choose Korean language classes. The immersion into Korean culture meant that everyone needed to learn a couple of basics. Korean is quite a fun language so we all had fun trying it out. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | One semester of beginner Korean |
| 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? | - Learn your basics (Hello, thank you, how much?, stop etc.) - Practice your Korean whenever you can, do it with a big smile and Koreans will help you out. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Jump right in and immerse yourself in Korea! Do some research on the customs there and do everything with a smile! |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
