I wanna do it again! Past Review
By Yichen Gao (University of Leeds) - abroad from 06/27/2017 to 08/03/2017 with
Korea University: Seoul - International Summer Campus
Don't be shy and lazy, you can not feel the real culture until you experience it by yourselves. It is worthwhile and as a memo during my whole life.
Review Photos
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
In general, the summer school experience in Korea University is professional within such an academic atmosphere. All professors (lecturers) were precise but not stubborn, they not only delivered interesting and useful classes with the huge amount of references and cases, but also respected us to express our own opinions, and tried to resolve our questions carefully. As for my classmates, although there only have 6 weeks, the group work combined us together, meanwhile, teachers were willing to support us and give us feedback. However, few students went to the library, although the teacher told us how to use it as a resource. In addition, the wifi is weak in some places of the business library. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
In general, they helped me a lot no matter with the VISA application and also the normal life in Korea. The student staff helped me to resolve my computer's wifi connection problems. Particularly, Claire, she helped me with my application process, after I arrived KU, she also told me where to print and buy the needed books. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My friend and I rent an apartment outside of the campus on Airbnb, the host, Alison, was very friendly and nice to introduce local delicious food and also interesting places. The transportation is easy and convenient. However, it was a little far from the school, it took 30 minutes for me by bus. |
* Food: |
To be honest, I really like Korean food, such as fried chicken, dobogi, BBQ, sulbing, etc. We also went to some restaurants which managed by some celebrities, such as HAHA's 401BBQ and Kang Min Hyuk, a member of CNBLUE, his father's sea eel. However, the shops opened around the campus was within the limited scale. |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I didn't go to Korean clubs, which I do want to. However, I experienced Korean coffee culture and the small KTV bang, which was very interesting. |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Sorry that I am not familiar with Korean health system, so I cannot make any comments related. However, I found it was not convenient to buy medicines in Korea, it took time to go outside and buy the cold cure. |
* Safety: |
Korea is safe more than I thought, because in some Korean dramas, there're lots of strange males to show something to females, and also many rob issues. However, I found the traffic in Seoul is busy, thus most of the drivers ignored our walkers. The future students need to take care of themselves, for example, do not drink with strangers late and also be careful when you going across the street. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The three courses I chose gave me different experiences, MASS MEDIA AND POPULAR CULTURE IN KOREA gave an overview of the Korea society, include both history and also modern things, like Korean Wave all over the world. FUNDAMENTALS OF E-BUSINESS gave me more academic studying experience, I worked with my classmates, who are my friends now, to explore local e-business world. And BEGINNING KOREAN taught me another language, during those courses, I spend happy time with both lecturers and classmates, and also improve my personal skills and abilities. In addition, I experienced Korean culture in person, I also went to Busan with my friends and some shows. However, it might be too short for me. |
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) |
I choose 1, it's difficult to live on a student's budget in Korea during the summer school. Because I bought many cosmetics and clothes, and the delicious food took a huge amount of the money out within the 6 weeks. |
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around 1500 dollars |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Not buy any good-looking but usefulness things, for example, I bought a big BROWN in LINE, which cost me a lot and also it was difficult to carry back home. |
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 choose 5, which encouraged me to use Korean frequently. I am a Chinese, as for me, it was the first time I study Korean systematically. The course, BEGINNING KOREAN, helped me a lot. |
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? | Just English and basic Korean and German |
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? | Try to make friends with Koreans, when they ask you to hang out, don't be shy, just go outside with them to experience the real Korean culture. In addition, try to communicate with local people, like the sales, in Korean, don't too much rely on English or Chinese, to practice. |
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 |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
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? | How to apply for the VISA. How many people included in the course now, and the percent of gender. What kind of activities I can attend, during the summer school. What kind of things I need to prepare before I go. What kind of things can represent Korea or Korea University, which I can bring back home as gifts. |
Individual Course Reviews
Course Name/Rating: |
BEGINNING KOREAN I-D |
Course Department: | IKL211D00 |
Instructor: | Mr. Park and Miss Kim |
Instruction Language: | Korean with English |
Comments: | It was the first time that I study Korean systematically, so it was challenging for me, although I looked many Korean dramas. Both of teachers are responsible for us, they taught us in different styles. Mr. Park was more serious, like correcting our pronounce and let us practice a lot in the class. As for Miss Kim, she was more nice and friendly to us, she taught us some basic letters. In general, they are both good teachers. I participated in all classes for this course. I assessed it with speaking exams, writing exams and also the normal participation, and I obtained the final grade in A-level. |
Credit Transfer Issues: |
Course Name/Rating: |
MASS MEDIA AND POPULAR CULTURE IN KOREA |
Course Department: | ISC282A00 |
Instructor: | Dr. Ji Hoon Park |
Instruction Language: | English |
Comments: | It was challenging because as a foreigner, it's difficult for us to really understand Korean culture with its history. However, my classmates and the instructor did help me a lot. The teacher offered us a chance to visit Korean War Memorial, which helped me to experience Korean history in person, which was a huge shock. The teacher was well-prepared for the class, he combined videos with the ppt, to show us the mass media in modern Korea and also in the past. I participated in all classes, I better understood Korea from its music, movie and other perspectives. I assessed the course by two exams and a group working video to introduce one aspect of Korean culture, we chose Korean Drinking Games, and I obtained the final grade in B-level. |
Credit Transfer Issues: |
Course Name/Rating: |
FUNDAMENTALS OF E-BUSINESS |
Course Department: | ISC21400 |
Instructor: | Q Chung |
Instruction Language: | English |
Comments: | It was challenging and interesting, which offered me an overview of E-Business and increased my interests in applying for relevant jobs in the future. The professor was very knowledgeable, he prepared a lot for this course, at every class, he gave us relevant examples from his life and also the real business cases to help us better understand the knowledge. In addition, he brought us to the business library and told us how to search and use it as a useful resource. Additionally, he provided me a lot of great and brilliant ideas with my dissertation, I am very thankful. I participated in all classes, because this course was attracting and useful for ourselves, and he was able to improve our critical thinking ability and teamwork spirit. We did group report and presentation with the Google case, and also exams, I obtained the final grade in A-level. |
Credit Transfer Issues: | I didn't transfer the credit, so I am sorry that I can not give any suggestions. |