A Memorable and Enriching Summer Experience Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The lecturers taught the courses in an interesting and engaging way. The depth, duration, as well as pace of the lectures were definitely appropriate. I'm also glad that the lecturers were friendly, understanding, and approachable.

On-site administration of your program

The program was very well organised and smoothly operated. It catered perfectly to the needs of the students, since details such as transport from the airport and orientation to know how to navigate around the campus were attended to. Furthermore, both staffs and students alike were helpful and provided precise and timely replies when we had any questions.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The living arrangement (CJ international house) was utmost comfortable. The bed was even larger than that in my own house. The room was clearly-lit, well-ventilated, and spacious, and the toilets were promptly cleaned on a weekly basis (thank you!). Although we couldn't eat in our rooms, which is understandable, seats were available in the kitchen, which was also equipped with stoves. In addition, there were also fridges and a bread toaster, which I really liked!

The meal plans were affordable and the food from the canteen introduced me to the authentic Korean food culture. There were days with special foreign menus (which were undeniably delicious), but the usual kimchi, stew, and rice were delectable as well. On one of the days, the menu had glass noodle (I found out the name from one of the local students) and it tasted really good to me!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Cultural events held on Fridays definitely opened my eyes to both the university's, as well as Korean's culture. It was my first time visiting Korea, so the orientation and activities such as kimchi-making and taekwondo assisted me in getting used to and blending into the local culture.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have an experience with healthcare, but my friend did. We conversed with local students and they introduced us to common medications that Koreans would use to treat the condition. There was a pharmacy down the road from our dorm and it was convenient and accessible.

Korea is generally safe and I could travel alone at night without fearing for my life. The drivers are neither rude nor reckless and the traffic lights work perfectly. With regards to housing on campus, there are security guards located at the entrance to the dorm which allowed me to sleep in peace knowing that nothing terrible would happen. Texts was also sent to us (possibly by the local system) on our phones with Korean SIM card notifying us of possible heavy rain or heat wave.

I had always wanted to visit Korea (after watching Korean dramas) and when I saw that my school offered summer program at one of the top universities in Korea I literally jumped for joy (haha). It was an enriching experience, since it was my first time travelling alone, travelling to Korea, and travelling to study. Despite that, the program provided a good balance between academics and play. I loved everything from the food to the attractions to even the school program, and I was finally able to experience what it is like living abroad.

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

I stayed on school campus, and the housing fees and meal plans were generally affordable. There is a convenient store located 5 mins down the road from the dorm I was staying at, and they sell rather cheap but good bentos. Travelling on the subway was definitely affordable, and the taxi fares aren't overwhelming. Unless you're travelling out of Seoul, you can definitely live on a student's budget (and maybe have some leftover as well).

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

Although I've learnt it and know how to use the language appropriately, it's still pretty daunting to speak Korean to locals. However, the staffs and students were forgiving and that raised my confidence and encouraged me to use the language more. There was once when I actually understood the whole conversation with a local and I felt really happy about it!

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• Dorm

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• International Students

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Choice of courses
• Sufficient free time
• Food

• Maybe a longer program? It's never enough (haha)

The Academic or Linguist