Best way to spend my summer! Past Review
By Sagal Ugas (University of Toronto) - abroad from 06/26/2018 to 08/02/2018 with
Korea University: Seoul - International Summer Campus
I definitely feel that this experience was worthwile. My Korean improved immensely, I met so many new great friends, and I learned how to live independently. I also got exposed to a different country and everything that comes with that.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I took the Upper-Intermediate Korean language course while I was at KU. I initially was hesistant to study Korean languages at a different school since I loved my classes at my home country but it ended up being a great decision. The work load was great for someone who wanted to learn a lot while also having free time to enjoy their time in Korea. The course relied heavily on the textbook but since the class was small, we had plenty of opportunities to speak and use the material we learned in class. There was also a good balance of written, speaking, and reading practice which made sure all of our skills were being honed in the 6 weeks we had together. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I have absolutely nothing negative to say about the administration of the program. The structure allowed for a lot of freedom while also having a good amount of regulation as well. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was very satisfied with the housing provided. It was not too big or too small and felt comfortable to come back to every night. The dorms were only a 10 minute walk from the subway which was very convenient. |
| * Food: |
I didn't go to the cafeteria that often but when I did, I was very satisfied with the options provided. They provided students with healthy balanced meals that were authentically Korean. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was very much integrated with the local culture. The area surrounding the university has little to no foreigners so I was using Korean on a daily basis. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no experience with healthcare while in Korea. |
| * Safety: |
I felt that overall the city is very safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
In the beginning, I didn't like the distance of the campus from the heart of the city. However, I started to appreciate the quietness of the area and loved the comfort I felt there. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would suggest the following: - Try to eat Korean food as much as possible as it is cheap - Figure out exactly what you want to buy in Korea and stick to buying just that - Do stuff with friends |
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 |
We had very little encouragement to learn Korean. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate 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? | I suggest taking the language courses at the school. Also, going to meetups and making local friends is good. However, I feel that the best way to pracitce the language is using it in daily life situations like buying coffee or ordering at restaurants. |
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? | I wish I knew how to budget my money more. I eventually learned towards the end of my stay how to save money. |
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. |
