2016 Yonsei University Spring School concludes (1-19 March 2016)

As part of the Short-Term Study Abroad Program under the Agreement on Inter-University Students Exchange (also known as the East Asia Short-Term Study Abroad Program), the 2016 spring school program at Yonsei University in South Korea took place from 1 through 19 March. The fourth year of this three-week program, which has been held with the full cooperation of Yonsei University, a partner university under the agreement, focused on studying the Korean language, experiencing local culture, and promoting exchange between Korean and Japanese students. Ten KU students from various academic years and fields of study had been selected from a larger number of applicants, and participated in the program.

The language lessons were delivered at Yonsei University Korean Language Institute. After being grouped by proficiency, KU students studied side-by-side with students from various countries. Participants made great progress not only in language proficiency, but also in promoting exchange with Yonsei students and international students with various cultural backgrounds. They also participated in cultural programs, such as tasting Korean cuisine, practicing the language using TV dramas, and touring the Namsangol Hanok Village where Korean traditional houses are preserved.

In addition to extensive language lessons, the program featured a joint student seminar, in which students from KU and Yonsei University exchanged views on several topics in English, Japanese, and Korean. With cooperation from Professors Tomoko Seto, Helen Lee, Henry Em, and Alvin Wong of the Underwood International College of Yonsei University, the students discussed education, job opportunities, youth culture, relationships, landscapes, and other topics. In addition, some Yonsei students interviewed their KU peers on the subject of "the postwar". All KU students successfully delivered their presentations in Korean, which they had prepared with assistance from Korean students studying at Kyoto University prior to taking part in the spring school.

The participating students are expected to continue to develop their insight derived from various experiences they gained through the course of the program.

Report form a participating student

Yurie Moriwaki
Deputy group leader for Yonsei University Spring School
Second-year, Faculty of Economics, Kyoto University
(Report presented at a debriefing held on Friday 25 March 2016)

While participating in the Yonsei University Spring School, I felt some transformations happening inside of me. It was quite a valuable experience for me.

At Yonsei University Korean Language Institute, I studied the language for three weeks in a class comprised of international students with similar levels of Korean proficiency. With lessons focusing on conversational skills, we had numerous opportunities for speaking Korean. As a result, I became able to understand the class lectures and to talk with classmates from various countries as well as with new Korean friends. The teachers, who are native Korean speakers, taught us many interesting tips, including the subtle nuances of some Korean words, and interesting phrases used by young people. We were requested to present our opinions on some topics in the class, and sometimes I had difficulty in demonstrating complicated ideas in Korean. In exchanging views with classmates from various countries, I was amazed with the diversity of cultures and ways of thinking in the world. When we had opportunities for discussions with the Yonsei students, I truly realized that language proficiency is a skill, and what you talk about and how logical you can think and skillfully make your point are much more important. Based on such experiences, I have decided to focus on acquiring a wide range of knowledge about my major field and cultural knowledge in general, along with enhancing my language proficiency in the forthcoming years.

Everyone I met during the course of the program made a great difference to me. For example, I am now considering studying at a graduate school abroad after finishing my undergraduate degree at Kyoto University, thanks to advice given by a Yonsei teacher and encouragement by some classmates. Before participating in this program, I had not considered opportunities of participating in long-term study abroad programs because I am extremely shy around people I do not know. However, in the course of talking with very considerate classmates, I built up courage to jump into unknown environments.

I am deeply grateful to be given an opportunity to participate in this spring school and to have numerous valuable experiences.

The Short-Term Study Abroad Program under the Agreement on Inter-University Student Exchange (also known as the East Asia Short-Term Study Abroad Program)

Each academic year, Kyoto University sponsors seven groups as part of the Short-Term Study Abroad Program under the Agreement on Inter-University Student Exchange, in order to provide students from Kyoto with opportunities to take part in exchanges with students in other countries, become more globally-minded, and to improve foreign language proficiency. In principle tuition is free, and participating Kyoto University students have the same status as visiting exchange students. During FY2015, the program was supported by the ASEAN-focused "Re-Inventing Japan Project", the JASSO (Japan Student Service Organization) Scholarship Program in important policy frameworks, the project for core universities facilitating international students admission, and the Kyoto University Global Frontier Project for Young Researchers (the "John Mung Program").