Category: Advice

Finals in Korea

Published on by stefaniepaikLeave a comment

The Stress

While being in Korea, I have realized that you do not have the comfort of constantly seeing your grade as the classes are happening. So I could not check my grade online after every assignment, test, or project. This was incredibly stressful because I am unable to know how well I was doing in the class until I receive the transcript from Korea University, which is sent 2-4 months after the semester is over. There was also lots of stress when studying because I don’t know how I’m doing in the class as well.

To add to the stressful Korean school system, most professors will grade ambiguously. There will be no clear rubrics. The grading in Korea is a lot more strict. If you were to meet all the expectations and do what you needed to do on an assignment, test, or project, then that is considered a C grade because C is meeting the bare minimum; which is poor because you must go beyond expectations to receive an A. In all my classes, every student was struggling because the grading expectations were never clear.

Here is one of my professors explaining how he grades:

How to Prepare

While it is a must for you to explore and have fun while studying abroad, it is important to keep in mind that you are still attending school. For Korea University, the grade you receive in your classes is the grade that transfers to DU; Korea University is not a pass/fail school. If you finish a class with a B, then a B will be transferred to your DU transcript. Another thing is to not skip class. It is a bad habit to fall into, especially when at Korea University because it will cause you to automatically fail a class. At Korea University, I had a professor who would take attendance in every class, if you were absent then you would lose points which really adds up.

At the beginning of school, create good study habits and find the best place for you to study. Around Korea University, there are many cafes that are open late. There are also various libraries and designated study spaces all around Korea University’s campus.

Remember! School in Korea is way more intensive and serious in Korea. In Korean culture, education is super important not only ones’ oneself but to your family, because Korea is a collectivist society, and therefore a child’s education also represents their family.

You Aren’t Your Grade

At the end of the day, as long as you try your best, and learn from the University then you have made the most out of your study abroad. If you do not mature and grow as a person at the end of your study abroad then I believe that you did not make the most out of your time there. Study abroad is the best time to connect and learn from a culture that differs from your own.

Reflection on my Time Abroad

Published on by sarahblaiserLeave a comment

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1K2BY0ugew/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MjJkMmIyYzQxYw==

Looking back on my time abroad, I am so grateful for the experience I had. I traveled to lots of different places, made many new friends, and learned so many things about myself and in school as well. Studying abroad was a difficult decision that took lots of work, but I think it was fully worth it. All of the preparation work was well worth the experience.

Aix was an amazing city to be set up in for my first time living abroad. It was small enough that there was a lot of safety and I was able to come to know many of the locals around me. It was also big enough that I was able to learn history and explore the area. It is close enough to an airport that it makes travel easy, and it has a beautiful Main Street full of things to do. Along with Aix being a great city, IAU was a great school to study at. They offered events after school and within the community to aid in immersing yourself. They offered challenging, but also less intense classes so you could learn but also adjust as well. They have a few buildings on their campus, which makes it feel like you have more freedom and a push to explore a bit. It is right in the city too so you are close to lots of shops and restaurants for when you get breaks.

Another part of my time abroad that I really appreciated was my host mother. She made me feel comfortable almost immediately. She made sure to present the rules of her house and expectations and helped me often with my French. I always felt I could come to her with questions about the language, culture, or honestly anything. As I am home looking back on my time, she is the biggest thing that stands out, and what I miss the most. One thing that was told to me in the prep week before school started, was that any conflict that arose between me and my host family would likely be due to a miscommunication in language. I found this to be extremely true. I did my best to be patient any time we had any confusion because I knew that we probably just didn’t understand each other right. Thankfully my host mother has had many students before me, and was patient as well and knew if I said questionable things, it was likely on accident. This led to lots of laughs.

Another piece of advice is to not take yourself too seriously. With another culture and language, there were lots of laughs, hopefully with me but definitely some at me as well. Adapting to another culture is learning that you won’t always be perfect. Others may be hard on you, some may laugh, but you are learning and that’s all that matters. Take it in stride. You are doing something amazing, don’t let anyone get to you.

By traveling, I not only got to see so much of Europe, but I also became more confident in myself and my abilities. I was able to get myself out of trouble when things went wrong. And when things went right I was able to celebrate. I learned so much about so many other cultures and a lot of French. I was able to take my previous classes in French and learn so much more about the language. I have heard people say that the best way to learn a language is to submerse yourself in it, and I cannot agree more. Do not get me wrong, it is very lonely at first and can hurt confidence a bit, but after trial and error, it really pays off to see how much one can learn. I really saw my French abilities expand and with that, I felt my confidence do so as well. Coming home I now know that I can handle so much more than I originally thought.

Along with the good, there was some bad of course. Homesickness and loneliness can be a tough battle while abroad. I really struggled with it, but I think communication with your host family, family, and friends back home, and even a resource such as school would have helped. If I could go back I would take advantage of those resources for sure. However, it is manageable on your own as well, but it is really important to know that there are lots of ups and downs and you really aren’t alone.

I remember before I went abroad there were so many people who would tell me exactly what I should and shouldn’t do. I think my best advice is to think about it before and do what is best for you. Some people want to travel, some people don’t, some people want to take lots, of classes, and some don’t. Figure out what is best for you and go from there. It is also okay to try one thing, realize it’s not for you, and do something else. It seems really straightforward, but when everything is different around you some of the easiest things become the hardest. Just remember to be patient with yourself and listen to what you need.