The way I see it, high school foreign exchange students do not come abroad to study, but just for the experience. We don't really get high school credit for coming here. It's more like a language experience. At least to me, anyway.
It's not like college where you actually get graded and such. High school life is easy for an exchange student.
What I'm trying to say is that this is one of the best ways to get exposed to a language and learn it in its native lands. Go as a high school student, if possible, and you will have a fun time learning the language of the place.
Wednesday, March 28
Thursday, March 15
Visa Information for the United States for Students
For those of you interested in studying in the United states here are a list of helpful websites for you to find great information.
www.usavisas.org - Seoul Embassy's nonimmigrant visa web site in Korean and English
www.asktheconsul.org - Seoul Embassy's Consular section Webste in Korean and Enlgish
www.uscis.gov - Inofmration about SEVIS and other imigration-related issues
www.us-visaservices.com - For making appointments for visa interview at the Seoul Embassy
www.fmjfee.com - For paying the SEVIS fee.
www.iie.org - Web site for the Institute for International Education, where you can find information about the Fulbright program for foreign students.
www.educationusa.state.gov - General information about getting a student visa
www.usavisas.org - Seoul Embassy's nonimmigrant visa web site in Korean and English
www.asktheconsul.org - Seoul Embassy's Consular section Webste in Korean and Enlgish
www.uscis.gov - Inofmration about SEVIS and other imigration-related issues
www.us-visaservices.com - For making appointments for visa interview at the Seoul Embassy
www.fmjfee.com - For paying the SEVIS fee.
www.iie.org - Web site for the Institute for International Education, where you can find information about the Fulbright program for foreign students.
www.educationusa.state.gov - General information about getting a student visa
Tuesday, March 6
Is the Korean Education System that Bad? I
Hello everyone, I am Euntaek David Shin, currently a senior at Daeil Foreign Language High School. High school life is a redundant, robotic life for students in Korea. Five times a week students are required to be at school by 7:30 a.m., have class until 5:00 p.m., then after dinner which students at the school cafeteria, there is a schedule of self-study period that goes on until 10:00 p.m. (12:00 for some schools). Students are expected to participate this self-study period, unless he or she has hakwon(a “second” school) schedules or has a special occasion like his or her family member passed away. Thinking that this is not enough, students also go to school on Saturdays, however luckily finishes at noon. This rigorous system is because of the college entrance exam which is at November during the senior year of high school. This exam consists of Korean, math, English, and four subjects from a category of either science or social studies, and this exam highly depends which university that student would go to, thus the “future” for Korean students. Therefore the educating policy of Korea is focused most on academic education, forcing students to study and study.
The education policy is an issue that students gossip about today. Obviously, so far I have only heard complaints. The main problem with the policy that people talk about is about the focus, academic focus. Students think that high school focuses too much on academic factors, unlike American schools where there are after school activities. I have heard things such as, “having all this forced into my head is making me stupid!” “I have no time for self development” “If I lived in the United States, I’d be doing much better than now” yadi yada yada.
Taking a step back and looking. Is the Korean education just as bad as is looks? Hell? In fact, the Korean education system has merits that not many other education systems have.
The education policy is an issue that students gossip about today. Obviously, so far I have only heard complaints. The main problem with the policy that people talk about is about the focus, academic focus. Students think that high school focuses too much on academic factors, unlike American schools where there are after school activities. I have heard things such as, “having all this forced into my head is making me stupid!” “I have no time for self development” “If I lived in the United States, I’d be doing much better than now” yadi yada yada.
Taking a step back and looking. Is the Korean education just as bad as is looks? Hell? In fact, the Korean education system has merits that not many other education systems have.
Is the Korean Education System that Bad? II
If you have lived in a western culture, you may have heard people saying Asians are smart. This isn’t because Asians are naturally smarter, it is because of the education system like Korea has. When it comes to math and science I am not one of the bright kids at our school, although they are one of my favorite subjects. But when I joined the math team (when I was an exchange student last year in Wisconsin), surprise! I became regional champion. Thank you Korea. Again this does not mean American kids cannot do math, it shows that because the Korean education policy focuses a lot on academics, Korean students have more knowledge and are accelerated in that area. And just in case you did not know, the 21st century is an era of information.
Secondly, Korean students will learn to manage their schedules at an early age. “I have no time for extra curricular activities.” Please… Stop whining. You don’t go around looking for the time to do things, you make the time to do what you have to do. Because Korean students have a fixed schedule at school, the only time they have is in early morning, late night, and the weekends. Not enough time? This may be true when compared with American students. But what about using those times? Not many students do much in the mornings before school. Using this time, even thirty minutes each morning, to do anything productive, is not only an effective way to start a day but an intelligent way to save time. Whether it is exercising, writing a short journal of how you feel, cooking, anything! Students can do the same at night too. And during the weekends, students have two whole days to do any sports, community service, cultural experience, music, art, whatever. Students may think that this busy schedule may limit them from activities, however, actually helps students to organize when to do what, and prevents students from doing unproductive activities.
So, for those of you who are not doing anything fed up with the Korean education, try considering the good side of the education, and take advantage of it. A situation given to a person is something that he has to adapt to, but better than that is to develop himself through the merits of that situation.
Secondly, Korean students will learn to manage their schedules at an early age. “I have no time for extra curricular activities.” Please… Stop whining. You don’t go around looking for the time to do things, you make the time to do what you have to do. Because Korean students have a fixed schedule at school, the only time they have is in early morning, late night, and the weekends. Not enough time? This may be true when compared with American students. But what about using those times? Not many students do much in the mornings before school. Using this time, even thirty minutes each morning, to do anything productive, is not only an effective way to start a day but an intelligent way to save time. Whether it is exercising, writing a short journal of how you feel, cooking, anything! Students can do the same at night too. And during the weekends, students have two whole days to do any sports, community service, cultural experience, music, art, whatever. Students may think that this busy schedule may limit them from activities, however, actually helps students to organize when to do what, and prevents students from doing unproductive activities.
So, for those of you who are not doing anything fed up with the Korean education, try considering the good side of the education, and take advantage of it. A situation given to a person is something that he has to adapt to, but better than that is to develop himself through the merits of that situation.
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