#  A Graduate Student Perspective- Joa Alexander, RSEA Master's Program, G1, KI Graduate Summer Language Grant, Summer 2018 

 





September 06, 2018

 

 

     ![Image of graduate student, Joa Alexander](/sites/g/files/omnuum10896/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/koreainstitute/files/iuc_skku_joa_alexander_01.jpg?itok=zP_MhL8y) 

 



 

 I would first and foremost like to thank the Korea Institute for its generous support in helping students like myself achieve their language education and research goals. This summer, I had the opportunity to study Korean at the Inter-University Center for Korean Language Studies at Sungkyunkwan University (IUC) in Seoul, South Korea.

 An intensive, six-week program, IUC’s summer course provides its students—who range from master’s and doctoral students to professionals conducting Korea-related research—with advanced language training in reading, writing, listening, and speaking Korean. In-class instruction and assignments masterfully integrated use, and subsequent development, of these skills. A typical weekly assignment, for example, would include reading newspaper articles on a major current affairs issue. We learned not only how to identify and summarize key points from such readings, but also how to discuss and understand significant issues that were playing out in contemporary Korean society.

 Meanwhile, targeted training in auditory comprehension involved listening to Korean university lectures and writing detailed reports on their content. Because we were able to select lectures of our choice, I found this exercise helpful for primarily two reasons. First, I could identify lectures whose content might be useful for better understanding or putting into context my research interests. And second, I could compare discourse or instruction on such topics to that taking place in the United States, a process that has allowed for new ways of thinking about my research and Korean history more generally.

 Other unique features of the program included training in *hanja*, exposure to various literary styles, a trip to a local Buddhist temple, and special guest lectures tailored to students’ interests. Specifically, we heard from Professor Hyunjoo Jung of Seoul National University, who spoke on South Korea’s multicultural policies, and Professor Jungnae Park of the Northeast Asian History Foundation, who discussed Japan’s comfort women.

 But perhaps the most salient feature of the program was the importance it placed on helping students to pursue and develop their research interests. While this was possible through the lectures previously mentioned, it was also possible through readings directly related to one’s chosen research topic. Each week, we had the opportunity to select a journal article, book, or other work to read and discuss one-on-one with an instructor. We would then present our findings to classmates, all the while receiving constructive feedback in a process that allowed us to hone our communication and presentation skills. This work culminated in a final written report and presentation for an audience made up of fellow classmates as well as other faculty and students at Sungkyunkwan University.

 Finally, being in Korea afforded me other opportunities to conduct research and obtain leads that might not otherwise have been possible. In addition to visiting archives, such as the National Assembly Library, I was able to speak with individuals in active leadership roles within their communities. Some of these informal conversations have prompted me to explore new approaches to my research—which focuses on social welfare and policy generally, orphanages specifically, in modern Korean history—and have led me to new sources for further study.

 I would once again like to express my gratitude to the Korea Institute for its support. My experience in Korea has ultimately enabled me to feel more comfortable conducting research in Korean, and has provided me with a set of tools that I look forward to utilizing for my studies this year and beyond.



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Graduate ](/audience/graduate)
- [ Student Reflection ](/news-type/student-reflection)
 
 

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