ISHIGA SOSORA

College of International Management

Program

FIRST for domestic students

Key Information

Program Location/Partner University	Korea
Year of Participation	May - June, 2026
Program Length	Approx. 1 week

Reasons for Participating in the Program

I was very interested in experiencing communication in an environment where language barriers exist, just like in the FIRST program. I had never been abroad before, so I also wanted to lower my psychological barrier to travel overseas and develop a mindset that helps me actively join many programs at APU in the future. Through interacting with local people using simple Korean, English, and gestures, I believed my perspectives and way of thinking would change. I thought this experience would broaden my future opportunities and, above all, help me develop the ability to thrive in intercultural environments.

How the Program Helped You Grow

I feel that the greatest growth I achieved through this program was in my intercultural communication skills. Even with my simple Korean and various creative ways to express myself, I was able to communicate with others. By the second half of the program, I could even enjoy friendly conversations with people who had different values. The Korean greetings I had only memorized before the program became natural for me to use, and I no longer felt strange being surrounded by Hangul. I think these changes are very important when engaging with different cultures. By observing and learning from local people, such as the way they eat, respond in conversations, and use intonation, I started to feel comfortable in a different cultural environment. As my understanding of other cultures deepened, I realized that accepting a culture also helps us to be accepted by it. With this ability to live in an intercultural environment, I’d like to take part in many activities at APU. Four years from now, I hope to become a person with a broader perspective and a worldview that I cannot even imagine today.

Message for Students Interested in The Program

In my opinion, the feeling you get when you successfully communicate in a different culture, even with limited language skills, is truly exciting. Although the FIRST program is a short-term program, its “survival-like” environment offers opportunities for growth and personal change that can be even greater than those gained through a typical sightseeing trip abroad.
Through this program, you can broaden your willingness to try new things and learn how to make use of various resources both inside and outside APU to gain more experiences. I believe that students who are not confident in their language abilities or who have never traveled abroad can gain the most inspiration, confidence, and personal growth from this program.