NEWS

Student K-san participated in a four-week Korean Language Immersion Program in Seoul, South Korea. This program is a short-term Korean language study program that sends APU students to Korea University in Korea every February. K-san originally started learning Korean through the FIRST Program, and after completing Korean II, began to think, “I want to experience living in Korea at least once.” This inspired K-san to join the program. The goals were to become able to hold simple conversations and to experience Korean culture firsthand.

A Day in Granada

On weekdays, I attended classes at Korea University from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. During lunch breaks, I enjoyed Korean meals at the student cafeteria. After classes, I spent time walking around the city or studying at cafés. On weekends, I explored places such as Dongdaemun with friends and also visited local spots that do not usually appear in guidebooks.

A Memorable Experience — The Moment I Could Communicate in Korean

While I was in Korea, there were many situations where I had to use Korean, such as asking people to participate in surveys or being asked for directions. At first, I often struggled to communicate, but later, after the program ended, I stayed a little longer and visited an optical shop. I was able to do everything in Korean, from choosing eyeglass frames to taking an eye exam. I felt very happy because I could communicate confidently in Korean outside the classroom setting.

Challenges I Faced

The most difficult part for me was sharing a room with others for the first time in my life. At first, I felt a little uncomfortable, but by talking with my roommates and setting rules together, I was eventually able to enjoy living together for the whole month.

What I Learned and Changes After Returning Home

I noticed that Korea’s “빨리빨리(Palli-Palli)” (hurry-hurry) culture is reflected in many aspects of daily life, including city systems and services. Living in a completely different environment also helped me discover new sides of myself. Since returning to Japan, I have had more opportunities to use Korean at my part-time job as well.

A Message for Students Considering the Program

Even with a beginner level of Korean, I think it is possible to manage daily life and classes without major problems. However, after actually experiencing life in Korea, I felt that “if I had studied more before coming here, I could have had deeper conversations with local people.” Every time someone understood my Korean, I felt genuinely happy and realized how much I had improved. I also found myself using not only Korean but also English when communicating with roommates and friends. Living in a new environment helped me discover new aspects of myself as well. At first, you may feel nervous, but those small successes you experience every day can gradually turn into great confidence. I encourage everyone to give the Korean Language Immersion Program a try!