| Past and current students in the UHM Korean Flagship Program share their experience of our program |
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| A. |
Brick Bergeson (1st cohort; now participating in the Korean Flagship Overseas Program at Korea University) |
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• “Any student who has an interest in furthering their Korean language skills will find all of the necessary resources to do so as a participant in the Korean National Flagship Language Initiative at UH Manoa. I have had a very positive experience and feel that my language capabilities have increased tremendously. Some of things that have benefited me in particular are the teacher to student ratio, the tutors that have been provided for help outside of class time, and the relevancy of the class material to my long-term career goals. I feel that the skills I am acquiring as an NFLI participant, in addition to my past education, will set me apart and give me an edge as I pursue my long-term goals.”
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| B. |
Jinwha Choi (2nd cohort) |
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“I would recommend this program to anyone who has a genuine desire to learn the Korean language and Korea’s role in the international arena. The program goes far beyond typical language instruction; its task-based approach is truly comprehensive. Through this program I have improved my language skills enormously, but even more I have acquired a better understanding of Korea’s 50-year history with the U.S. and the numerous issues challenging the U.S.-Korea relationship. The teachers are wonderfully supportive and accommodating, and the small class size makes the experience very intimate. The materials are often challenging and the coursework demanding, but there is an ample support network to help students through the process. I feel that this program has provided me with invaluable skills that will give me a distinct advantage as I pursue my academic and career goals.” |
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| C. |
Michael Choi (2nd cohort) |
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“The UHM Korean Flagship program utilizes real, unadulterated material straight from Korea and comprehensively presents the most current issues affecting US Korean relations. The accessibility and enthusiasm of the teaching staff impressed me as well. Although I found the rigor of the program very demanding, the Flagship program continues to enable me to handle advanced Korean with ease and familiarity. Whereas the Korean news was inaccessible to me prior to the program, now I can understand much of it whether from television or newspapers.” |
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| D. |
Yoon Sang Nam (2nd cohort) |
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“The Korean Flagship Program at UH Manoa is unlike any other Korean language course I have taken before. The curriculum is more challenging, the pace of classes is faster, and the workload is more intense. At the same time, however, the low student-to-teacher ratio, the individual instruction from tutors, and the shared sense of commitment to learning the language amongst classmates all contribute to making participation in this intensive program a little more manageable. Also, due to UHM Flagship Program’s ‘Task-based Learning’ approach to language instruction, in addition to gaining necessary Korean language skills, I feel I have learned a great deal about critical issues between the U.S. and Korea that will assist me in the pursuit of my long-term career goals.” |
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| E. |
Jacob Reidhead (1st cohort; now participating in the Korean Flagship Overseas Program at Korea University) |
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“As a student of mathematics, I wanted to study something closer to my field than those subjects typically connected with Korean language acquisition (e.g. business, international relations, Asian studies). Flagship program coordinators were flexible and supportive as I designed my own course of study, in the Korean language, with a Korean- speaking professor from University of Hawaii’s College of Engineering.” |
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“My experience here has not been limited to a small group of students or a singular curriculum; to the contrary, the Korean Flagship Program has enabled me to take advantage of the many Korean language resources available at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.”
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“Flagship faculty and staff are personable and committed. My instructor took great pains to locate articles appropriate for my level of understanding with respect to both the language and content. At times he would even edit difficult passages or provide a glossary of technical terms.” |
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“Through individualized instruction, round-table discussions, oral presentations, and so on, I have grown more comfortable reading, understanding, and speaking Korean in specific subject areas. Likewise, I have benefited greatly from interacting with the large community of Korean undergraduate and graduate students on the UH campus, many with whom I have developed friendships as well as opportunities for language exchange.” |
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| Note. All comments used by permission. |
