Chung-Ang University now has twenty three students from six different countries only through the exchanging program. Of course, there are much more foreign students around the campus than you think. We not have friends from China, the United States, France, Japan, Lithuania, and Finland. Now, it’s time for you to get to know them better and make foreign friends!
It makes me wonder, why are they here? Why did they choose a small country in Asia called Korea, more specifically, why Chung-Ang university? Some of them might have given up the original baguette from Paris, and others might have given up the Christmas in Finland. What was so attractive that they came all the way flying over the Pacific Ocean or European continent?
You may not have noticed, but Hangeul is one of the most beautiful and also difficult languages around the world. When I heard foreign students speaking my mother tongue, I had a goose bump, in a good way of course. As one of the representatives of Chung-Ang university, I appreciate their willingness to learn Hangeul. Korean students have been stressed out of cramming English vocabularies, for TOEFL, TOEIC, etc. It would be much more difficult for them to learn Hangeul if you compare the education environment.
Students from 23 countries may have come here to learn Korean culture. Many things can derive from culture, such as general atmosphere of the country, or even people’s attitude toward their life. As you may have recognized already, it is hard to know about Korea well if you are outside of Korea. The only news foreigners get from their TV shows would be about the nuclear bomb related stories or the political issues at most. It is time for us to show them the real beauty of Korea.
Exchanging student program is not only a good thing for the visiting students, but also a great opportunity for Chung-Ang students. We now can join activities like the International Bazaar which took place about two weeks ago, learn English in the morning or the afternoon with students from Nebraska, and join the discussion at the English Lounge, located in the second floor of the library.
Of course as Chung-Ang university haven’t had this many foreign students before, there might be problems, such as lack of their class choices, difficulties in credit interchange and more activities to blend each cultures together. But these trials and errors will upgrade the globalization of Chung-Ang for sure.
We are now on the midway of the fall 2006. It is not that far from the date of foreign students’ departure. Once again, I am thankful to every foreign students for visiting my home country, and hope they are having great time in Chung-Ang. I also hope that they return to their countries with good memories of Korea.
HERALD
Herald@cauon.net