Male/24/From Austria/Exchange student in Korea

1.Why study or work abroad?

-Advantages and disadvantages of being abroad

Adv.:

* Get a lot of money in this programme

* Get to know many people from all around the world

* Don't need to study as hard as usually and still get a pass and credits

* Widens your horizon, social skills, cultural understanding

* Learning languages

Disadv.:

* Can't be with your friends and family for some time

* Maybe miss some cool stuff back home (events, sports, etc.)

* Can be difficult to acclimatize

* Experience the feeling of being a stranger (Can be interesting too, but it's a basic need of humans to be socially accepted)

-homesickness

Naturally, I miss my girlfriend and my family, also my friends, my sports club, the mountains, etc.. But as I know that it's just a temporary stay, I'm not too homesick. Also, I found many friends and I like the food, the culture, and everything here.

-motivations (reason)

* I want to learn Korean

* I like Korean people

2. What do you think about its culture (food, traditions, values, people)?

As in every culture, there are some good and some not so good things. I don't want to explain what I think is good and bad, because it's pointless. Society must be accepted as it is. It's within the responsibility of individuals in this society to make the best out of it and find a way to combine one's own and the society's values.

- Have you experienced cultural differences? (language barriers, lifestyle)?

I experienced lots and lots of cultural differences in almost all aspects of society I encountered: Table manners, social rank, mutual respect, school life, university life, and so on. I could write pages about the differences.

3. For foreigners, why come and study in Korea? in SCNU?

-motivations (reason)

* I had been to Korea three times before (ex-girlfriend is Korean)

* I want to learn Korean

* I like Korean people

* I chose CBNU (not SCNU) because Seoul is too big for me and because I Chungcheonbuk-do is the only region without connection to the sea - just like Austria.

How can the experiences, knowledge and skills you acquired abrod be used in your country?

I don't know. I can't predict the future, but I believe that everything can be useful somehow.

4. What are your future plans?

I want to become a high school teacher. I also want to found a family.

5. How was your experience?

Good.

6.What can you say to motivate people to go abroad too?

* Studying abroad is a worthy experience.

* The more languages you speak, the more possibilities you have.

* The more friends you have all around the world, the more flexible you are in case you want to travel or in case you just want to get out of your country for whatever reason.

* Your friends at home will love to hear stories from somewhere else. (To be honest, this point is quite weak in our digital age... )

7.How did your experience/s change or affect how you think and your personality?

I think it didn't change me much. A third person's opinion might be useful to answer this question.

8. What is the most difficult thing for you when you have stayed in Korea?

Not to upset professors with critical thoughts. At Kyung Hee University I once experienced an Austrian student who criticized a Korean professor's teaching method directly, and I tell you, the professor went furious: "Who do you think you are? I'm a professor! I'm 51 years old! How old are you? Stand up! Come to my office with me!"

9. Why did you decide to come to Korea than other countries?

Because I knew Korean before I came here and wanted to improve it.

10. Do you think that the period you've stayed in Korea will be usefull in your future?

I don't know. I can't predict the future, but I believe that everything can be useful somehow.

11. Have you ever experienced a racial discrimination?

No.

12. What is the best necessity to be a global talent?

Being able to communicate well.

Male/21/From China/ Exchange student is South-Korea

I’m 21 years old and a Chinese student in SCNU. I love singing, reading and literature.

I can understand this country's culture abroad, and get to know friends from around the world. The main thing is to learn more advanced science and technology. But I have to adapt to the environment and culture of this country. Sometimes I feel some what lonely and dull. Of course, I will always miss my parents at home.

I think that the Korean culture and food evolve from China. So for the Chinese people to adapt to Korean culture is not a difficult thing. But the Koreans and the Chinese people's way of life is indeed a bit different. In contrast, I am more accustomed to the Chinese people's diet and lifestyle. But I like Korean culture too.  The most important thing of life is language in Korea. Although   learning Korean for Chinese people is a relatively easy thing.  Yet we do not like Korean language complexity of the structure. I have not been to other countries, but I would like to experience the European culture. English is a traditional, systematic language. I like to learn it. But my English is not very good. Europe is the place I am longing for. It has a long history, culture and beautiful natural environment. If I had a chance, I would get it .

I am an exchange student. I can come to Korea to learn through the school's recommendation. I know that Korea has more advanced communications technology .Many countries in Europe and America have it ,too .I can learn a lot of professional skills.

I have no special plans. If I have a opportunity , I would like to study further   to get a master degree in Korea or the other country.

I think I don’t know how to recommend others to go abroad. I believe that if many people have the opportunity to experience the foreign culture and life, they would choose to go abroad especially in China. That will be their life experiences.

Of course, studying courses in South Korea will certainly help my future. Learning professional knowledge will be my way of survival, and can serve human beings.

For racial discrimination, it may not exist in Korea. But people may have different views of culture, for example, many people do not understand China and Chinese. I hope more people understand the changes in China.

 I think global talents are to understand and adapt to global changes including economic, scientific, cultural, national development, etc.

Female/22/From South-Korea /Exchange student in Austria

1.Why study or work abroad?

-Advantages and disadvantages of being abroad

Advantages : I am able to experience various culture differences and

look how they study for their major. Also I can learn languages they

use as well.

Disadvantages : I have to calculate all of my credits for Korean

university system and some of them are not accepted as a course. It's

really complicated. The other thing is to get used to a different

atmosphere.

-homesickness

I don't have much of homesickness because I have been to the US as an

exchange student before, so I feel pretty comfortable. However,

sometimes the things became really hard, then I miss my family and

friends and go back to home as soon as possible.

-motivations (reason)

I've never been to europe for study. Also my major is Education so I

want to see how they teach and study. It was a good opportunity

because my school supported me for my study abroad. I think it is very

great chance to experience the different system.

2. What do you think about its culture (food, traditions, values, people)?

-have you experienced cultural differences? (language barriers, lifestyle)?

I think it is very different between Korea and Europe. The atmosphere

is different and people are also different from their looking and

personality. There are not many Asians who study here so sometimes

they look at us little bit strangely. Also I don't speak German so

it's really hard for me to get close with other people. Furthermore,

the stores are closed at 7p.m. so it's not familiar thing for me.

Sometimes it's inconvienient.

3. Why you wanted to study in Austria?

There is not specific reason for studying in Austria. I don't like

cold weather which is like in Finland and also I was planning to

travel to Italy so I chose Austria which is the center of the Europe.

But on the other side, I looked at the course book for Univ. of

Innsbruck before I came here. It said the courses that I wanted to

take. I was really satisfied with the courses which are existed here.

4. Do you think that the period you've stayed in Austria will be

usefull in your future?

(If you say yes, Why do you think that? How can be it usefull for you?)

I could see the difference school system and the procedure to be a

teacher in Austria. One day I will become a teacher in the future, I

might able to use some good method from Austian education to my class.

Also for my independence, it's really good experience because I live

here by myself. I cook for my meals and I have to be responsible

whatever I do here. I think this helps me a lot to become more mature

than before.

5. What are your future plans?

When I go back to Korea, first of all I have to look for my teacher

qualification exam. I think I will start to prepare for that exam.

Also I will search for some internship which is offered by NGO. I am

really interested in International work. Thus I will keep going with

my interest.

6. How was your experience?

At first, I sometimes regret that I came here. That's because my

major in English, so it might be better to go to English speaking

country. Also there are some courses are not fit into me. I pretty

much don't satisfied with my some courses. However, I think it is good

to learn the second foreign language which is German. Even if it is

hard to live here, I will become stronger than before after I pass all

of the difficulties here.

7.What can you say to motivate people to go abroad too?

-tips for people who plan to go abroad

I think the title of STUDENT is perfect present for our life. That's

because if you are student, you can do anything you want. There are so

many things that you can do when you are student. You can get some

discount for tickets, participating in special events, or getting

knowledge from institutions. My mom always said "Experience the world

as much as you can during your student life." I totally agree with my

mom. You can get a lot of information besides your study when you go

abroad. You will able to grow up and have a power to independence.

Just enjoy your young age and feel the way you are.

8.How did your experience/s change or affect how you think and your personality?

In my opinion, I could think about my life style. I was complaining

everyday when I had a problem or difficulty. However, after I changed

my mind to a positive way, everything worked out well! I was very

proud of myself because I overcome difficulties that I was faced to,

and it gave me an advice to think possitively. Live my life in my own

way and love what I am doing.

9. Have you ever experienced a racial discrimination?

NO.

10. What is the best necessity to be a global talent ?

As I said before, I think two things are important for global talent.

One is confidence and the other one is understanding. In globalized

society, there are many countries and many cultures are existed. There

are nothing wrong with every culture. They are just different. I think

people need to be confident of their country but understand other

culture and society. That's the global talented person I can imagine.