NSLI-Y 2024 Korea – Week 3
Weekly announcements:
Congratulations to Andrea for winning last week’s photo contest! Her photo, featuring the vibrant sunset, captured the theme “Hot Summer” perfectly.
Happy birthday to our students Avril and Doris, both turning 17!
Avril holding her surprise cheesecake surrounded by NSLI-Y peers singing Happy Birthday.
Doris with her strawberry fresh cream cake and birthday hat.
What are we learning?
This week, our students learned more vocabulary words, including classroom objects and everyday items, including 물(water), 지갑(wallet), and the very frequently used 우산(umbrella).
(From left to right) Arjun, Doris, Emilio, Enzo and Andrea practicing conversation in Korean language class.
They also leveled up and learned how to order at a restaurant. No more saying “한국말 못해요” (“I don’t speak Korean”) to waiters or using the English self-service kiosks. They are now equipped to ask employees for up to 1,000 glasses of coca cola, if they desire.
Karen, Abby and Hanan practicing conversation in Korean language class.
Our NSLI-Y participants also reached a significant milestone: the midterm. Through an unnatural number of hours spent on Quizlet, they were able to reflect on all the progress they have made since the first day of class until now.
Hazel, Hanan, Jake, and Stephan collaborate in speaking practice together.
Andrea and Avril review vocabulary on the whiteboard.
Lastly, they met with their peer partners to practice ordering in a restaurant and also translate project interview questions. From the South Korean population crisis to female beauty standards, we have an extremely diverse range of project topics!
Gigi and Emilio with their Korean peer language partners practicing how to order different foods and beverages in the restaurant.
NSLI-Y students with their Korean peer language partners engaged in speaking practice.
맛있다! (It is delicious!)
This week’s menu featured:
1) An all-you-can-eat buffet. At the unheard-of price of $8 USD (though the program paid for us), students filled up on takoyaki (squid balls), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet), and much more!
Avril and Stephan make their way down the line of food options.
2) Dining with the graduate students at the Dankook cafeteria, where there was kimchi and pork, pancakes, and seaweed soup.
Special Events
The day of much rain:
Participants endured heavy traffic, crowded subway lines, wet socks, and over 10 public safety alerts for their education. That is true dedication!
NSLI-Y students protect themselves from downpour with their umbrellas.
Temple stay:
On Friday morning, the cohort departed for the Beopjusa temple. Upon arrival, they were greeted with tea and snacks.
The Buddhist temple had an abundance of natural beauty. Amidst the peaceful atmosphere, participants reconnected with the trees, streams, and rain.
The sleeping quarters where NSLI-Y students stayed overnight.
A tour guide led the participants through the architecture brimming with symbolism, history, and 3 national treasures. Later that night, our members partook in a traditional Buddhist ceremony and chatted with a nun.
The next day, a few brave souls woke up at 4am to attend the morning ceremony, making 108 bows and stringing together prayer beads. They were joined by the rest for a challenging hike that turned into a slip-and-slide after the rain started. Though no one emerged dry, everyone successfully made it down the mountain.
NSLI-Y students take a group photo shortly after arrival with the Songnisan (mountain) in the background.
NSLI-Y students and DKU international students begin the hike up Songnisan.
From eating the same food as the monks to wearing temple attire to sleeping on a floor mattress, the weekend was a truly immersive experience and one to remember!
NSLI-Y students have a vegetarian dinner at the cafeteria on Beopjusa temple grounds.
Written by Doris, photographed by Jude & RD