2019-1 KBU 하계 해외취업지원연수 후기(1진)

I think this Singapore summer language training program is a very good program that gives me confidence in speaking English, and also gives me the need to reflect on my English skills and study English. First of all, before I went to Singapore, I watched American movies or dramas and tried to understand English though it was not perfect. Also, I studied simple English conversation that I could do. I didn't want anything to happen that didn't understand English locally. And I simply searched and studied information such as weather and culture in Singapore. Because it was my first time to go to Singapore. As such, I prepared for the Singapore language training with high expectations and worries.

As soon as I arrived in Singapore, I could feel 'I am really in Singapore' because of the hot weather. I knew Singapore was hot, but it was really much hotter and humid than I thought. And I was surprised that the roads were too clean. It was so clean that I had never seen much garbage while I was in Singapore. And unlike Korea, people only smoke in designated places, so it was very comfortable for me to go around. I heard that this is because Singapore has a severe fine. I thought I would like to take a leaf out of our country's.  
                     

I stayed at the MDIS Residence in the school while I was in Singapore. Our room was not big, but it was clean and comfortable. It was also a place where students from MDIS schools stayed, so I often had the opportunity to talk to students from other countries on elevators, laundry rooms, restaurants and campuses. In fact, it was a very short conversation. But I think even these very short conversations have given me an opportunity to improve my English confidence. MDIS Residence has many of these advantages. But there was a disappointment. There was only one refrigerator per floor, and the air conditioner time was too short. Except for them, the MDIS Residence was a very good place to stay.

During my two weeks in this room, I took an English class at the MDIS school. My professor was Andrew. I learned grammar, speaking and reading just like what I learned in Korean school. I also learned how to write e-mails and small talk that I never learned in school. Actually, Small Talk is more memorable than writing an email. Because Small Talk, an American-style culture, was new to me and was unfamiliar and awkward to me because I have never learned in detail in Korea. Andrew taught us small talk. And he made me practice it by doing it myself. Thanks to him, I was able to start the conversation by applying this when I was in Singapore talking to foreigners. And I practiced many times for the mingling test during class. In fact, I couldn't really say a word at first. But Andrew and my team members helped me a lot. As a result, I was able to continue the conversation, though I couldn't make it into a perfect sentence. In addition, through Andrew's curriculum, I was happy to learn how to have conversations or x-expressions used in everyday life that I had never learned in Korea. That was very useful to me.         

 Every day after class, I had free time in Singapore. Before I came to Singapore, I thought this free time was just a trip. But I could experience new things through this time. One day, I surveyed foreigners in Botanic Gardens. There were many foreigners as well as Singaporeans in Botanic Garden, so it was suitable for me to do the survey. Actually when I first heard about this homework, I was really in despair. Because I really had the fear of speaking English. And just talking to strangers made me nervous. I was very nervous when I asked some people questions at the start of the survey. So at first, I only asked what I really wanted from them. But as the number of people in the survey increased, I found myself talking about something other than the question that corresponds to the survey.

Of course I didn't speak English sentences perfectly. So it was just short words and short sentences. But this didn't matter at all to talk to them. As a result, I gradually felt less and less afraid of speaking English and a great pleasure in talking to foreigners. I think this survey changed me the most while I was in Singapore. So later, I thanked Andrew for the assignment. This has not only surprised me that it has changed me, but the result has surprised me. The theme of our group was "Korean food". Surprisingly, foreigners ' reaction to Korean food is very interesting. More people were positive about Korean food than I thought. And they knew a lot of Korean food. I thought that foreigners only knew about famous foods such as Kimchi, chicken, or pork belly.

Surprisingly, however, the food they wanted to eat was yukgaejang, soy sauce gejang or seolleongtang. And They were also more likely to eat Korean food. Before I came to Singapore, I thought they would not know much about Korea because Singapore and Korea are far away. But I was able to completely change this idea. Of course, I could feel it through this survey, but I could feel it while I was walking down the street. Because I could easily find Korean restaurants as I passed the Singapore road. And crucially, when I talked to foreigners, when I said I was Korean, everyone responded favorably and sometimes they would ask me first if I was from Korea. They also talked to me by talking about their knowledge of Korea. At times like this, I felt really proud.
 

 Two weeks is adequate time to look around the country Singapore. Because Singapore is a very small island. In the meantime, I visited many tourist sites in Singapore and ate various foods. Singapore was very clean wherever it went with its first impression. Even tourist destinations where a lot of people come. I also felt great comfort when I used transportation. Because they are not allowed to eat food when they use buses or MRT. And the building was very unique and pretty there. Their designs and heights were different. So I admired each time I saw one building as I passed by. The night view is also so memorable because the different buildings glowed at night. And because it is a multi-ethnic country, I could try various foods.
One day, I went to a movie theater because I wanted to feel more about the culture of Singapore. It was very interesting to see Chinese subtitles. It was a new experience. So I was able to experience Singapore culture for two weeks.

I spent quality time with really good people while I was participating in the Singapore summer language training program. Also, this program really gives me a lot of experience, and at the same time it has changed me a lot. Before the program, I could listen, but I didn't speak well, so I didn't have confidence in English. But two weeks in Singapore gave me confidence and interest in English as well. And it was an opportunity to think about my future. I assumed that I should just get a job at a private dentist in Korea after graduation. But now the idea has changed. This program has given me confidence that I can adapt well if I get a job in another country and has also given me an opportunity to think about getting a job abroad. I learned and gained a lot in this two weeks time.

I am grateful to all those who helped me make a difference, and to Kyungbok University, who gave me the opportunity to create and participate in these programs. And I will study harder so that what I have learned in two weeks is not in vain.