My original plan to study at Korea University for two semesters was abandoned about halfway through when I realized that one year wouldn't be nearly long enough. A full three semesters after leaving, I have finally returned to UC for my final semester. During my time abroad, I took a variety of classes related to my major in Asian Studies, approximately seven of which were purely for studying the Korean language. While my knowledge of the language grew, I also became more acquainted with Eastern and Southern Asian politics. What's more, I discovered that KU offers many courses intended to prepare students to become teachers of English as a foreign language. Thanks to these classes, I am much more confident in my ability to become a good teacher for my future students. My next goal is to acquire my TEFL/TESOL Certification. Achieving this will build upon the base that I have constructed while studying alongside the English education majors at KU, and will prepare me to become a better teacher.
When I wasn't in class, I was out exploring Korea with my camera in hand. I became comfortable with the layout of many of the places that had bewildered me when I first arrived, such as the bustling shopping district of Myeongdong. I discovered a passion for trying new foods (and I took pictures of everything I ate, because I also developed a love of food photography). I searched all over the internet to find the best restaurants and cafes in Seoul, and I managed to visit dozens of them before returning home. As I still have plenty of places left, I will definitely make a point of continuing my mission whenever I find myself back in Seoul. My food journey certainly helped me get to know the city better, and I marked all the locations of my pictures on Instagram so that others can follow in my footsteps if they get hungry.
Instagram was a larger motivational factor than I expected it to be. I found myself doing my best to write captions in both Korean and English to practice my language skills, and also trying to take pictures of interesting and exciting content that would inspire others to begin their own travels or even just try a new restaurant. In the future, I hope to develop a larger presence on Instagram. I want to get to a point where even people I don't know directly can feel comfortable asking for language learning tips, study abroad advice, or even travel recommendations. I will also continue to use my captions on Instagram to hold myself accountable for the retention and progression of the Korean language skills I have worked so hard to acquire.
Although I'm stateside again for the time being, I have plenty of pictures from my adventures that I haven't posted yet. As is such, you can still expect more new content on my Instagram @goingseoulsearching (linked on the bottom right corner of this page), and you can view a selection of my photos from this experience below (hover for descriptions and click for full images).
When I wasn't in class, I was out exploring Korea with my camera in hand. I became comfortable with the layout of many of the places that had bewildered me when I first arrived, such as the bustling shopping district of Myeongdong. I discovered a passion for trying new foods (and I took pictures of everything I ate, because I also developed a love of food photography). I searched all over the internet to find the best restaurants and cafes in Seoul, and I managed to visit dozens of them before returning home. As I still have plenty of places left, I will definitely make a point of continuing my mission whenever I find myself back in Seoul. My food journey certainly helped me get to know the city better, and I marked all the locations of my pictures on Instagram so that others can follow in my footsteps if they get hungry.
Instagram was a larger motivational factor than I expected it to be. I found myself doing my best to write captions in both Korean and English to practice my language skills, and also trying to take pictures of interesting and exciting content that would inspire others to begin their own travels or even just try a new restaurant. In the future, I hope to develop a larger presence on Instagram. I want to get to a point where even people I don't know directly can feel comfortable asking for language learning tips, study abroad advice, or even travel recommendations. I will also continue to use my captions on Instagram to hold myself accountable for the retention and progression of the Korean language skills I have worked so hard to acquire.
Although I'm stateside again for the time being, I have plenty of pictures from my adventures that I haven't posted yet. As is such, you can still expect more new content on my Instagram @goingseoulsearching (linked on the bottom right corner of this page), and you can view a selection of my photos from this experience below (hover for descriptions and click for full images).