Minor in Linguistics

What activities were you involved in during your time at Mason that impacted you most?  

During my first few semesters at Mason, I participated in the Korean Language Table program to improve my Korean with other students, made films for the Korean Learner’s Short Film Festivals, and participated in the Korean Language Exchange program. The main activity that perfectly sums up my time at Mason, though, would be studying abroad. I studied in South Korea a total of 3 times. The first time was at GMU Korea during my freshman year, the second time was at Yonsei University during my sophomore year, and the third time was a summer program at Korea University during my junior year.  

 Did you have a favorite class or professor? 

My favorite class at Mason was the Webtoon-Based Korean Drama course (KORE 321). This course felt like the perfect combination of material necessary for a language learner. Everything from analyzing natural Korean speech to in-person conversation practice was covered in this course, and I definitely felt like I was improving my Korean through a fun and engaging curriculum. I was also lucky enough to take this course with Korean students studying at Fairfax from Mason Korea. Being able to work directly with native Korean speakers in projects, assignments, and activities helped me feel more confident in my Korean abilities and helped me learn more from my classmates.   

My favorite professor so far at Mason has been Professor Jihye Moon. Professor Moon has been my professor and advisor since my very first semester and has guided and advised me throughout all my years at Mason. Not only has she been there for me in classes at Fairfax, but she has also been advising me during the times I studied abroad in South Korea which showed me how dedicated and supportive she is to her students no matter the time or place. Professor Moon never hesitated to share important opportunities with me that I may be interested in that could help me improve my Korean skills and attain valuable experience that I can use towards graduate school or future careers. Her unwavering support and encouragement for her students was a huge reason that I was able to accomplish so much during my undergraduate years and further grow my love and interest for learning about Korea.  

What is your most memorable moment at Mason? 

With the support and encouragement of the Korean department faculty, I had the honor of winning the grand prize and the gold prize at the first Mid-Atlantic Korean Speech Contest which landed me a scholarship to study at one of the top 3 universities in South Korea: Korea University. This experience pushed me to do my best in using my knowledge of the Korean language and public speaking to deliver the best speech that I could. I gained valuable insight into how to compose and deliver a speech in Korean and helped me feel more confident in my speaking abilities. In addition, an excerpt of my speech was published in the Korea Times which was an immensely rewarding and memorable outcome.   

What is your next step? What are your future plans?  

Although I don't have any solid plans post-graduation, I will be working full-time while maintaining connections with GMU and the Korean program through the Korean Alumni network.. I’m interested in becoming a Korean translator or interpreter, so I will be spending time studying more professional and advanced Korean to reach that goal. I am currently planning a program for GMU students studying Korean to tutor, mentor, and partner with high schools in the area that teach Korean courses. I look forward to returning to Korea in the near future for work or graduate school, and in the meantime, I will be continuing my efforts to teach Korean to thousands of learners online (via TikTok).  

As you are reflecting on your time at Mason, what is one piece of advice you would give a student who is just starting off on their Mason journey? 

As someone whose university experience was so positively shaped by studying abroad, I would encourage new Mason students to start thinking about studying abroad as soon as they get to Mason. Freshmen can participate in the Global Gateway program which I did as a freshman, and it opened the door for a multitude of opportunities and experiences during the rest of my years. Being able to see the world and experience the culture and lifestyles of others exposed me to so much that the world has to offer, shaped me into a more globally-minded person, and taught me lessons and important life skills that I could apply to the rest of my life. I would encourage all newcomers to Mason to take advantage of the wonderful study abroad opportunities our university has to offer and allow it to show you all the beauty that you may not have known before.