Yonsei University

I definitely came to Korea in order to improve my Korean language skills and therefore also took the daily Korean language class (4-6 pm). Although it was very demanding (we had exams almost every 2 weeks and even had to write a Korean diary) it surely helped to improve my Korean a lot. Now I don't have any problems communicating in Korean. For absolute Korean beginners it might be very hard to learn the language. A lot of my friends dropped the course shortly before or after the midterms. However, if you attend the class until the very end you'll clearly see that you'll get by everyday life and the Korean people around appreciate your efforts in speaking Korean a lot.

At Yonsei University, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of the political and economic history of Korea. As a Korean-American living in the United States, I felt that I should be more aware of my own culture and identity and through this study abroad experience, I was able to establish a deeper connection with my ancestors and Native culture. Language is not a problem for me because I am able to speak fluent Korean so my basic focus was not the language but the history and culture.

If you learn Korean, it opens a whole new world for you--people in East Asia value when you show some effort to learn and understand their language and culture. Yonsei University has a Korean Language Institute - without a doubt, the best in Korea. You will find here people from all around the world!

It was a constant struggle. I mean, I chose the country to learn more about it...to feel a culture shock in a way..but it was an absolutely different language from my own. Learning it though...it motivated me for that very reason. But no matter how much of an effort I made it did hinder my social life with native Koreans because if you don't speak to them or approach them...don't expect them to come to you...unless its about something weird cause you DO get weird looks for being foreign. You should consider taking atleast a whole level 1 course before coming here... Even ordering food was a challenge at times especially because there will be those one or two times where they will take advantage of the fact you are a foreigner and will make you order whats more expensive or will be rude and unattentive to you because they know you can't say much back.

Yonsei offers a korea language program that is extremely well set up that students who had no knowledge of korean before are able to get around the country with no problems at all. By attending these classes, your language skills improve drastically no matter what level you are at.

Had to study the language for a year before going there. Studied while there too at the language institute. Being immersed in the language and attending language classes there helped me pick it up a lot. Wish I could have stayed longer because it takes more time to become fluent.