Introducing '3rd Sejong Correspondents'!

On May 16, the 7th episode of 'Sejong Correspondents' was released on KSIF's official YouTube channel! 'Sejong Correspondents' is a content series where learners studying in Korea experience the latest trends in Korean culture and life. We met three learners who received awards at the '2023 KSI Korean Speaking and Writing Contest' and came to Korea for their studies. We listened to their thoughts on appearing on 'Sejong Correspondents' and their experiences studying in Korea.

Hello, Nice to meet you, Nuzzolo Jade, Azzouzi Maram, and Reemah Almoajil. Could each of you please introduce yourselves?
 

Nuzzolo Jade(hereinafter referred to as Jade): Hello, I'm Nuzzolo Jade from France. I attended KSI Center France and I'm currently studying at the Language Education Institute of Dongguk University.

Azzouzi Maram(hereinafter referred to as Maram): Hello, I'm Azzouzi Maram from Tunisia. I'm a student at KSI in Tunis, and currently, I'm studying at the Language Education Institute of Ewha Womans University.

Reemah Almoajil(hereinafter referred to as Reemah): Hello, I'm Reemah Almoajil from Saudi Arabia. I attended KSI Riyadh, and currently, I'm studying at the Global Education Center of Dankook University.
 

All three of you received an excellence award at the '2023 KSI Korean Speaking Contest' and came to Korea for your studies. What were you doing before coming for language studies?
 

Jade: : I put my master's degree in International Relations at the Paris School of International Affairs on hold and came to Korea. Before coming for language studies, I interned at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in France. I handled tasks in the field of international industrial cooperation in Asia and also supported the operation of the '8th Korea-France New Industry Technology Cooperation Forum,' jointly organized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance of France and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea in January this year.
 
 

Maram: I'm just an ordinary university student studying English literature in Tunisia! I took a break after completing my first year.

Reemah: I'm also a university student. I'm a fourth-year student majoring in Business Administration, and I took a break to come to Korea.
 

What prompted your initial interest in Korean, and how did you start studying? I'm also curious how all three of you came to know about KSI and started attending classes there.
 

Jade: I majored in Political Science and History in college, and it was during a class about the creation of Hangul that I became interested in Korean history and the Korean alphabet. I started learning Korean to understand historical materials better. Initially, I studied alone with books, but later I took Korean language classes at the university's language center. However, the progress was too slow for me, so while searching for other options, I found out about KSI Center France through an internet search. After that, I attended Korean speaking classes twice a week at KSI Center France for three years. Speaking with other students at the institute helped improve my speaking skills as I used grammar and vocabulary learned in class. I also studied Chinese characters concurrently to enhance my vocabulary.

Maram: I became interested in Korean during my first year of high school. Initially, it was just about enjoying K-pop, Korean dramas, and variety shows, but during the long periods spent at home due to COVID-19, I decided to learn Korean as a hobby. I wanted to understand my favorite dramas without subtitles and thought knowing Korean would make me look cool and gain recognition. Initially, I studied on my own by memorizing Korean song lyrics, watching Korean videos, and making Korean friends through language exchange apps. However, as my skills improved, I became ambitious and wanted to challenge myself with the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean). I thought self-studying would be difficult for preparing for this exam, so I searched for places to learn Korean nearby and found out about KSI Tunis. Since then, I studied for a semester at the KSI Tunis and was able to pass TOPIK Level 5.

Reemah: I started watching Korean dramas at the age of 13 and naturally became interested in Korea. From then until I was 20, I studied Korean on my own. When I entered university, KSI Riyadh was established in Saudi Arabia, but at that time, there were only beginner classes available as it had just opened. Instead, I actively participated in KSI events and got the opportunity to study abroad by participating in Korean Speaking Contest.
 

I'm curious about your experiences studying in Korea. How does it feel to actually live in Korea, not just travel? If there was a moment when you enjoyed learning Korean and experiencing Korean culture the most, please share when it was.
 

Jade: Living in Korea feels very different from just traveling. Still, I've learned a lot while living alone in Korea. Since I'm studying abroad, I've learned to save 'living expenses,' unlike when traveling. One of the happiest moments for me was when I received my alien registration card. Without an alien registration card, you can't do things like order food delivery, shop online, make reservations, or open a bank account. So, receiving the alien registration card, which was essential for living like a real Korean, made me really happy!

Maram: Unlike traveling, it feels like living as a real local. As time passed in Korea, I found myself visiting places less known to foreigners, such as rural areas, rather than tourist spots. When I visit rural areas, I usually take taxis, and the drivers provide a lot of information about the area, which was very helpful. Conversations with the drivers remain as pleasant and precious memories for me.
 
 

Reemah: Every moment I see, hear, and feel in Korea feels like breathing life into images that were once only in my mind. Each day feels so happy and precious, like meeting a friend whom I've known only online in person.
 
 

I'm curious about your experiences as "Sejong Correspondents." What were your initial thoughts when you received the proposal? It might have felt awkward to have videos uploaded on YouTube. I'm curious about your mindset when you accepted the filming. Also, you experienced Seoul Botanical Garden, making rice cake, and visiting the street cart bar. Do your countries have similar cultures?
 

Jade: At first, I felt a bit awkward when I received the filming proposal, but at the same time, I was very excited. Above all, I accepted it immediately because it was an opportunity to have a unique experience. Since I enjoy cooking a lot, making rice cakes was the most enjoyable experience for me. It was my first time trying traditional rice cake, and it was so delicious. When I visited the street cart bar, it reminded me of France's drinking culture, "apéro." In France, there's a culture of drinking alcohol with simple foods before dinner. The main difference is that in Korea, people usually go to street cart bar after dinner, whereas in France, they go to bars for "apéro" before dinner.
 
 

Maram: : It was my first time filming, so when I received the offer, I felt both excited and nervous. I had never imagined appearing on YouTube, so it was beyond my imagination. Although I was nervous and awkward standing in front of the camera, the producer, director, and staff made me feel comfortable, so I enjoyed the filming. Seoul Botanical Garden was very different from the botanical gardens in Tunisia, so it was fascinating, and I also enjoyed the one-day class that I had only seen in videos. Going to the street cart bar was a dream come true for me, and it felt like I was a protagonist in a drama. I'm looking forward to the next filming.

Reemah: : I had a lot of doubts at first about whether to participate. However, I decided to appear on Sejong Correspondents because I thought it would be a good experience and a memorable one. The experiences such as visiting Seoul Botanical Garden, making rice cakes, and visiting the street cart bar were precious because they were things that I couldn't experience in Saudi Arabia.
 
 

Starting from May, the preliminary rounds of the 'KSI Korean Speaking and Writing Contest' have begun at KSIs worldwide. As previous winners, could you offer advice or words of encouragement to learners preparing for the contest?
 

Jade: I used to think I was good at Korean on my own, but in last year's contest, I met many learners who were even better. So, I looked back and thought, 'How did I manage to advance to the finals?' and I remember preparing for the contest by learning about Korean history and discussing topics that judges didn't expect. I majored in history, so I prepared the contest topic related to Korean history. The preliminary topic was about introducing both a city you want to visit and a city you want to introduce. During the preliminary round in May, I prepared a unique presentation about Korea's '5.18 Gwangju Democratization Movement'. To speak Korean fluently, it's essential not only to have good Korean language skills but also to have a good understanding of Korean culture, history, politics, and society. And it's crucial to confidently take the stage and present with an active attitude. You should think, 'If I believe it, the audience and judges will believe it too.'

Maram: First of all, I want to encourage learners who are currently preparing for the contest. If you continue as you always have, you can achieve good results. During my preparation for the contest, I studied a lot of vocabulary. I searched for advanced words, wondering how I could use more natural and impressive expressions. Since the preliminary topic was about 'My View of Korea, How Koreans See Korea,' I also researched a lot about Korean history and culture. Don't be nervous and present confidently. I'll be cheering for you, fighting!

Reemah: I understand how difficult and nerve-wracking it is to prepare for and participate in the contest. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone preparing for the contest, and I'm proud of them. Regardless of the results of the contest, don't give up and continue to study hard. Speaking from my experience, conversing with Koreans was a big help in improving my speaking skills. You might worry a lot about making mistakes when talking to Koreans for the first time. But I believe that overcoming the fear of making mistakes and speaking confidently will improve your Korean speaking skills.
 
 

I'm curious about your plans after language training. Will you continue studying Korean in the future? If you have any goals or plans you want to achieve through studying Korean, please tell us.
 

Jade: I have a keen interest in the diplomatic field, so after completing my master's degree, I plan to prepare for the diplomatic service exam in East Asia in France. My dream is to work at the Korean Embassy in France. I want to become a fluent diplomat in Korean and contribute to the diplomatic relations between Korea and France. I plan to continue studying Korean to prepare for the diplomatic service exam. When I return to Paris, I'll apply for specialized Korean language classes at KSI Center France.

Maram: After completing my language training this semester, I will return to Tunisia and resume attending university. Thanks to this language training, my career path has become clear. After graduating from university, I want to come back to Korea and apply for a master's program. I want to introduce Tunisia to Koreans, and I hope that cultural exchange between Korea and Tunisia will become more active. In fact, during the last YouTube filming, I also thought about using such content to promote Tunisia. I want to challenge myself in various ways!

Reemah: Since I was in the graduating class at the university in Saudi Arabia, when I return to Saudi Arabia, I plan to complete my undergraduate studies first. And I plan to apply for a master's program in Korean language education. My goal is to create a Korean language department for people who want to learn Korean in Saudi Arabia and work as a professor.
 
 

Finally, please express in one word what KSI means to you. And what is the reason?
 

Jade: 'For me, KSI is an escape!' I studied very hard to prepare for graduate school after graduating from university in France. Especially in France, it's easy to get into university, but it's very difficult to graduate, so students are under a lot of stress. I was one of them, but I refreshed myself by opening the doors of KSI twice a week. My classmates always studied hard with smiles on their faces. And the teachers always prepared various and interesting classes. While learning Korean at KSI, participating in contests, and receiving awards to come to Korea, I still can't believe how precious this opportunity is to me. To me, KSI is a happy escape.

Maram: 'For me, KSI is light!' At first, I didn't think that attending KSI would necessarily bring me many opportunities. However, I learned that there are indeed many good opportunities. To me, KSI illuminated the path when I was wandering aimlessly in the darkness without any dreams. I'm so happy with all the things that have happened and the various dreams that have arisen. I'm really grateful. Thank you.

Reemah: 'For me, KSI is an existence that makes me dream of tomorrow!' After KSI Riyadh was established in Saudi Arabia, I was able to dream of my future anew. Without KSI, I probably wouldn't be in Korea right now.