Hongik University | Student Interview

More and more people are coming to Korea to study at language schools due to their passion for Korean culture. Are you considering a similar plan?

Today, we have invited three foreign students who are studying Korean at the Language Institute of Hongik University to share their learning experiences and daily life through an interview. They will tell us why they chose the Language Institute of Hongik University, what daily life in Korea is like, and what joys and challenges they encounter during the process of learning Korean. This article will give you an in-depth look at the Hongik University Language Institute!

'What is it like to study in Korea for a short term?' If you are considering short-term studies in Korea, these experiences of current students might provide you with first-hand information.

From the teaching methods of Hongik University's Language Institute to how to adapt to Korean culture and lifestyle, let us now listen to their exciting and real stories about studying abroad in Korea!

From the teaching style at Hongik University's Language Institute to adapting to Korean culture and lifestyle, let's hear their exciting and real stories about studying abroad in Korea!

Before entering into the interview, let's know the students' backgrounds first!

Student A 👧🏻

• Nationality: Taiwan
• Level: Level 1
• Duration of Stay in Korea: 3 months

Student B 🧒🏻

• Nationality: Taiwan
• Level: 4
• Duration of Stay in Korea: 9 months

Student C 👩🏻

• Nationality: Japan
• Level: 5
• Duration of Stay in Korea: 1 year 2 months

Interview Start

🙋 : Hi, everyone! Nice to see you all, thank you for taking the time to join the interview :)
It's not easy to come to study in Korea from other countries, so what is your reason for choosing to study in Korea?

Student A

• I really liked Korean idols when I was in Taiwan, and I considered pursuing a graduate degree in the arts, so I decided to study in Korea and chose the Hongik University Language School!

Student B

• I previously worked in music-related fields in Taiwan. Due to work requirements and my personal interest in Korea's diverse culture, I decided to come to Korea and explore. Currently, I plan to apply to a graduate school at Hongik University after my proficiency in Korean reaches a certain level. I hope to have the opportunity to live in Korea long-term and work in related fields in the future.

Student C

• My reason is a little bit different from the previous two students. Mainly, it's because Korea is very close to Japan. For someone like me who wants to study abroad but doesn't want to be too far from home, it's a great choice. When learning English, I found that the grammatical structure of English is very different from Japanese, making it quite challenging to learn. However, when learning Korean, I discovered that its grammar is similar to Japanese and it has many words derived from Chinese characters, making it relatively easy to learn. So, I chose to come to Korea to study.

🙋 : A very diverse range of reasons indeed 🙂‍↕️ So, what are some things you are satisfied with living in Korea? And what are some inconveniences?

Student A :

• Hmm... In Korea, it seems like there are particularly fewer places suitable for one person to eat compared to other places. Many well-known cafes and restaurants can feel a bit awkward to walk into alone, so you usually need to go with friends, which means there aren't many options for eating alone.

Student B :

• Actually, there's nothing particularly unsatisfactory, it's just that the weather in Korea gets cold very quickly. Winter is really cold and it's a bit difficult for me to adapt.

Student C

• I think Korea is great! The location of the school is very convenient, and the language class is also interesting. Additionally, compared to Japan, in Korea, you don't have to constantly worry about the opinions of those around you, which makes me feel much more at ease.

🙋‍♂️ : Could you please tell me approximately how much everyone's monthly living expenses are?

Student A :

• I spend approximately 2,000,000 KRW per month on living expenses, which is higher than I initially expected. A significant portion of this is due to spending on my hobby, which has led to relatively high total expenses.

Student B :

• My monthly rent costs about 770,000 KRW, and my other living expenses amount to around 860,000 KRW. Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in prices, which has significantly raised my overall expenses.

Student C

• If rent is not included, the living cost is around 800,000 yen per month. (Rent price not disclosed)

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Hongik University International Language Institute

🙋‍♂️ : Why choose Hongik Language Institute?

Student A :

• I think the proportion of students' nationalities is a very important reason. If there are too many students of the same nationality, it not only reduces the opportunities to practice Korean but also makes it harder to meet friends from other countries. Therefore, I specifically chose a school with fewer Taiwanese students and ultimately decided to attend Hongik University Language School.

Student B :

• I chose this place mainly because the location of Hongik University is very convenient! The school is near the bustling Hongdae commercial area in Seoul. Just outside the campus, you will find Hongdae and Yeonnamdong. A short walk further will take you to Sinchon. It's really convenient for shopping and dining.

Student C

• Hmm... I originally lived in the countryside, so I really wanted to study in the city to experience city life. I hope there are many convenient facilities around the school, which will make life more convenient and enjoyable. Around the Hongdae Language School, not only are the facilities complete, but the entertainment is also very rich and diverse, which is why I chose to come here.

🙋 : Can everyone introduce the features of the courses at Hongik University Language Institute?

Student A:

• First of all, the teachers are very friendly and encourage students to speak more Korean. Especially in my current Level 1 class, the teacher gives us a lot of speaking practice opportunities, allowing us to become more familiar with using Korean for communication.

Student B:

• I feel that Hongdae Language Institute places a lot of emphasis on 'conversation practice.' The teachers guide us to have extensive conversations in Korean with other classmates and encourage discussions on various topics. In class, the seating arrangement frequently changes so that we can interact with different people, including classmates from different countries, and each time a different topic is set.
• As for assignments, the level 4 class has to write an essay almost every week, and every two weeks there is a recording practice assignment. Each lesson's topic and assignments are slightly different; for instance, in level 3 news presentation, we must choose a news article from our own country for that week and use the grammar we have recently learned.

Student C :

• Hmm... I progressed from Level 1 to Level 5, and overall, Hongdae Language Institute places a significant emphasis on 'oral expression,' encouraging students to communicate as much as possible in Korean. The teachers provide us with various topics, such as 'representative foods of different countries,' allowing us to discuss in groups or engage in pair exchanges with classmates, practicing expressing our thoughts in Korean while also listening to others' sharing.
• In terms of writing, from Level 1 to Level 4, the assignments primarily focus on getting students accustomed to writing in Korean. Most assignments are handwritten and submitted on paper, with very few online assignments. However, by Level 5, the proportion of online submissions increases, and the word count and difficulty of the writing tasks also increase accordingly. For example, assignments in Level 4 usually consist of fewer than 300 words, whereas Level 5 assignments often require writing articles of more than 700 words.

🙋‍♂️ : Please introduce an advantage of the Hongik University Language School course that you think is significant

Student B :

• When teachers are teaching students, if the progress is slow or they are falling behind, they are very patient and explain in great detail. The pace of learning grammar is moderate and does not feel forced, giving us enough time to digest the content. In addition, the amount of homework is also moderate, allowing us to review slowly. I think this is very good.

Student C

• The teachers are very kind and explain everything very clearly. Additionally, the language school's building has been relocated, redesigned, and renovated, making it very clean. All facilities have been completely updated; the learning environment is very comfortable, extremely satisfied!

🙋 : After the language school courses ended, which part do you think improved the most: vocabulary, grammar, writing, or speaking?

Student A :

• I feel that my speaking has improved the most. The teacher often encourages us to speak, providing many practice opportunities.

Student B :

• I think this is writing. As the level increases, the proportion of writing seems to get higher and higher, and the increase in the proportion of writing has greatly improved my writing ability.

Student C

• I also think this is writing. The higher the level, the more writing there will be. Especially from level 5 and above, the amount of writing practice increases significantly, and progress becomes more noticeable.

🙋‍♂️: How is the nationality ratio in your class?

Student A :

• There are two classes in the first level. My class has about 10 people. There are classmates from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Student B :

• There are 13 people in my class, 6 of whom are from Vietnam, 3 from Japan, and the rest are from different countries (Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, Sri Lanka, etc.)

Student C

• First of all, there seem to be more Asians, and there appear to be fewer Westerners in each class. The proportion of people from Japan, Vietnam, and China seems to be the highest. My class has three Japanese, two Chinese, and two Vietnamese students.

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🙋 : What is the current house like? How did you find the house?

Student A :

• I found it on the '고방' Korean app! First, I viewed the room through the app, then contacted the landlord through KakaoTalk. Since I don't know Korean, I relied on Papago for the conversation, and finally, I successfully signed the contract.

Student B :.

• I found it in a Facebook group, where many people provide homestay information or sublease opportunities for international students. The previous tenant happened to be Taiwanese as well, so after getting in touch, I signed the lease.

Student C

• I found the rental information through the '코네스트플랫폼', where landlords posted their rental properties. After picking the one I was most satisfied with, I contacted the landlord.

🙋‍♂️ : How is the scholarship system?

Common Opinion:

• The Hongdae scholarship system is really great! The tuition fee for the top-ranked student in each grade can be fully waived for the next semester, the second-ranked student can enjoy a 70% tuition fee reduction, and the third-ranked student gets a 50% tuition fee reduction. Additionally, the top 10% of students can also enjoy a 10% tuition fee discount. Such a scholarship system is truly rare in other schools.

🙋 : Which places did you go for cultural experience/special classes?

Student A :

• I haven't been there yet, but I've heard that the first-grade class will be going to Everland this time, I'm really looking forward to it.

Student B :

• I have been to Everland and the Folk Village. When I was in Level 2, I went to a Korean movie theater, but my Korean was not good at that time, so there were many parts I could not understand.

Student C

• Really visited many places. I have been to Suwon, and also went to Lotte World and Everland together. We also watched the Nanta show or a movie together. But the most impressive memory was making Korean rice cakes with classmates.

🙋‍♂️ : Please recommend your favorite place on the Hongik University campus and tell us why you like it.

Student B :

• I want to recommend a place in the Hongdae campus where you can have hot pot, which is called 마루샤브스카이! The location is in 홍문관 16floor, and since it's on a high floor, the view is very nice and you can even see the Han River!

Others Related to Life

🙋‍♂️ : Please recommend a restaurant or cafe near Hongdae Language School that you think is good.

Student A :

• I recommend 삼오빠식당 restaurant! It’s very close to Hongdae, and it's very delicious!

Student B :

• I want to recommend 테라김밥! This store is famous for their egg-based gimbap, it has a very good taste and is inexpensive. As for cafes, I recommend 트라이브! Their soufflé desserts are the most famous, they taste amazing, the owner is very kind, and it’s a place you would want to visit again.

Student C :

• Well, I recommend Suspicious Bagel (수상한베이글) and 봉봉 (Korean Snack Bar). Suspicious Bagel is a bit far, so it might not be ideal for everyday trips, but it's worth a try; 봉봉 is right next to the Hongdae Language School, making it very convenient for daily meals!

🙋‍♂️ : Challenges Faced in Korea / Things that are difficult to adapt to

Student A :

• There are not many types of vegetables in South Korea, it is hard to eat green vegetables, and fruits are also much more expensive than in Taiwan. In addition, before coming to South Korea, I need to transfer a deposit to the landlord, but because I did not have a Korean bank account at that time, it took many attempts to solve it, which I found particularly difficult.

Student B :

• Hmm... aside from the high cost of living, everything else is pretty good! However, since prices are significantly higher than in Taiwan, the living expenses are also higher than initially expected.

Student C :

• Compared to Japan, it feels like there are slightly more rude people in Korea. Especially when taking the bus, even if everyone is waiting in line, there are often people who cut in line, which makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.

🙋 : If you were to recommend Hongik University Language Institute to others, what would you like to recommend?

Student A :

• Hongik University's location is very good, it's convenient to go anywhere, and it's also fast to get to the airport! Especially for someone like me who likes star-chasing, the location in Seoul is very ideal for star-chasing, and it's also convenient to go to the airport to pick up celebrities. Additionally, Hongik University's scholarship system is more generous than other schools, as long as you study hard, you have the opportunity to get a scholarship, so it is particularly recommended for those friends who study seriously.

Student B :

• I also think Hongdae’s location is really the most convenient! Living near Hongdae, it's very convenient to go to any popular place in Seoul, with many transportation options, super convenient.

Student C :

• I think the location here is really great! Perhaps because I come from a rural area in Japan, it felt very refreshing to have many places to have fun around while studying at Hongik University's language institute. The nearby amenities are also very complete. In addition, as long as you study hard, the school provides generous scholarships, making this a place where you can both learn and enjoy life. I highly recommend it!

Here is the content of the interview 「Hongik University Language School Q&A」 with students from Hongdae!