On June 27, international students from various countries had a first lecture of the International Summer Session (ISS) 2022 at Chonnam National University. It is the first in-person ISS in three years after online Summer Session in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic. 27 International students from 20 different countries, such as the U.S, France, Taiwan, New Zealand, Lithuania, and Malaysia, have taken 10 lectures, including Artificial Intelligence Basics and Uses, Positive Psychology, and Introduction to Korean History, from professors at CNU and other universities in a sisterhood relationship. This time, four professors from other universities abroad are holding lectures for four weeks. During this summer session, foreign students will get the chance to experience Korean cultures, as well as gaining to knowledge through lectures.

    Before the start of class, they attended the orientation of the ISS held on June 24 at Yang Jaebong Hall in Yongji Gwan. Between June 25 and July 2, they experienced Korean cultural events such as wearing cooking Korean traditional clothes, learning Taekwondowon, and watching a Korean movie related to the May 18 Democratization Movement. The Office of International Affairs that organized the session will continue to offer cultural sections for them such as visiting Songgwangsa Temple and other historical sites. Especially, in a K-pop section, the students will have dance lessons in a dance academy outside campus. ISS buddies, who are all Korean and also attend at least one from ISS lectures, will accompany international students throughout the whole schedules.

    One of foreign students attending the ISS, Jessica Zhang (Elementary Education, University Of Missouri, U.S.A.) said, “I want to know about other Asian cultures since I am also Asian. Expecting to explore other countries other than the U.S., I applied to this program after the big wave of COVID-19.” Ryan Lorenzo (Automobile Engineering, ESTACA, Morocco) said, “The CNU ISS was proposed by my university. But mostly, I was interested in the courses this program proposed, such as Korean history and language lectures. Hoping this program can provide new cultural experiences, I applied to the ISS of CNU.”

    On June 13, international students will learn how to play Korean traditional instruments and also attend Korean classical music fare. Joelle Buempanga, one of international students, said, “I want to meet a lot more Korean people and feel the real society. Many Korean people seem to be afraid of talking to strangers, so for me, it is hard to make Korean friends. I hope there can be some programs where I can meet a lot of Korean people of many different ages and backgrounds.”

By Hong Ji-u, Student Editor