Even before I entered university, I had a vague dream of being an exchange student studying abroad, but my dream was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. When I was in the first semester of the fourth grade, I fortunately found an international internship program so I could experience living and working abroad at the same time. I had no reason not to apply for it, so I participated in the internship program arranged by Chonnam National University (CNU) in the fall semester of 2022. Now I am writing this article because I want to share my experience and I hope this helps someone.

My Work Experience Stories

I worked as an international intern for a semester at the Global Language Network (GLN) that is a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C. in the U.S. This organization’s mission is to “use language as a tool to help fix our world.” They believe that improving communication is the first step towards understanding other people and helping resolve problems such as personal, local, and global problems. This is why they are giving various language classes.

The organization was in a shared office called WeWork located on the busiest street in the city, just a five-minute walk from the White House. I usually used the Metro when I went to work. It took about 20 minutes. When the weather was nice, I preferred to walk and it took about 40 minutes.

Every morning, I started my day by using Google Chat and Google Tasks to see what I had to do on that day. I worked in the marketing department, so my main task was to create GLN’s social media content. In addition to this, interns were able to carry out their own individual projects. I could freely suggest opinions that might help the organization. After planning permission was granted, I did my own project.

Personally, the most difficult part of my work was that I had to find and do what I had to do on my own. I had been used to doing the work that someone had told me to do, so this type of work environment felt very awkward at the beginning. However, over time, I became familiar with this culture and I was able to show my ability and creativity better.

My Korean Language Class

My experience as a Korean teacher was also an important part of my internship activities. The GLN suggested me to teach a Korean class, and I accepted it. So, I did Korean class for two hours every Sunday. I taught basic Korean conversation and Korean culture to seven foreigners. Based on the weekly learning goals set by GLN, I made my own class materials such as PowerPoint presentation slides and handouts.

It was hard to prepare for the class because it took quite a lot of time and effort, but I have never regretted this choice because I got a lot from this experience. Firstly, I was able to meet many good people and make unforgettable fun memories. Secondly, I was able to improve my English- speaking skills naturally because I had to do my class in English. I needed a script at first, but eventually I was able to have a smooth class without a script. Lastly, I also felt a personal sense of accomplishment that I did meaningful work as a college student and a Korean.

Activities in My Free Time

On days when I did not go to work, I tried to spend time doing various activities as much as possible. What I did most often in my free time was visiting various museums. There are many high-quality museums and art galleries available for free in the city. I set a goal of visiting all these places and went to see them whenever I had time. I achieved my goal and my favorite place was the National Gallery of Art.

The most unforgettable memory was watching an ice hockey game with Melissa, one of the students taking my Korean class. Thanks to her, I was able to watch my first ever ice hockey game in a VIP seat. Even the team made a dramatic reversal and won the game, so I think I will remember the atmosphere of the day for a long time.

The funniest memory is that I went to a pole dance class with my roommate. In fact, I am a really terrible dancer, but with a strange confidence of unknown origin, I took the class. By the end of the class, I became a reaction master because I had been clapping my hands not dancing through the entire class.

Looking Back on My Internship

I participated in an international internship program through an agency called The Washington Center, which has several courses for international students, among which I applied for the Global Competencies Internship Program. To complete this course, I had to work four days a week at the organization, take 10 workshops, and submit some assignments. I think it is a good course for students who want to develop their global capabilities in various ways.

When I give myself feedback at this point after finishing my international internship, I can think of both regret and praise. What is regrettable is that I did not practice English speaking before going to the U.S. If I had studied more in advance, I would have been able to adapt faster and easier. What I think I did well is that I maintained a positive and open mind. Thanks to this, even though I was a slow starter, I was able to get a lot of benefits. It is a really good experience that I can recommend without hesitation.

I hope that you can enjoy the happiness of every moment and make lots of unforgettable moments!

By Sim Ha-yeon, Senior, Faculty of Business Administration