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1924 ShinNORI Generation
Creates Purposeful and Intentional Relationships
for Themselves
 
By Lee Ji-song, Tribune Reporter
 
According to a research result by Cheil Worldwide Inc., 58.7 percent of university students aged 19 to 24, also known as the ‘ShinNORI generation’, think that it is fun to build up their careers through diverse activities such as group studies to improve their English ability, major and voluntary services and contest exhibitions. That is why the name of this generation is ShinNORI. ‘Shin’ means new and ‘NORI’ means playing fun. In this case, however, ‘fun’ is not just fun. NORI is the abbreviation of ‘New challenge, Outstanding, Re-individualism, and Interesting.’ The ShinNORI generation thinks relationships are an essential condition for success. The research suggests that they make relationships through Social Network Services such as Facebook and Cyclub, or some groups that comprise of members who have similar goals. They make their own relationships intentionally for themselves, which were not made naturally. Look around campus and check the ShinNORI generation’s relationships at Chonnam National University (CNU).
 

Two members of a study group talking about the material

On the evening of November 28th, four CNUians who participated in Gongbuilchon, a group study program operated by CNU, were studying hard in seminar room 4 in University Library. They were taking their own UCC video to make the final report on Gongbuilchon. Kim Ha-nee (Sophomore, School of Business Administration) said, “It’s very difficult to study English alone. But when we study together, we can improve not only our English but also our relationships. After studying for about 3 months, I feel really close to my team members.” To participate in some programs such as Gongbuilchon and Nurideuri, CNUians should form a study group. Group study means ‘making a group of students to learn about a particular subject’. CNUians are trying to recruit more members for their own studies by putting up posters on bulletin boards at University Library Ⅱ, not just to improve their English proficiency, or to study the subjects at graduate schools, but also to recruit study group members who want to share their interests.
A group study team who participated in Gongbuilchon
According to a research from the Institute of Liberal Education at CNU, a group study is good for improving study skills and relationships between members. Lee Hyun-jin, an official at the Center for Teaching and Learning, said, “Nearly all CNUians, including foreign students, were satisfied with our programs. In addition CNUians become closer to their group members, professors who supervise the study groups and even the university.” University students have made some study groups, but these days, they have also made larger and more diverse circles of friendship. Park Jong-hun, a university graduate preparing for entrance into law school, is participating in ‘lifestyle study’ of which members study and eat meals together all day. He said that “In the beginning, I just participated in the group to avoid paying a fee when someone broke the life style rules. But now the group members are like a family and comrades.”
A mentor and mentees at the Sae-ssack mentoring program
Being not only a group study, there are also relationships made by voluntary services, such as between mentor and mentee. At CNU, there are some mentoring activities such as Sae-ssack mentoring and Buddy Buddy. The Sae-ssack mentoring service is mainly provided to teenagers from low income families. Mentors give their own talents and extra-curricular education. They also talk about their own life, and give counselling to their mentees about their careers. Chu Min-ji (Freshmen, Gwangju Girls’ High School) who was a mentee said, “Through teaching and counselling, I could look back on my past and dream of becoming a university student. I still have a good relationship with my mentor.” Likewise, Buddy-buddy is similar in the way that the mentors were selected and learned by the Office of International Affairs, CNU. A Mentor is a Korean student and a mentee is a foreign student. Mentors help foreign students to adapt well at CNU. Lee Da-in (Sophomore, School of Business Administration), who mentors a foreign student from the United States, said, “At first our relationship was not good because we did not try to understand the cultural differences between each other. But the school wanted us to spend a lot of time together. As a result, we got to become very close.” The university administration makes many programs for students to make various relationships on campus, and students participate in them. It is a great start for a good relationship to participate in the programs and do extracurricular activities together. Unlike older generations, the ShinNORI generation makes their own relationships through various extracurricular activity programs and become friends.
저작권자 © Chonnam Tribune 무단전재 및 재배포 금지