The Trail

Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: News

At the start of this spring semester, 18 business students from Cheunju, Korea, were flown out to University of Puget Sound to study the English language and learn the ways of American business.

This is the second year that the Korean government funded a two month, all-expenses-paid trip to Tacoma so that 20 of Konkuk University's best business students could learn English overseas and interact with at least a few of the 20,000 Korean-based businesses that are stationed between Federal Way and Olympia alone.

Mostly third and fourth year students between 18 and 25, these students studied an extensive amount of international trade, economics and math in Korea.

While at UPS, however, they have conversation hours Monday through Thursday in the lounge from 9 a.m. to noon and a regular fieldtrip on Fridays that seven UPS students are paid to organize and attend. They are not actually enrolled in any other classes at this university, nor do they live on campus. They instead live with families who have houses nearby.

The exchange students have already toured the largest businesses in the Seattle area, starting with Microsoft and Boeing, as well as Costco and several museums in Tacoma.
"UPS has a very small international community," said James McCullough, director of the Business Leadership program that oversees the students' visit. "By bringing Asian students to the campus, it enhances diversity."

It also gives UPS students an international connection. UPS is now going to send the seven students working with the exchange students to Korea this summer with fully paid tuition.
Last week, the exchange students made Valentines Day cards in the back lounge of the Wheelock Student Center. In Korea, only the girls give a gift to a boy of their choice; then in late March the boys reciprocate with a candy for a girl of their choice.
One of the Korean students said she had studied English in Korea since she was ten, but the exercises they did in school were boring and repetitive.

"I think it's good to study English in Korea, but it's a really nice opportunity to learn here in America," she said with a smile. "I hope other Koreans can come to America [and have the same experience]."

A few more students chimed in and said that their favorite activity during their daily conversation hours were crossword puzzles and playing Hangman.

The exchange students will stay another month here and continue to improve their English as well as their interactions with the many Korean-based businesses that have flourished throughout the greater Seattle area.

• Alison Mesinger eats kimchi, bibimbab and bulgogi everyday, she is a Korean at heart.

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