KF뉴스레터-The KF Global Challengers Program

KF Korean Language Education Internship

I am in charge of the intensive Korean language courses, levels 1 and 2, as well as preparation of online learning materials, for the Ruhr-University Bochum Institute of Intensive Language Training in Germany. I put a lot of effort into developing online practice problems to accompany the classroom lectures so that students can have more opportunities to practice what they learn. These days, I’m also taking part in the meetings for the development of an online Korean language course at Ruhr-University Bochum. We’ve had three meetings so far attended by our director, Dr. Klaus Waschik, and Korean language instructor Dorothea Hoppman, as well as other staff members from related organizations. Among other things, we have focused our discussions on the matter of online dictionary materials. We have talked at length about developing and improving online dictionaries for Korean-language learners who struggle with the structure for combining consonants and vowels.
We plan to hold Korea Day events at the university on November 12 as a chance to introduce Korean culture and traditional Korean arts to the students and faculty here. We are currently contacting a haegurm performer and cultural organization for a traditional tea ceremony, and related details are being discussed. For the remainder of my time in Germany, I will be carrying out preparations for the Korea Day program, assisting with the online course development process, and continuing to develop online practice problems.

Ruhr-University Bochum, Institute of Intensive Language Training, Germany
Lee Eun-jung

▲Attending a RAND Corporation meeting / An outside view of the facilities at RAND Corporation

KF Think Tank Internship

The RAND Corporation is a private nonprofit research institute, originally founded to conduct research on national security matters for the U.S. Air Forces. Today, it focuses on a broad range of areas including public health, labor markets, education and international development policy, and others. The RAND Corporation has also created an environment in which open communication is encouraged among researchers from different disciplines for the development of creative, original, and objective solutions.
I am currently working as a visiting research intern, taking courses at the Pardee RAND Graduate School and assisting other RAND projects. Although it took a while to get used to the strict internal policies in the beginning, I’ve been able to focus more on the research environment later on as I get to interact with other researchers while taking courses and seminars. Moreover, thanks to the support from numerous people, not only in Santa Monica but also in Washington D.C. office, and my mentor, Dr. Rafiq Dossani, I could deepen the scope of my research remarkably in the way I could not imagine before. At the moment, I’m planning a local field trip to conduct interviews that will develop my research in more practical ways. Through my work at RAND, I’ve gained insight and knowledge in various issues by equipping myself with new tools and models for analyzing them in public policy, which is invaluable for my research experience and my future career path.
In my free time, I go jogging, surfing and play beach volleyball with my colleagues while enjoying the beautiful surroundings around the Santa Monica beach, which is conveniently located in the vicinity to the office. I’m also excited for the institute’s various events, such as the Halloween party held this past October.