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HONORS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

Basic Information
Full Name: Emmeline Haiss
UC Email: haissee@mail.uc.edu
College: McMicken College of Arts & Sciences
Major: Asian Studies
Title of Project: Sogang Korean Studies Summer Program
Thematic Area (choose only one): Global Studies
Expected Project Start Date: June 20th, 2015
Expected Project End Date: July 30th, 2015
Project Information
1. Provide a detailed abstract of your proposed honors experiential learning project.
On June 20th, 2015 I will begin a five-week program at Sogang University in South Korea. The program
combines Korean Studies Seminars with intensive Korean language instruction. During the program, I will attend
classes from 9:00 to 5:00, Monday through Thursday. I will have three hours of language class in the morning, an
hour-long lunch break, and then four hours in a Korean Studies seminar. The language classes are worth three
credit hours (60 contact hours), and employ a learner-centered curriculum that requires students to combine
thinking and performing in Korean to develop communicative competence. I can choose to take up to two
seminars out of four options, and class admittance is on a first-come-first-serve basis. The four seminars include
different topics in Korean history, politics, culture, and literature, and there are approximately 45 hours involved
with each course (40 lecture hours and a 5-hour field trip).
On Fridays I will have the opportunity to travel with other students on a University-led field trip to different
cultural sites in Korea. I am required to go on at least the two field trips assigned to my seminars, but can also go
on extra field trips for an additional cost. Previous field trip destinations for this program include: Insadong,
Changdeok Palace, Hwaseong Fortress and Korean Folk Village, DMZ (Panmunjom, 3rd Tunnel, Dora
Observatory), KOFIC Namyangju Studios and Nami Island.
My weekends are commitment-free, so I will likely spend them doing work for my classes, getting to know the
other students, and travelling independently.
By participating in this program, I hope to gain a strong foundation in the language that will improve my learning
experience from this point on. I want to meet and interact with people from many different backgrounds and
network with the worlds future leaders. I believe that learning more about Korean culture will allow me to
broaden my perspective of the world and help me to become more culturally aware and understanding of the
differences between countries. Acquisition of the language will give me an advantage during the 2015-2016
academic school year, which I plan to spend studying abroad at Korea University, and will also benefit me after
graduation. With my degree in Asian Studies, I would like to teach English in South Korea. While teaching
abroad, fluency in the language will be necessary for everyday life. Additionally, the more I know about the
cultural background of my students, the better I can adapt my teaching style to suit them.
Clearly and thoroughly address how each of the following elements will be exhibited in your work:
2. Connection to Learning Outcomes within the Honors Thematic Area (identified above)

Possess global literacy, including knowledge of geography, history, current world issues and similarities and
differences among cultures.
I have spent a year studying in Japan already, so not only will I be able to compare Koreas culture to
Americas, but also to that of another Asian country. These two very different points of reference will allow
me to gain a unique perspective on Korea. I already know that Asian culture and western culture in general are
very different from each other, but how different are the cultures between Asian countries? What is acceptable
in Japan but not in South Korea? Are there many contradictions, or are the taboos and traditions of society
more or less the same?

Interact with individuals from different cultures and express a sensitivity, appreciation and respect for the
complex range of experiences of diverse peoples
As this program takes place at a South Korean university and is open to international students from all over the
world, I will have the opportunity to interact with people from many different countries and backgrounds. I
will work to overcome the language barrier and learn about Korean culture, but I will also have the opportunity
to learn about the cultures of other countries (English-speaking and otherwise) from fellow exchange students.

Participate in a global society and understand the role of a global citizen.

Every time I travel abroad I find that I learn more about America. The way Americans are perceived in other
parts of the world, and the very American mindset that influences our personalities and thoughts becomes
much more apparent when isolated in a different environment. Realizing which thoughts and beliefs have been
influenced by my American upbringing allows me to determine what I need to push aside when trying to
understand cultural customs and concepts that I might otherwise consider bizarre. Reflection and openmindedness are key to being a good global citizen and promoting understanding between cultures.

3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (include reference list, as appropriate)

A. I am an Asian Studies major with a long-term goal of becoming fluent in Japanese, Korean, and
Mandarin Chinese. Sogangs summer program combines Korean studies seminars taught in English with
intensive Korean language instruction. Not only would the credits earned in this program be applicable
to my major, the focus on language acquisition is relevant to my long-term goals, and would help prepare
me for the 2015-2016 academic year, which I plan to spend studying abroad in South Korea.
B. Sogang Korean 1A: Students Book By: Song-Hee Kim
This is the language book used by Sogang University in their Korean program. I will be using this book
mainly in class to aid me in my quest for language acquisition.
You Speak Korean! By: Soo-Hee Kim
I will use this text (as well as its accompanying workbook) to teach myself the basics of the language
ahead of time. If I build a good foundation beforehand, I can be placed in a higher-level language class
during the program, and come out of it with more experience. My goal before going to Korea is to have a
decent grasp on sentence structure, the Korean alphabet (which is phonetic, meaning that I should, in
theory, be able to read words even if I dont understand them), and some basic vocabulary (greetings,
numbers, common verbs and adjectives, telling time, etc.).

4. Initiative, Independence, and/or Creativity

The University of Cincinnati doesnt have a Korean language program, but I have a goal to become fluent in
Korean. I discovered that one of my professors lived in Korea for many years and asked if he might have any
textbook recommendations so that I could attempt to teach myself the language. He said that Sogang University
had a good method for teaching Korean, so I searched their website for possible summer opportunities, since I had
already been planning to study at a different university in South Korea during the 2015-2016 school year. I want
to get as much language practice as possible before the fall semester begins and my life becomes much busier. If
I am able to spend some of my summer completely submerged in the language and culture, the adjustment to
college life in Korea will be that much easier, and Ill be able to gain more from my year abroad.
5. Reflection
I plan to share my experiences via social media. I will maintain a blog with text posts and pictures, documenting
my time, as well as an Instagram account, with pictures and captions written in both English and Korean. The
blog will be much more detailed, so I wont update it as frequently (once or twice a week), but the Instagram will
be updated daily, as a simpler and more convenient way for those interested to keep up with my travels. Ill
discuss cultural differences, travel experiences, and my day-to-day lifestyle on the other side of the world.

The access links to both of these sites will be listed on my Honors Portfolio, and also provided to the Asian
American Association and UC International, so that they can be given anyone who expresses an interest in South
Korea or studying abroad.
6. Dissemination
My final reflection will take place mainly on my blog, as Instagram does not provide ample space for complex
ideas. While the other blog posts will be mostly post-to-post and only about that weeks events, this final one will
cover my entire time abroad. What have I learned? What are my future plans for travel (in Korea and
elsewhere)? Has this experience had an affect on any of the plans or goals I had before the program started? How
will I use what Ive learned from this experience in the future (i.e. what will I do differently next time I study
abroad? What new skills have I acquired that will benefit me in the clubs and groups that Im already involved
with, and what new groups can I join? Whats my biggest takeaway from this adventure?). Aside from the text
portion of this post, I will also include several final pictures from my time in South Korea.
7. Project Advisor(s)
Tai-Kyong Song
Dean, School of Integrated Knowledge
Sogang University
Phone: 82-2-705-4754 / Fax : 82-2-3274-4826
E-mail: summer@sogang.ac.kr
Office Hours: 09:00-12:00/13:00-17:00, Monday~Friday
Emergency Call: 82-10-6800-3771
Website: http://summer.sogang.ac.kr/
8. Budget (if applicable)
Plane ticket (round-trip): $2,500
Program Application Fee: $100
Tuition for credit courses (9 credit hours): $2,250
Room & board: $680
Room & board deposit: $50
Domestic travel/sightseeing and extra costs: $400
Total: $5,980