Education Short Term Intercultural Practicum in South Korea

Summer 2010: May 17 to June 13

Program Location

This program places in students in Seoul, a city of infinite discoveries. It is an ancient capital of an ancient land, where the traditional and the cutting-edge exist side-by-side in perfect harmony. Seoul is a dynamic city that never sleeps, and the list of things to do is endless, from sampling the outstanding cuisine served in the city’s excellent restaurants to climbing the rock faces that overlook the city. It will be easy to see why so many travelers fall in love with this fast-paced but relaxing city.

There is an old saying in Korea: "One should not step even on the shadow of one's teacher." This proverb demonstrates the degree of respect traditionally accorded to school teachers. Therehave been many changes to the Korean educational system since its adoption of modern teaching methods, however much of the old traditions remain.

Academic Program

Students will live for a month in downtown Seoul that has convenient access to historic sites through public transit. The residence is in Ewha Woman’s University campus and students will walk to Ewha Elementary School each day for practicum experiences

Students will be paired up and assigned to a class ranging from elementary grade level 1 to 6. They will observe class activities during 4 weeks, and teach a couple of lessons at two different sites. The students will be asked to take notes and keep a reflection journal everyday to question any assumptions or ideologies that could have influenced the way they interacted with people. Also, they will develop a portfolio, which will serve as an opportunity to reflect on their international practicum experiences.

Students must complete 1 credit seminar the second block of Spring semester 2010 to prepare for trip.  

Instructional methods include guided tours, field work, journal assignment and/or papers.

Tentative course offerings:
EDUC 490 or 501: Cross-Cultural Exploration and Practicum in Seoul , 3 credits

Accommodations

Students will reside in residence halls. Group meals will be provided.

Program Costs

For the current projected costs for this program, please click on the following link to the Fees for JMU Study Abroad Programs page.

Application

For more detailed instructions and to download the application, please click on the following link to the Applications and Forms section for JMU Short-Term Programs.

In addition to the Short-term Application, interested students should submit an essay. The essay that you will submit with your application materials must be your unique response to the following prompt:  Describe a personal challenge that you have faced.  Explain the solution you devised to meet the challenge, then discuss the personal growth that resulted from the experience. Your response should be typed and double-spaced and submitted as a part of your application materials. Applicants must have a 2.5 minimum GPA within their major field of study, with rising juniors, seniors, and graduate class status.

For More Information

For additional information about the Education Short Term Intercultural Practicum program in South Korea, please contact the program director:

Dr. J. D. Ohn
Assistant Professor
Early, Elementary and Reading Education
Tel: 540-568-2937
E-mail: ohnjx@jmu.edu