In this blog post, I will outline my motivation for applying to the English Literature program, as well as my academic and career plans after admission, based on my high school academic experiences, club activities, international exchange programs, and instances of compassion I developed while growing up on Jeju Island.
Academic Experience During High School
“Developing Expertise Through the Study of Tourism English.” I was born on Jeju Island, a region known for its natural environment and thriving tourism industry, and attended elementary, middle, and high school there. In particular, while majoring in Tourism English in high school, I was able to focus intensively on studying foreign languages. I chose to major in Tourism English because I have always enjoyed English courses and because I had a dream of becoming a translation and interpretation specialist who could contribute to Jeju Island’s tourism industry in the future.
The courses I took while majoring in Tourism English included English Listening, English Grammar, English Conversation, English Writing, and English Reading. As much as I enjoyed English, I consistently worked hard to achieve good grades in these subjects. I was relatively confident in my ability to understand English sentences through listening and reading, as well as in my reading comprehension. I was also quick and accurate at memorizing vocabulary, consistently scoring perfect marks or missing only one question on vocabulary tests. However, my skills in grammar, writing, and conversation were somewhat lacking in comparison.
Regarding English grammar, the knowledge I gained from school classes did not connect in a comprehensive way, making it difficult to apply it when solving application problems. To address this, I studied using an EBS grammar book that helped me understand principles through exercises, rather than a general grammar book where knowledge was organized in separate sections. As for writing, while I understood individual words and sentence structures, it was difficult to actually express the ideas I had in mind in a sentence. To solve this, I bought a book containing 1,000 sample sentences and studied by memorizing the entire sentence while substituting only the words within it. Once I had memorized many basic sentence structures, it was only a matter of time before I became comfortable with applying them.
As for English conversation, even when I could think of a sentence in my head, I lacked the confidence to actually say it. To address this, I made a point of participating in class discussions during conversation classes, telling myself it didn’t matter if I made mistakes, and during debate classes, I tried to develop the habit of speaking up even when I wasn’t prepared. Through these efforts, I actively overcame the challenges of studying grammar, writing, and conversation, and my English skills improved by leaps and bounds.
School Activities: Obtaining a Barista Certification
“Developing My Talents Through Obtaining a Barista Certification.” While in high school, I joined a club dedicated to obtaining a barista certification not only to study English but also to develop my unique talents and interests, and I actively participated with friends who shared the same hobby. The club included students with diverse motivations and goals: some were interested in coffee, others were preparing for careers through barista training, and still others were drawn by curiosity sparked by TV dramas. Among them, I was a student who joined to use this as an opportunity to develop various skills as a future tourism business professional.
After participating in the first few sessions, I developed an interest in coffee, which I had previously known little about, and began to be fascinated by the diverse flavors and varieties of coffee. After more than a month, I gradually grew fond of the club activities, and after four months, I became interested in obtaining a barista certification. The club invited external instructors to help us study for the written exam, and there was also a program where seniors who had already obtained their certifications helped us with practical training. Taking advantage of these resources, I formed a small study group with friends who were studying hard and prepared for the exam step by step.
As the certification exam approached just one month away, our study group stayed late into the night, dedicating ourselves wholeheartedly to our studies and preparing with great passion. The school also provided significant support, even setting up a small meeting room within the tourism lab specifically for barista preparation. The room was fully equipped with high-end coffee machines, grinders, and hand-drip sets, leaving us with everything we needed to prepare for the practical exam. I particularly enjoyed preparing for the coffee roasting and flavor evaluation by type modules; rather than just passing the exam, I found the activity itself so enjoyable that I practiced repeatedly. As a result, every club member obtained their certification, and I was proud to see this achievement featured on a banner at the school’s main gate and in the school newsletter.
In addition, the club opened a café once a month for the entire student body to promote and showcase the coffee we had brewed ourselves. In particular, through this activity, I was able to move beyond the standard, quantitative recipes I had been using while preparing for the exam and create the creative, unique flavors of coffee I had always wanted to make. During this process, I developed and sold my own new coffee blend using mint and honey.
Since I usually enjoy herbal teas, I decided to combine them with coffee to create a mint-flavored coffee. Since using coffee beans and mint can result in a somewhat bitter taste, I added honey to bring out the sweetness. After numerous trials and tastings, I found the perfect balance of mint and honey that produced a subtle yet deep flavor, and I developed a menu based on this recipe to sell at the café. As a result, I received a lot of positive feedback from customers and felt the joy of satisfying them with a drink I had created myself.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation
“The Experience of Learning About Other Cultures Through International Exchange” Our high school has maintained a sister school relationship with Shanghai Agricultural High School for many years, engaging in international exchange programs. Through this program, students from Shanghai Agricultural High School visit our school every May for sightseeing and facility tours, and in October of the same year, our students visit Shanghai Agricultural High School. I participated in both programs, hosting a foreign student in my home, and I also had the opportunity to experience a homestay in China.
○○○ was surprised by the diversity of our school’s curriculum and club activities, and found it fascinating that we use electronic whiteboards and offer remote classes. They remarked that Korea certainly seems to have advanced in internet and IT industries, noting that while China is also developing rapidly, there are many shortcomings in educational and school facilities. Sharing these insights helped me understand other cultures and sparked my curiosity, making me want to share more about Korea and Jeju Island.
After the school tour, I guided ○○○ around Jeju Island through a homestay. ○○○ had researched places like Seongsan Ilchulbong, the Jeju Olle Trail, Yongmeori Coast, and Cheonjiyeon Waterfall beforehand and expressed a desire to visit them, so I made the most of weekends and evenings to show them all within a short time. Perhaps because I dream of working in the tourism industry, guiding a foreign visitor was both exciting and rewarding for me. I enthusiastically explained everything all day long, and seeing ○○○ enjoy and appreciate it gave me a great sense of fulfillment.
Educational Background, Motivation for Application, and Post-Admission Plans
“An Interpretation and Translation Specialist Contributing to Jeju’s Tourism Industry” My parents ran an orchard in Jeju and sold tourism products to visitors and foreigners. Thanks to this, I was exposed to many Jeju specialties from a young age and watched the process of turning them into products like chocolate and health foods for sale. My parents always said they hoped I would take over the business and work in the tourism industry, and that to do so, I needed to be proficient in English and other foreign languages. Hearing this advice, I decided to major in English Literature to study interpretation and translation professionally, and I resolved to work in Jeju’s tourism industry to support my parents.
Once I enter university, I intend to focus particularly on improving my English conversation skills. To this end, I will diligently complete all available conversation courses, including English reading, discussion, and mock international conferences. In addition, I plan to study Japanese conversation as a second foreign language. Building on my high school experience studying basic Japanese as a second foreign language, I will take tourism-focused Japanese courses during my undergraduate studies and aim to obtain Japanese language certifications such as the JPT.
Regarding translation studies, I will continue to work part-time as a translator on campus, participate in practical translation training both on and off campus, and complete a related internship program. Subsequently, building on this practical experience, I plan to enroll in a graduate school of interpretation and translation, complete a master’s program, and then prepare for employment. Ultimately, I hope to work at an interpretation and translation support center dedicated to promoting Jeju Island’s tourism industry, where I can plan and manage various tourism projects.
