Carma Elharazi, a recent graduate of Mason, has just come back from Busan, South Korea, where she has been trained in an intensive Korean immersion program at Pusan National University as a Critical Language Scholarship awardee. Critical Language Scholarship (CLS), hosted by the Department of State, is one of the most competitive scholarships offering an immersive summer language program and global networks.
Carma has majored in Korean and Chinese, and she is currently preparing for graduate study in the field of translation studies in Korea. She sent us a memoir of the CLS experiences:
“Through this program, I was in the advanced Korean class studying at Pusan National University in Busan, South Korea. Through this 8-week intensive program, other than our daily Korean language classes, we were also immersed in the local community and given a chance to really practice Korean. The program gave us both a local Korean language partner and a roommate. We also had weekly cultural classes, such as traditional fan-making, dancing, cooking, and Taekwondo. I felt so honored and appreciative that I was able to take part in such a competitive and rewarding program. Our Busan cohort all got along very well, and it felt like one huge family! Since Busan is the second biggest city in Korea, there was always something to do! There are many different beaches, cafes, restaurants, and events that are always happening. Personally, my favorite thing about Busan was the local dialect (사투리), I loved learning from my local friends how to speak with their intonation and slang. Overall, my experience was amazing and unforgettable, I am grateful for all my fellow CLS friends, teachers, and everyone involved. Busan is good! “
Many CLS awardees work in diplomacy and federal government sectors.
CLS Korean Information Session will be held on October 18, 2023, at 1 p.m. via the Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e13do44_REKhJBvOOGwLmA#/registration
September 11, 2023