Jang Yun-seo of BUFS

Wins First Prize in the Korean, Chinese, and Japanese Speech Contest

Cub-reporter Choi Ha-eun

haeun.choi.2002@gmail.com

Students at Busan University of Foreign Studies are mostly interested in foreign languages. However, many students have a hard time speaking in a foreign language because it takes a long time and a lot of effort to learn a new language. That is why BUFS provides different kinds of programs and activities that can help students learn foreign languages. Using those programs in BUFS, Jang Yun-seo from the Division of China won the first prize in the speech contest in Korean, Chinese, and Japanese held by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat. The Woeseong Times interviewed her to hear about how she taught herself another foreign language with the language programs provided at BUFS and how she won the first prize at the speech contest.

Q1. Could you please introduce yourself?

A I am Jang Yun-seo, majoring in Chinese Education at BUFS. I am working very hard to be a global educator. I am very grateful to BUFS for congratulating me on my first prize win at the speech contest and for giving me a placard. I feel so happy to be interviewed by the Woeseong Times!

Q2. Congratulations on the first prize! How do you feel about it?

A Thank you! I am studying languages so that I can expand my knowledge about the languages of three nations, South Korea, Japan, and China. I was able to make myself known internationally and I am very delighted since it was an opportunity to deliver my opinion about promoting cooperation between the three nations to many people. As I listened to many other international students' opinions about cooperation between the three nations, I was able to realize what I lacked and came up with many creative ideas. Through the contest, I had more assurance about my future goal.

Q3. How did you become interested in other foreign languages other than your major?

A I had many friends who were international students in my freshman and sophomore year. In my freshman year, I had friends who speak Spanish and English. In my sophomore year, I made lots of Japanese friends. I had more international friends than Korean friends since I used to live in the dormitory and I got along with foreign students in the dormitory. From the second semester of my sophomore year, I took Tandem for two years straight so that I could check my Japanese speaking level after learning to speak the language through conversations with my Japanese friends.

Q4. What kind of programs did you utilize to learn foreign languages?

A As I said, I took Tandem for two years and utilized the tandem zone actively. It was very helpful since I could have conversations with native professors. I took Basic Japanese from concentration language completion as well. Even though I was studying Japanese by myself, I tried to use as many of the BUFS programs as possible. To learn Chinese, I went to Shanghai International Studies University to take part in a short-term language program during the summer vacation in my first year.

Q5. Which program was the most helpful and memorable?

A The most memorable program was going to Shanghai International Studies University for the short-term language program. My Chinese speaking level improved more form that program than all the other studies I have done. Another program that I really liked was tandem zone. I think Tandem is one of the biggest advantages of our university. You can learn many kinds of language at different levels. The best point of it is there is no pressure to get a good grade, and you only have to attend a one-hour session once a week, and you can choose the time based on your schedule. You also get to learn about different cultures since the professors are natives to the language that you take.

Q6. Do you have any special method of learning a foreign language?

A First of all, I made a lot of international friends who speak the languages that I wanted to learn. I tried to have many conversations with them to speak the language and learn from listening to them, just like a baby listens to its parents speak in a certain language and naturally learns how to speak the language. In that way, I first learned how to have conversations and then started studying basic grammar. Therefore, I can say having international friends was always the best way for me to study foreign languages.

Q7. How did you participate in the contest?

A The speech contest was held by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, and I was very interested in Korea, China, and Japan. Also, I have a plan for an education business using those three languages. In order to start a business, you should have your own background or career, right? I thought this was an opportunity to make myself known and this could be my background. Last year, I won the first prize at a presentation contest in Chinese which is held at BUFS annually. That was just for Koreans and after that I wanted to take part in another contest that involved all three countries. That is why I decided to compete in the contest.

Q8. What do you find difficult when you study foreign languages?

A Since I learn different languages from my friends, I have a hard time using formal expressions. I have to study formal language by myself. Furthermore, I might be good at having conversations with people in certain languages, but giving answers to linguistic problems or achieving certificates about language was very difficult. I still do not have any linguistic certificates. Since grammar is very different from how we speak in real life, grammar is a bit difficult. That is why I envy friends who have firm foundations.

Q9. I heard you have a YouTube channel and TikTok! How did you start them?

A 'Be famous first.' This is the motto I follow and I think of it as a value of my life. I am now running a YouTube channel and TikTok account using the three languages and trying to make myself known to many people. It also acts as a kind of marketing mechanism for my future dream. I am doing my best showing not only my language skills but also different kinds of contents such as makeup tutorials, videotaping, and editing. I have been working as a Youtuber for ten months and I have about 13,000 followers from all social media who are rooting for me. I will continuously work hard to make myself known and practice speaking in front of many people through those media.

Q10. What are your future plans?

A I am currently planning to start an educational business in Japan. My final goal is to establish a scholarship foundation or an educational center using Korean and Chinese in my name. I hope that I can promote cooperation between South Korea, Japan, and China. I aim to be someone who has influence between the three nations. I want to tell them to be confident all the time since confidence is one of the most important things with language. Many Korean students tend to get obsessed with mistakes. However, training your mentality by thinking, "It is okay to be wrong," is very important. There is a clear difference between one who has less skill, but has the confidence to speak out and one who can speak well, but is too nervous to show their ability. I think it all starts with being confident. Even making friends needs some confidence. I want to recommend training yourself mentally to build self-confidence and keep challenging yourself to new things.