Interview:

Yujeong Moon, from South Korea, is a senior majoring in General Business at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.

Why did you decide to study in America?

The best place I could study English is the USA. because they have many good English courses. Also, I wanted to experience American culture.

How did you choose your intensive English program?

My English skills were not good enough to take lectures from American professors. So, I wanted to have time to adjust myself into American lectures, teachers, and culture. I thought the ELLI (English Language Learners’ Institute) program, which I took over the summer, was the best program for me to learn English.

What do you like best?

San Angelo, Texas is not a big city, so people are very friendly and kind. Also, they don’t mind helping other people. I feel very comfortable here.

What do you miss most?

I miss my family and my friends. Also, I really miss Korean food!

How has this program helped you to handle future study at a U.S. university?

I’ve been here for six months. I think my English has improved a lot. I feel more comfortable speaking English now than when I first came here.

What was your biggest surprise?

I was very surprised when students and the professor argued about some issues in the class. I think this is very good for students to improve their critical thinking ability.

How have you handled: ... language differences?

I watched many TV shows with subtitles, and tried to learn the language differences. I also ordered English books and studied with those books.

What are your activities?

I play soccer, and frisbee on an intramural team. Also, I had a host family. They helped me a lot. Moreover, I stayed at my friends’ house over the break and I learned American family’s lifestyle.

How easy or difficult is making friends in the USA.?

It was not easy because I was not good enough at English to make a joke. However, when I tried to be nice to other people, they also wanted to be my friends. Then, I made good friends.

How is your U.S. education relevant to your personal goals and to the needs of your country?

I want to enter business school in a few years. Before that, I will get a job in South Korea. I think if I can speak English, it will help me get a job easily. Also, the reason I wanted to study English is because much information in the world is written in English. So, if I can understand English, I can understand a lot of information in the world, especially very influential information.

What is your advice to other students?

I think studying abroad is very good experience for young students. You can learn a lot of things that you didn’t know before. I thought if I went to the USA., my English would be improved without any efforts. But it turned out I did have to study English to improve it. So I would like to recommend to other students that you should study while you are in the USA.