I liked that it wasn''t studying English by sitting at a desk, but learning English while playing and enjoying time with friends. And by talking with friends from various countriesthe worldI came to see the world more broadly. -I want to study there, Thailand university visiting student program |
Language
English level before participating:A little everyday conversational ability
At the time of participationSomewhat difficult
English level upon returning:Everyday conversation OK!
My personal language tip!
Because an official English score was required to participate in this program, I studied for the TOEFL. Studying for the TOEFL was tough, but the studying I did then was very helpful for taking classes and living locally.
Also, although classes locally are conducted in English, each teacher has a distinctive accent so it was hard to adapt at first. However, classmates helped a lot and there was an atmosphere of consideration for friends not familiar with English, so there weren''t major difficulties with assignments or team projects. And because I used English almost all dayenvironmentbecause of this environment, my English improved the most while hanging out with friends.
You don''t need to study Thai separately beforehand, but knowing basic Thai conversation is very helpful for taking basic Thai classes or living locally.
Accommodation
Accommodation type:An apartment near the school
My personal tip about accommodation!
If you take the housing tour held before orientation (a tour that shows nearby accommodation since dorms aren''t provided), you can look around about 4–5 places near the school. Then you can compare the cost, facilities, and distance to the school and choose the place you like best. Usually the places where many international exchange students live are 3J or Amarin Mansion. I lived in Amarin Mansion; although it wasn''t a dorm, many friends from the same school lived there, so we''d talk in the lobby or have rooftop parties often, so it felt kind of like a dorm haha.
The room cost about 360,000 won including tax, which I split with my roommate so it was 180,000 won each. Also, you can freely choose accommodations other than those seen on the housing tour; apartments where locals live may have a pool, gym, and sauna and cost about 400,000 won per month. However, such places have the downside that it''s difficult to interact with other exchange students.
Meals
My personal tip about meals!
At Amarin Mansion there are rooms with kitchens and rooms without; I stayed in a room without a kitchen, so I mostly ate out or ordered from the restaurant on the mansion''s first floor. The first-floor restaurant would take orders by phone from your room and deliver, so on days when it was too hot or I couldn''t be bothered to go out, I often ordered. But actually Thailandstreet foodor shops are so cheap and well-established that buying food is more efficient than cooking. In fact, most friends who had rooms with kitchens also ate out.
If you have even just a kettle to occasionally make instant noodles, you don''t really need a kitchen. The cost of buying food is much cheaper than in Korea unless you go to expensive restaurants. The student cafeteria usually costs about 1,000 to 1,500 won and local restaurants about 2,000 to 5,000 won.
Things to bring
Items I was inconvenienced by not having:Beomulri (ointment/repellent), swimsuit, plenty of cosmetics (Korean cosmetics are almost four times more expensive in Thailand ㅠㅠ)
Items it was convenient not to have:Too many clothes (Thai clothes and accessories are cheap, so you end up shopping a lot)
Items that were convenient to have:Comfortable summer shoes (Thai shoes are cheap but flimsy, so they don''t last long)
Tourist guidebook (I brought "Friends Bangkok" and used it well; I tried all the recommended restaurants in the book over the semester)
My personal tips for packing!
Bangkokis a very developed city even among Southeast Asian cities. Most of the items we normally use and need can be bought locally, so it''s better not to pack too much. Also, shampoo, treatments, toothpaste, sunscreen, etc., are often better in Thailand than in Korea because of the local water and strong sunlight. Keep that in mind when preparing your luggage~
Q.How did you find your way to the school after arriving in Thailand?
Because it was my first time and I didn''t know the way well, I took a taxi. Taxis in Thailand are cheap, so the fare wasn''t a big burden. When in a taxi, say "''Pai Thammasat Tha Prachan kha (khap)'''' and that will do. I first visited the school before orientation for a housing tour; the staff kindly guided me and I was able to find good accommodation.
Q.Before participating in the gap year program, what additional information would you have needed?
Before joining, I didn''t have much information about local life, so I couldn''t prepare thoroughly, butI found it fun to learn things one by one by diving in and experiencing them firsthand.School life was as described in the program guide: socializing with international friends, participating in various activities, and studying about Thailand and Asia.
Q.Tell us about the most enjoyable experience during your gap year.
Studying with friends from many countries around the world and traveling on weekends remains my happiest memory.
It wasn''t English study at a desk, but learning English while playing and having fun with friends, which I liked. And by talking with friends from various countries,the worldI came to see it more broadly.
Q.What did you learn during the gap year, or what did you like most about it?
The biggest advantage of Thai universities is that you can have an exchange-student experience without a large financial burden. Usually, going to English-speaking countries involves high tuition and living costs, but in Thailand I think I spent about what it costs to live on my own in Seoul. Also, traveling every weekend to Thailand''s beautiful islands and tourist spots—places you''d expect on a honeymoon—while hanging out with friends and learning English was really great!
Living and talking with friends from many countries naturally broadened my worldview and made my perspective and heart more open. Especially seeing foreign friends who don''t compare themselves to others but seek what they want, take on challenges, and enjoy life made me reflect on my own life andLife aheadIt was an opportunity to picture it.
ⓒKoreaGapyear
Q.Please tell us about the people you met through the gap year program.
Not only Asian friends from Thailand, Japan, China, Singapore, Malaysia, but also from the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden — one semester may be short, but during that time...I made friends from many different countries.!At first it was a bit intimidating because many of them came from prestigious universities in their own countries, but there were many kind and cheerful friends, so studying and living together was really enjoyable. Even after returning to Korea we keep in touch via Facebook, and since many of them love to travel, they come to visit Korea or we travel together when I go traveling lol. Also, after graduating and working, when I have work related to those countries I get a lot of help from my friends.
Q.Any tips you want to give to future participants of the gap year program?
First, as obvious as it is, Thailand is really hot... If you''re weak against heat, living there might be difficult. Actually, some friends from cold regions couldn''t adapt to the weather, got sick, and had to go to the hospital.
Also, just because the cost of living in Thailand is cheap doesn''t mean you should spend recklessly; if you spend without thinking your living expenses can add up. I hope you calculate living costs carefully. If you work hard in classes you can study a lot about Thailand and Asia. It will be really helpful if you want to find a job or start a business in Thailand. But since classes are held in a very free atmosphere different from Korea (no attendance checks and people move around freely during class), your own willpower is important!
Q.Compared to before participating in the gap year program, what has changed?
Before participating I had a vague fear of English. After first year I went to the Philippines for language training and studied for the TOEFL while preparing, but I wondered if I could really take classes abroad and spend all day with foreign friends. But the English-speaking friends in Thailand came because they were interested in Asia, and they understood and accepted that Asian people might not be good at English, which made me feel at ease. If I didn''t hear something in class they kindly explained it to me, and even if I kept asking because I didn''t understand they explained slowly, which I was really grateful for. So now, instead of being afraid to meet foreigners, I approach them first and start conversations andconfidencehas increased a lot.
Q.Do you have any personal favorite places you discovered during your gap year?
Every weekend I traveled to tourist spots within Thailand and to neighboring countries. I especially like quiet places with beautiful nature when I travel, andKoh Samet, Koh Samui, KrabiI visited islands that are not well-known in Korea and have relatively few tourists. AndSongkranI went to Chiang Mai to fully enjoy the Thai water festival called Songkran, and it was really fun! Personally, I think Songkran in Chiang Mai is much more fun than in Bangkok haha.
During vacations friends often backpack around neighboring countries of Thailand. Usually they go around Myanmar–Laos–Vietnam–Cambodia–Malaysia–Singapore in that order, but I had to return to Korea right after the semester ended so I couldn''t backpack like that and was quite disappointed.
Q.Tell us your own gap year story from Thailand.
Attending school in Thailand may feel unfamiliar, but I really want to tell the people around me that...A time I''d recommendIt was. What I wanted to gain from this program was Englishand from around the worlddiverse friends, many tripsexperiencesI was satisfied with everything, and I think I had a valuable experience I couldn''t have anywhere else. In fact, among friends who came to Thailand as exchange students, there are always some who, captivated by Thailand''s charm, want to settle there, so Thailand''s appeal seems enormous haha. And because the Korean Wave is huge in Thailand, you can receive a lot of attention from Thai friends just for being Korean... you might unintentionally become popular haha.
The time in Thailand now sometimes feels like a dream, but if I have the chance I''d like to go back — it was a happy time ^^
