Meet 8-week Korean Immersion Student: Cate Zolik
Cate Zolik did self-taught Korean, took Korean classes for a year, and spent 2 weeks in Korea, but Middlebury was the “best learning experience out of them all.” Cate returns for her second summer at our School of Korean this summer!
From: Jackson, Wyoming
Program: School of Korean- 8 week immersion program
Current: Undergraduate student at the American University Kogod School of Business, studying Business, Language & Culture
Why the Middlebury Immersion Program?
I was originally going to apply to another language program, but then an error occurred and someone from Middlebury came to my school, American University. I saw it as a sign that not only could I still be immersed in the language without going to Korea, but I’d be forced to use the language and gain confidence in it, in the 8 weeks that I was going to be there.
If you’ve had other language learning opportunities, how would you compare them to your experience at Middlebury?
I haven’t had many other language learning opportunities that I can compare to Middlebury. I started self-learning Korean back in 2020 during the pandemic. I started with Duolingo, TTMIK, and other free online resources.
In May of 2023, my mom took me to South Korea for 2 weeks as my high school graduation trip. At that point, I was able to read Hangul (more like sound it out) and introduce myself in Korean. However, the people in South Korea aren’t looking to strike up a conversation with a tourist in hopes to help them with their Korean speaking skills. I learned that they are more likely to talk to you in English, even if I did try and introduce myself in what I now know was some very botched Korean. However, we had some family friends that we met up with, and although I knew how to introduce myself in Korean, I was too shy and embarrassed to even try. It’s not that they weren’t more than willing to have me try, I just wasn’t confident enough in my skills to speak to native Korean speakers.
Middlebury gave me that much needed confidence in my speaking skills. It forced me to talk in a language that I was not confident in. I learned to be okay with messing up and accepting help from everyone around me.
In all honesty, even though I did self-teach myself, take classes for a year at college prior to Middlebury, and spend 2 weeks in Korea with my mom, Middlebury is the best learning experience out of them all.
Describe your typical day at Middlebury Language Schools:
5:30-7:45: Wake up, shower, eat breakfast
8:00-12:00: 2x two-hour classes focusing on grammar, speaking, reading and oral proficiency
12:00-1:00: Lunch with classmates, teachers, and bilinguals or classmates, and some homework
1:00-2:00: Solo time, go on a walk, head back to the dorm and listen to music in Korean or watch a Korean drama to wind down after all I had learned in the morning session
2:00-3:30: Office hours with the Korean schools’ professors or speaking practice with the bilinguals
3:30-5:30: Time to attend clubs to experience Korean culture and practice using your Korean in different settings, cooking club, traditional Korean music club, sports club, etc.
5:30-6:00: Wash-up and get ready for dinner
6:00-7:00: Eat dinner with fellow classmate, teachers, and bilinguals.
7:00-7:15: Walk back to the dorms with your peers continuing conversations from dinner
7:30-9:30: Watch a Korean film, go to clubs that occur at night (K-drama club, K-pop dance club, etc.), time for homework, spend time with friends, watch a k-drama in your dorm, play cards, review what was taught that day and look over what is going to be covered tomorrow
9:30-11:30: Homework, study, and head to bed!
What advice would you give to someone considering attending the School of Korean?
I suggest you go for it! You must be motivated and love the language you are going to learn, but you will get out what you put in.
My advice is when you get there, unpack and go socialize! You are a completely different person when the language you have grown up using is suddenly no longer allowed to be spoken. Use the time that the language pledge isn’t in effect to get to know one another, ask for help (even before the pledge begins), befriend students in your level and those in higher levels.
I suggest trying at least every club once, as it gives you the opportunity to see what each club offers and for you to truly get a feel for which clubs you want to actively partake in for the 8 weeks.
Use the bilinguals!!! They are there to help you, they have specific times set up after lunch purely for you to get the speaking practice you need, and even before they set up that time feel free to reach out to them, they are there as a resource for you to rely on!
If you miss your family, call them – in whatever language is comfortable – you are entering a tough program, don’t be afraid to lean on your support system every once in a while. Make sure you set a timer when you call you family and/or friends, so you are only communicating in a language other than your language of study for a certain amount of time.
Like I said before, you truly get out what you put into the program. Push yourself, ask for help, the teachers are there to help you! But also remember to take care of you, if you need to miss a weekend activity one weekend its okay, Middlebury also has counseling groups if needed.
This program is hard, but everyone is there to help and support you. No one wants to see you fail. They only want to watch you succeed!
Do not be scared to make mistakes, ask questions, and reach out to your teachers (even if it’s at an odd hour of the day) they are there to help you! They want to help you!
Apply to our School of Korean before our final application deadline of May 15th!
