Steve's sandbox

Tag: University

  • Lauren Maslin – June 2025 대학 축제와 깜짝 게스트: 우리 학교 140주년 기념 음악 축제

    대학 축제와 깜짝 게스트: 우리 학교 140주년 기념 음악 축제

    날씨가 따뜻해지기 시작하면, 한국의 여러 대학교 캠퍼스에서는 다양한 축제가 열립니다. 길거리 음식, 동아리 활동, 테마 부스, 그리고 라이브 콘서트까지 더해진 이 축제들은 많은 대학생들에게 중간고사 기간의 지루함을 잠시나마 잊게 해주는 소중한 시간이다.

    보통 각 대학교의 총학생회가 축제를 주관하고 준비하는데, 말 그대로 ‘학생들이 직접 만드는, 학생들을 위한’ 행사라고 할 수 있다. 또 이 시기는 학생들만을 위한 연예인 공연을 볼 수 있는 최고의 기회이기도 하다.

    특히 올해는 우리 학교에게 특별한 해였다. 2025년은 학교가 설립된 지 140주년이 되는 해였기 때문이다. 이를 기념하여 학장님 중 한 분과 학교 채플린, 총학생회가 나와 축하 연설을 했고, 한국식 축제 분위기에 빠질 수 없는 MC도 함께했다.

    MC는 ‘마스터 오브 세레모니(Master of Ceremonies)’의 줄임말로, 공연을 소개하고 무대와 관객 사이를 이어주는 역할을 한다. 박수 타이밍을 유도하거나 관객과 소통하고, 퍼포머와 인터뷰하는 등 축제의 분위기를 끌어올리는 중요한 존재다.

    한국의 음악 축제를 떠올릴 때 빠질 수 없는 특징 중 하나는 공연 사이사이에 오가는 많은 이야기들이다. MC는 관객에게 소소한 미션을 주고 상품을 나눠주거나, 방금 본 무대에 대해 이야기하기도 하고, 무대에 오른 댄서, 래퍼, 밴드, 가수들과 인터뷰를 하며 그들의 전공, 음악을 좋아하게 된 계기 등에 대해 묻는다. 기다리는 시간이 조금 길게 느껴질 때도 있었지만, 원어민들이 자연스럽게 대화하는 모습을 들으며 재미있게 한국어 듣기 연습을 할 수 있는 좋은 기회였다.

    이번 축제에는 정말 다양한 장르의 공연이 있었다. 힙합부터 케이팝, 발라드, 록까지 다채롭게 이어졌고, 학생들과 프로 가수들이 함께 무대를 꾸몄다. 나는 친구들을 초대해서 함께 즐겼는데, 공연 하나하나가 너무 신나고 에너지가 넘쳐서 정말 좋은 시간이었다.

    예상치 못한 재미도 있었다. 일정한 간격으로 물총에서 시원한 물줄기가 뿜어져 나왔고, 모두가 젖은 채로 노래를 따라 부르며 춤을 추었다. 마치 여름밤의 축제를 온몸으로 즐기는 느낌이었다.

    그리고 축제의 진짜 하이라이트는 마지막 날 저녁에 찾아왔다. 갑자기 무대 위로 걸어나온 사람은… 바로 세계적인 레전드 싸이였다! 무대 조명이 화려하게 터지고, 하늘에서 물이 쏟아지는 가운데 관객들은 열광했고, 나는 그 순간을 믿을 수가 없었다. 싸이는 내가 처음 알게 된 한국 가수였는데, 이제는 진짜 한국 땅에서, 그것도 한국 대학생들과 함께 싸이의 노래를 부르고, 춤추고, 소리 지르며 그 무대를 직접 보고 있다니 꿈만 같았다.

    혹시 이름이 익숙하지 않더라도, 그의 세계적인 히트곡 ‘강남스타일’을 모르는 사람은 없을 것이다. 방탄소년단 팬이라면 슈가와 함께한 ‘That That’도 알 것이다. 내 인생에서 잊을 수 없는 음악적 경험이었다고 말해도 절대 과장이 아니다.

    돌이켜보면, 이런 축제는 한국에서의 교환학생 생활 중 가장 기억에 남는 순간 중 하나였다. 학생들이 힘을 합치면 이렇게 멋진 행사를 만들 수 있다는 걸 느꼈고, 캠퍼스 생활이 얼마나 즐거울 수 있는지도 새삼 깨달았다. 물에 흠뻑 젖으면서 춤을 추던 순간도, 친구들과 길거리 음식을 먹으며 수다를 떨던 시간도, 싸이와 함께 노래를 부르던 감동의 순간도, 모두가 함께 만들어낸 소중한 추억이었다. 한국 학생들과 외국인 학생들이 함께 어우러졌던 그 분위기가 정말 인상 깊었다.

    이런 경험이 바로 교환학생 생활의 진짜 매력인 것 같다. 수업과 시험도 물론 중요하지만, 예고 없이 찾아오는 즐거운 저녁들이야말로 오래오래 기억에 남을 순간이다.

     

    University Music Festivals and a Surprise Guest: My University’s 140th Anniversary Celebration

    As the weather warms up in South Korea, a variety of festivals are held on university campuses across the country. These lively events—featuring street food, club-led activities, themed booths, and live concerts—are the highlight of many Korean university students’ social calendars. They offer a much-welcomed break from the monotony of midterm exam preparation, revision, and lectures.

    Each university’s student council typically organises and prepares the festival, making it a student-led initiative – by the students, for the students. It’s also one of the best chances to see a celebrity performance, often arranged just for the student community.

    This year was especially remarkable for our university, as 2025 marks the 140th anniversary of its founding. To celebrate the occasion, there were speeches from one of the deans, the university chaplain, and the student council. In true Korean festival style, the event also featured an MC – short for “Master of Ceremonies”. In Korea, the MC introduces the performers, interviews them, interacts with the audience, and brings the energy up with clapping cues, commentary, and plenty of engagement.

    One distinctive aspect of Korean music festivals is the amount of conversation that happens between performances. The MC chats with the audience, gives out challenges with prizes, and reflects on the performances. They also talk to the performers – be they dancers, rappers, bands, or singers – asking them to introduce themselves, share their major, and speak about why they enjoy music. At times, the waiting could feel a little long, but listening to the natural conversations between native Korean speakers was undeniably beneficial and gave me the chance to practise my Korean listening skills in a fun and immersive way.

    The festival featured a wide variety of performances – from hip-hop to K-pop, ballads to rock. Both students and professional artists took the stage, and it was a joy to watch. I invited some friends to come along, and we spent the evening enjoying the exciting and energetic atmosphere together.

    Unexpectedly, there was also a water gun that sprayed a shower of cold water at intervals. Everyone danced in the “rain” and sang along to our favourite songs—it felt like the perfect blend of chaos and joy!

    The true climax of the festival came on the final evening. Suddenly, stepping out onto the stage, was none other than a global legend – the one and only PSY. The crowd erupted in cheers as pyrotechnic lights lit up the sky and water rained down over us. I was absolutely starstruck – I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. PSY was the first Korean artist I had ever heard of, and now I was standing in South Korea, surrounded by university students, singing, dancing, and screaming along to one of the most iconic artists in the world.

    You might not recognise his name immediately, but you’ll definitely know his record-breaking hit, Gangnam Style. And fans of BTS will also know That That, a popular collaboration between PSY and SUGA. To say this was an unforgettable musical experience would be an understatement.

    I think these festivals will one of the best parts of my time studying abroad in Korea. They have showed me how much students can do when they work together and how fun campus life can be. Whether it was becoming soaked by surprise water sprays, eating street food with friends, or singing along with PSY, it was amazing to share those moments with both Korean and international students.

    These are the kinds of experiences that make studying abroad special. The lectures and exams matter, but it’s the fun, unexpected evenings like this that I will remember most fondly!

  • Marianne McCready – France May 2023: Voilà!

    Sunset view of Sacre-Coeur from my kitchen window

    Voilà ! C’est mon dernier mois en France ! J’ai maintenant fini mes examens et je prends du temps pour voyager autour de la France et réfléchir sur mon temps ici ! Premièrement, c’était génial même si de temps en temps difficile d’assister à l’université française pendant ces derniers quelques mois ! Beaucoup du monde m’a dit que j’ai eu « une expérience française authentique » en surmonter toutes ces grèves, fermetures et chaos général à Paris. Mon progrès en français me fait plaisir et maintenant je connais beaucoup de vocabulaire très spécifique à propos des sujets comme des techniques filmiques, des concepts philosophales et amplement des termes très spécifiques d’analyse littéraire que je n’ai jamais rencontré avant. J’ai maintenant lu plusieurs grands œuvres de la littérature française et vu quelques des plus grands films du cinéma français, particulièrement de la Nouvelle Vague. Si vous êtes intéressés, personnellement, je vous recommanderais de regarder « Les Quatre Cents Coups » que j’ai bien aimé et il est tellement emblématique du genre. Deuxièmement, j’ai fait plusieurs relations avec des Français et j’ai appris beaucoup d’eux, à propos de la culture, la langue et l’argot française ! J’ai fait nombreuses erreurs en français quand j’ai parlé avec eux mais ils me corrigés doucement et m’ont donné des mieux façons de dire des phrases ou des questions afin de sembler plus naturelle. Finalement, j’ai aussi passé du temps en réfléchir à mon temps à Paris. J’estime que j’ai vu beaucoup que

    Gabi and I at the Arc de Triomphe

    je n’ai pas vu avant, et je connais certains quartiers assez bien et je ne consulte plus Google Maps constamment pour me déplacer ! J’ai aussi eu la chance de voyager un peu pendant que j’habite à Paris. J’ai passé ce weekend dans le beau sud de la France avec une amie et je voyage à Lyon cette semaine pour rendre visite à ma bonne amie avant que nous deux partons de la France à la fin de ce mois !

    Ta Dah! It’s my final month in France! I have now finished my exams and I am taking some time to travel around France and reflect on my time here! Firstly, it has been a great if sometimes difficult experience attending French university for the last few months! As many people have told me I have had “an authentic French experience” while coping with all of these strikes, closures and general chaos in Paris. I am pleased with my progress in French, and I now know lots of very specific vocabulary about topics like filming techniques, philosophical concepts and very specific literary analysis terms that I had never encountered before. I have now read many great works of French literature and seen some of the greatest films from French Cinema, particularly from La Nouvelle Vague. If you are interested, I personally would recommend watching “Les Quatre Cents Coups” I really liked that one and it is very much emblematic of the genre. Secondly, I have made many connections with French people, and I have learned so much from them, about French culture, language and slang! I have made many mistakes in my French when talking with them, but they do gently correct me and give me better ways to say sentences or questions in order to sound more natural. Finally, I have also been reflecting on my time in Paris. I feel that I have seen lots of parts of Paris that I had not seen before, and I know certain areas quite well and I am not constantly checking Google Maps to get around! I have also been very fortunate to travel a little while I have been living in Paris. I spent this weekend in the beautiful south of France with a friend and I am travelling to Lyon this week again to visit my good friend before we both leave France at the end of the month!

  • Marianne McCready: Ici à Paris ! – January 2023

    Je suis très heureuse de vous informer que je suis arrivée à Paris ! J’ai passé mes premières deux semaines en je me repérais dans cette grande ville. C’est incroyable de sentir plus en plus a l’aise en parler français, en lire des pancartes et comprendre des directions quand je les demande ! Je suis arrivée une semaine en avance de la rentrée et j’ai passé ce temps en apprendre à connaitre mon nouveau quartier et en acheter des essentiels pour mon nouvel appartement ! Cependant, je dois admettre que le système universitaire en France a été très difficile à comprendre. Je suis allée au parcours d’intégration et le système n’été pas plus clair à comprendre et je n’ai pas compris ce que j’ai dû faire ! Ensuite, j’ai été informée qu’il y aurait un rendez-vous le jeudi pour tout expliquer mais hélas… il y avait une grève le jeudi et le rendez-vous a été annulé ! Ils nous ont envoyé un courriel avec un lien pour nous nous inscrire au cours mais comme une étudiante étrangère je ne suis pas dans leur système en ligne et je n’ai pu pas m’inscrire. Alors, le vendredi je suis allée à la Sorbonne en personne pour trouver ma coordinatrice pour expliquer ma situation. C’était une expérience intimidante qui fallait frapper au plusieurs portes différentes et expliquer ma situation unique et demander pour l’aide (en français). Heureusement, chaque personne était très gentille et faisait tout qu’elle pouvait à m’aider trouver la personne correcte. Quand j’ai trouvé la coordinatrice, elle a dissipé mes soucis et m’a donné des instructions claires en comment m’inscrire au mes cours.
    Assister aux cours cette semaine a été une expérience nouvelle et intéressante pour moi. Je ne suis pas encore sûre de ce que je vais étudier définitivement, mais je me suis intéressée par la littérature du XVIIème et XVIIIème siècles, le journalisme et du cinéma français. Je fais des efforts à parler avec mes camarades de classe français et de devenir ami avec eux. Avec un peu de chance, avant que je soumette mon prochain rapport j’aurais fait des amis avec des Français !

    I am very happy to report that I have arrived in Paris! I have spent these first two weeks finding my feet in this big city. It is amazing to feel myself becoming more at ease in speaking French, in reading signs and understanding directions when I ask for them! I arrived a week before classes started and I spent that time getting to know my new neighbourhood and stocking up on essentials for my new flat! However, I must admit that it has been very difficult trying to understand the French university system. I went to the orientation meeting and was still not any clearer on what I had to do! I was then told that there was to be a meeting on Thursday to explain it all but alas… there was a strike on Thursday and the meeting was cancelled! We were sent an email with a link so we could register online but as an external student I do not exist on their online system and was unable to register. So, on Friday I went in person to the Sorbonne to find the coordinator so I could explain my situation. This was a daunting experience as it required knocking on many different doors and explaining my unique situation and asking for help (in French). Thankfully, everyone was so kind and did everything they could to help me find the right person to speak to. When I found the coordinator, she assuaged my worries and gave me clear instructions on how to register for my classes.
    Attending classes this week has been a new and interesting experience for me. I am still not quite sure what I will end up studying in the end, but I have been interested in 17th and 18th century literature, journalism and French cinema. I am making an effort to speak to my French classmates and befriend them. Hopefully, by the time I submit my next report I will have made some new French friends!

  • First Month in Jerusalem – الشهر الاول بالقدس Joseph Brazier – February 2019

    My first month of study in Israel has been extremely intense. While in the first few days I had the
    chance to visit some important sites in Haifa and in Jerusalem, the work began immediately after
    this. One of the requirements to enter the university was to complete an intensive Hebrew course
    called an “Ulpan”, where I had 5 hours of Hebrew instruction every day.
    I was placed in a higher level than I expected, and for the first few days worked to catch up with my
    peers, but eventually at the end of the Ulpan I finished with a 90%, which was very good considering
    my disadvantage at the start of the term.

    Life in Jerusalem can be difficult. The city is governed by quasi-Jewish law, there are no publicservices, transport or shops open on Shabbat, lasting around 24 hours on the weekend, which makeslife tough, especially because there is only two days in the weekend. Also, living on top of Mt Scopus, with no transport links can make you feel stranded at times.


    Jerusalem has many groups within it, and I am lucky to have made friends with people from Arab, Jewish and International communities. I think I still prefer my life in Amman, but the opportunity to speak both languages I am learning, sometimes in the same conversation is a great boost and a realistic reflection of how will use my languages in the future.

    While I am not certain how I feel about Jerusalem yet, I’m excited to see how this period will develop my language skills.

  • Tony Lumb – Case Study, Germany (1959)

    “I would most definitely recommend the John Speak Trust to others. My time spent abroad using a foreign language allowed me to learn a new language and culture in a different environment both physically and spiritually”

     

    In 1959 I was fortunate to receive a six month scholarship from the John Speak Language Trust.  I was eighteen years old when I was released by my English employer (Bradford based) for six months to study and work in Germany. My journey to Germany began by rail and then by ferry. I resided in South Germany and rented a room in a residential property from a German family. I travelled extensively on a daily basis with Sales Representatives from my English employers undertaking light office duties. During my six month scholarship I recall having to write monthly reports in German for the Managing Director of the firm in Bradford for which I worked. I initially worked as a trainee, later taking on the role of a salesman abroad for the two Bradford based textile exporting companies where I stayed for six years.

    My passion for the German language eventually led to a radical change in my career. I became a teacher of foreign languages (mainly German) at three English independent Grammar schools. My language teaching career spanned over thirty years.

    Now retired (age 73), I continue to correspond with my many German acquaintances. I regularly write letters, read fiction and non-fiction and listen to music in German. I continue to use my German regularly as the language has been a part of my being since I was first taught it at the age of 13. Learning foreign languages as a youngster has certainly been beneficial to my career in sales and essential in my teaching.

    The John Speak Trust scholarship was, in retrospect, the third rung on the ladder which made me into a life-long teacher and disciple of German. As a thirteen year old pupil attending Grammar School in the North of England I was taught German by an inspirational teacher from Vienna. At sixteen I spent several weeks on an exchange holiday in South Germany and then came the scholarship when I became fluent in the German language. I subsequently studied German language and literature for one year at the University of Erlangen followed by six months at the University of Vienna and a further three years at an English University.

     

    Initially, as an eighteen year old living abroad I was emotionally immature. I had to become stronger spiritually and more independent in my new foreign environment. After spending three months in a rural setting in South Germany, I moved to the large industrial city of Essen. It was here that I met many urban people, many from other countries. Even today, as an adult volunteer dealing with teenagers from abroad, I draw upon those early experiences I had as a John Speak Award recipient, when encouraging young, homesick volunteers to persevere, overcome isolation and succeed in an enterprise abroad.

    I would most definitely recommend the John Speak Trust to others. My time spent abroad using a foreign language allowed me to learn a new language and culture in a different environment both physically and spiritually. The broadening of my mind (thanks to the Trust and my experiences) has enabled me to travel to other countries and discover further cultures especially during my retirement years, when I became an adult volunteer for a company dealing with youth global work and travelled to Argentina and Mexico using my second foreign language, Spanish.

    Michael Anthony Lumb

     

    Essen is a city in the central part of the Ruhr area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Located on the River Ruhr, its population of approximately 567,000 (as of 31 December 2012) makes it the 9th-largest city in Germany. For the year 2010, Essen was the European Capital of Culture on behalf of the whole Ruhr area.