미지센터의 청소년 국제교류이야기

      How does it feel like to work in a cubicle or an office? How is office-work different from schoolwork? How does a company manage its employees and future plans? All these questions are hardly possible to answer before one actually get to be employed by a certain company. However, it is not yet impossible.  Fortunately, Internship program allows one to explore a company or a job before the actual employment.

What is Internship?
   
    Wikipedia, web-based encyclopedia, defines internship “a system of on-the-job training for white-collar jobs, similar to an apprenticeship.” Interns are mostly college or university students, but occasionally high school students are being accepted to participate in internship programs. Student internships provide opportunities for students to gain experience in their field, determine if they have an interest in a particular career. 

    For a long period of time, internship was considered exclusively for those who are enrolled or graduated university of higher academic institution. However, as the competition to enter university undergraduate program gets ever intensified, several organizations and institutions opened their doors for internship program to even high school students. With its international standing, Korea is also providing various internship opportunities for high school students. I suggest you to join in internship held in Korea, which can allow you explore both Internship and Korean culture.

    Even though many high school students are seeking internship opportunities, the reality is that the parents of those students who are willing to participate in internship program are organizing most of internship programs. Furthermore, many companies avoid internship program applicants attending high school due to high school students’ lack of professional knowledge on specific area of study that the internship program requires. However, still, there are several organizations or companies.

                                                                                                                                       
1. Smithsonian Institution
- Smithsonian Institution offers internship opportunities for both college and high school students. Applicants can apply to one of Smithsonian Institutions, while there are internship programs that directly aim for high school students. However, unfortunately, Smithsonian Institution accepts only applicants holding US citizenship.
(http://intern.si.edu/internship_types_all.html)

                                                                                                                                        
2. Youth Internship Center
- Youth Internship Center, which mainly aims for the provision of internship opportunities to high school students, provides various internship opportunities.
(http://www.yintern.or.kr/)

    Through internship programs either stated above or not will provide students opportunity to explore what their best interest is. As ones “specification” is being ever emphasized, it is important to learn what one is good at before the one actually rush into such path.

My Experience as Intern

    From May 23 to June 2, I was fortunately able to participate in school-sponsored internship program. With the help of my parents, I was given with an opportunity to explore the world of law firm, located in Korea. Through the internship experience, I wished to grow my ability of critical analysis, time-management and clear expression of my opinion, and also to observe the “legal” world inside.

      As an intern in a law firm, I was responsible for helping an attorney. I assisted an attorney who mainly advised intellectual property law. Since I did not have legal knowledge at all, I could not dive into the world of law directly. Therefore, I was only responsible for tasks that secretaries and office workers do in law firm; I was assigned to work on translation and organization of documents. Through the internship, I learned new skills. I could learn how hard it is to work for a company. Staying in office without proper break time was seriously difficult for me to manage. Furthermore, I could feel the heavy responsibility assigned to each members of the company. I wish those learning helps me when I actually get involved in the real companies.

      Overall, working for a law firm was a valuable experience since it allowed me to observe the system and circulation of law firm, which is hardly possible for a non-member of the law firm to explore. The experience was valuable, because I could develop my critical analysis skills by reading lots of legal materials, time-managing skill by completing works on time and observation of the Korean legal system by attending courts and prosecutors’ office. Unfortunately, this internship is my last internship in high school, so I believe this internship provided me with a valuable opportunity to explore what it is like to be a member of a company. Furthermore, I could see what I lack, which is clear and effective way of expressing my opinions. I believe this internship opportunity significantly helped me to broaden my perspective on my future choices of both majors and careers.

Tips for Future Interns

    Through internship program provided by law firm located in Korea, I was able to work as an intern for two weeks. Despite the brevity of time, I was able to learn what internship is like. And, here are few tips that may help you in the future.

1. Don’t Try to Challenge on Your First Day Lunch Time
- First day is time for you to adjust yourself and learn what the company is like. After a long time of work, you may wish to explore around the company and look for nice restaurants; however, I suggest you to have your lunch somewhere near the company, because there are many variables and it is unwise to be late on the first day.

2. Repeat the Name!
- Especially if you work in a non-Asian company, where people are usually refereed by their last or first name but not their title, it is crucial to remember people’s name. I suggest you to repeat their names when they introduce themselves. For example, if one introduces oneself “My name is John,” I recommend you to answer in form like “Nice to meet you John.” Repeating the name will help you to better remember.

3. Be on Time
- This cliché cannot be more emphasized. Be on Time. It can give good impressions to your employer, which means higher chance for you to get better recommendation from the employer.

4. Bring a Book or Homework
- Even though you will be given with assignments, most of the time, you will have free times. However, it is unwise to use the free time playing games or going outside. I highly recommend you to read a book or do homework when free time is given.

5. Don’t Bring Laptop or USB Unless Told to Do So
- Certain companies prohibit its employees to bring their own laptops to the company due to high-risk of credential information being leaked. Therefore, do not bring your laptop before you got permission from your supervisor.

6. Wear Appropriate Attire
- It is important to wear appropriate attire. However, appropriate attire does not mean fancy and overly formal suits. If you are working as a journalist, you will not be required to wear formal suits; however, if you are working in a law firm or governmental institution, you will be required to wear formal suits. I highly recommend you to overdress on the first day just in case.

7. Be Careful Using Company Laptop
- Company laptop is for work but not for chatting or web surfing. Furthermore, companies are sensitive about unauthorized downloads from webs, which can also download virus that can influence the entire company intranet. Therefore, I recommend you to use your laptop only to finish your assignments or simple mail checking or searching.

      Bearing these seven tips in your mind, you will be able to overcome all the obstacles you will face during the internship period.  And, internship will invite you to the world that you have never explored before.

Until 1980s, Korea and China had very limited interrelation due to ideological struggle. In late 1980s, finally, Korea and China have opened up their doors and started the relationship that had been long suspended. Nowadays, China has become a highly important partner of Korea for both geopolitical and economic reasons. Furthermore, people’s effort to actively engage in each other’s culture improved the relationship between the two countries. A group of Koreans living in Shanghai, China, sought the way to contribute to both the betterment of relationship between the two countries and spread of Korean culture, which resulted in the establishment of Han-Geul Hakdang.

 

Photo taken by Jae Hyun Kim, Used with Approval

 
          Han-Geul Hakdang is a non-profit organization that aims to offer Korean education opportunities for Chinese people in Shanghai. Han-Geul Hakdang was established in September 2004, with collaborative efforts of resident employees, housewives and teachers from Shanghai Korean School. As it developed, Hakdang not only educates Chinese Korean, but also introduces Korean culture by holding Korean festivals and cultural exchange activities; it annually holds Korean festival that consists programs for making Korean food and playing Korean traditional games.

 

           Fortunately, I had an opportunity to participate in a Korean lecture class in Hakdang as an assistant. Even though all the teachers were voluntary, their enthusiasm for teaching was outstanding. I was responsible for reading out loud each Korean word clearly and gradubg vocabulary test that the students just had taken. The result of vocabulary test was not that great, but Chinese students, who just have begun studying Korean, were trying their best to pronounce each Korean word clearly. Furthermore, the students were amused when they found the similar pronunciation among few Korean and Chinese words. The Lecture lasted for only an hour, but at the end of the class, students were delightfully repeating few Korean phrases like AnNyeongHaSeYo, hello, and GoMapSeumNiDa, thank you in Korean.

 

           Currently, the classes are being held in offices generously provided by Korean Chamber of Commerce. Lectures are being instructed by volunteer teachers and assistants, while classes are divided based on students’ level of Korean fluency and their needs. New students are being admitted on every January, and Hakdang also grants certificates for students who reached certain level of Korean fluency.