South Korea: Mina Yildiz (Our Global Classroom)

What Classes Look Like – Differences between Yonsei and UW

Currently, I am enrolled in four courses: Intensive Korean Level 4, Creating Creative Content, Modern Korean History, and Korean Heritage and Culture. I was fortunate that all my classes aligned with the course equivalencies I needed. However, navigating the class bidding system is quite different from the usual course sign-up system back at home. Yonsei’s system allows you to use a limited number of mileage points to bid on courses. If you bid at or above the mean, your chances of securing a spot in the class improve. If you don’t get into your first-choice classes, you must sign up for another available class during the last-chance add-and-drop period. Initially, this system felt intimidating, but there were plenty of online guides that clarify the process, which I recommend for incoming exchange students to use. However, Yonsei also provides very informative emails that are greatly helpful when navigating the bidding system.

The classes at Yonsei University in South Korea also have notable differences compared to UW-Madison. One difference is that at Yonsei, grades are typically not posted until the end of the academic year. While some classes do provide midterm grades relatively soon after the midterm exams, this isn’t always the case. Initially, this grading system caused me a fair amount of anxiety. However, I’ve learned to accept this and just continue putting in my best effort. This shift in mindset has helped me engage with the course material meaningfully without immediately thinking about my grades. Another difference I observed is that there are a lot more group-based projects and experiential learning opportunities. I wasn’t always a fan of group projects, but I have made great friends through it! Overall, my observations on the classes are primarily based on classes designed for exchange students, so I cannot comment directly on traditional courses at Yonsei.

The Classroom Outside of Traditional Walls

One of the classes I’m taking, “Creating Creative Contents,” teaches a lot outside the traditional walls of the classroom. For instance, we participated in a group project on campus where we re-enacted a famous scene from a movie that was filmed at Yonsei. Additionally, our assigned groups often meet outside class to brainstorm and develop a multicultural drama featuring Korean and Indian cultural/historical elements. Using research, our assignments, and content from the lectures, each group creates its own unique drama storyline—including product placement plans, our storyboard, proposals, etc., to pitch at the end of the semester. Moreover, our class has a unique opportunity to be interviewed by RollingStone India, which provides an experience that expands our understanding beyond typical coursework as it allows for meaningful conversation with a large magazine that is interested in disseminating our classwork to a broader audience. The class’s project-based learning (PBL) format has also allowed me to engage in many fun experiences in addition to the traditional assignments, making this my favorite course of the semester so far.

Hometown: Fitchburg, Wisconsin

Major: Asian Languages & Cultures, International Studies

Program: Yonsei University Exchange

My personal goal for this program is to maximize my use of the Korean language, learn from locals and peers, and actively seek out experiences that will deepen both my language skills and cultural understanding.

I selected this specific program after hearing numerous inspiring stories and firsthand experiences from past participants. I look forward to creating exciting new memories while immersing myself in the local culture of Seoul and exploring the city as much as possible!