Korean students from Gyeonggi Province conclude monthlong program at UB

Earlier this month, 30 students from Korea celebrated the conclusion of a monthlong program of experiential learning, cultural engagement and English language education at UB. The students were part of the second annual Gyeonggi Province Youth Ladder Program and SUNY Global Learning Institute, hosted by UB’s Office of International Education and the Asia Research Institute.

The program was initiated in 2023 under an agreement signed by President Satish K. Tripathi and Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong Yeon. The Youth Ladder Program provides opportunities for promising students and young professionals from Gyeonggi Province to travel abroad to develop global awareness, cultural understanding and language skills.

“UB is pleased to lead this educational and cultural exchange program that helps young Koreans prepare for a globalized workplace and experience the world in new ways,” says Nojin Kwak, vice provost for international education. “And, of course, we are excited to introduce them to the wealth of opportunities for further education at UB and the richness of life in Buffalo.”

The Korean students were joined by eight UB students who served as cultural liaisons during the program. The role of the liaisons is to orient their Korean counterparts to UB and Western New York and help them understand life in the U.S. through the eyes of students who live and study here.

“This is a remarkable opportunity for our UB liaisons to learn about Korean culture,” Kwak says. “Many come away from the program very enthusiastic to improve their Korean language skills and travel to Korea. This year, three of the eight UB liaisons were international students, which added great depth to the learning experiences of all participants, as well as nuance to the narratives that the Korean students were introduced to.”

According to cultural liaison Emily Acosta Cabrera, a fourth-year linguistics major and Korean language minor at UB, “A journey that first started with much anticipation developed into exciting shared experiences, cultural and linguistic exchange, and lasting memories with new friends. We witnessed innovation and creativity in action and a collective spirit that transcended boundaries.”

With Gyeonggi Province’s emphasis on experiential learning and community engagement, the program involved multiple on- and off-campus activities each week, including visits to the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Massachusetts Avenue Project and the Niagara Power Vista, as well as a Buffalo architectural history tour and exploration of the Village of East Aurora and Elmwood Village. The students also enjoyed a Friday evening Buffalo Bisons baseball game and Food Truck Tuesdays at Larkinville, and spent a day exploring Niagara Falls State Park.

On campus, the students toured the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, the earthquake center in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Center for the Arts. They learned about UB’s sustainability efforts and discussed varying Korean and American approaches to sustainability and climate action.

The Korean students lived in Spaulding Quad in the Ellicott Complex and participated in life on an American university campus. They learned to play cornhole and Kan Jam in an afternoon of American lawn games co-organized by the UB Office of International Student and Scholar Services, and enjoyed kayaking on Lake LaSalle, which turned out to be one of their favorite activities.

The cultural and language program came together in singing rehearsals and performances of popular American music at Amberleigh Senior Living Community and at the Aug. 2 closing ceremony. The repertoire included “America the Beautiful,” “Low Bridge (The Erie Canal Song),” “Lean on Me,” “Amazing Grace,” “You Raise Me Up,” and the Korean traditional song “Arirang.” The student chorus was led by Rob Pacillo, founding director of Harmonia Chamber Singers and vocal music teacher at Lockport High School.

UB’s English Language Institute provided expert and practical language instruction four mornings a week that was geared toward daily life and the cultural program. The Korean students were well-prepared to understand the language that they encountered in their experiential learning activities and to navigate their way around Buffalo.

“It's such a joyful experience to interact and share cultures with these amazing Korean students,” says English Language Institute instructor Victoria Halstead Long. “I look forward each summer to teaching in this program with my wonderful English Language Institute and Asia Research Institute colleagues.” 

The rapid improvement in English language ability and richness of their experience in the U.S. was evident at a concluding poster session on Aug. 1, where the students described some of their fondest memories in Buffalo and other cities they visited on weekend trips, including New York, Washington, D.C., and Orlando.