LHU students experience a special classroom in South Korea

Six students majoring in Korean Studies at LHU participated in a cultural exchange program in Jeollanam, South Korea, from August 24 to 27, 2026. More than just an experiential trip, the journey gave students an opportunity to step beyond the classroom, use the Korean language in real-life situations, experience local life, and turn what they had learned into practical experience.

As part of the program, LHU students joined a youth exchange program at Chonnam National University’s Yeosu Campus and took part in various activities related to K-Culture and K-Food. Through each activity, their knowledge of the Korean language, culture, and people - previously acquired in the classroom - became more familiar and vivid in the local environment.

In particular, using Korean directly in real-life situations allowed students to move from “learning the language” to “living with the language”. When Korean was no longer limited to assignments or classroom lessons but became a tool for communication, connection, and handling everyday situations, students had more opportunities to develop their language reflexes, confidence, and ability to adapt to an international environment.

Sharing her experience during her first days in South Korea, Nguyen Thi Minh Chau, a Korean Studies student said “What I noticed most was that when I put myself in a real-life environment, the knowledge I had learned in class became much easier to understand and more relatable. At first, I was quite nervous about communicating in Korean on my own, but after each conversation, I felt more confident. I think this trip not only helped me learn more about Korean culture but also made me realize that I need to keep learning and improving myself so that I can adapt better to an international environment”.

Learning beyond the classroom

For the six Korean Studies students, Jeollanam became a classroom without four walls - a place where language served as a bridge, culture became a lesson, and every experience contributed to enriching their learning journey.

The trip lasted only a few days, but what the students brought home went beyond photos and memories. It included the confidence to communicate proactively in another language, the ability to adapt to a new environment, new connections, and a broader perspective on the field they are pursuing.

Through international exchange, learning, and experiential programs, LHU continues to bring education closer to real-world practice, creating opportunities for students not only to acquire knowledge but also to experience, engage with new environments, and grow through practice.