The Chonnam Tribune features this section to share the voices of foreign students at Chonnam National University. For this issue, we interviewed students about participating in extracurricular activities and the benefits gained from them. This offered us the opportunity to hear and share the voices of students from various nations and majoring in diverse fields. -Ed.

Q. What extracurricular activities did you take part in?
A: Having lived in Korea for roughly four years, I have participated in multiple social activities, including the Vietnamese Students’ Association in Korea, and organizations for international people in Gwangju. Recently, I, together with my friends, formed a team joining the Amazing Race at the 2024 Yeongnam Wangin Culture Festival, an annual cultural event by Gwangju Foreign Language Network.

Q. What did you get out of this participation and how did you develop your skills through these activities?
A: I got opportunities to meet new friends from around the world, improve my teamwork skills, boost my confidence, and especially got to know Korean culture deeply. I think my country should adopt practical methods that cultural programs in Korea have implemented to appeal to the young, in which they dive into traditional customs which have survived for thousands of years.

Q. Would you mind sharing tips to manage your time for both studying and extracurricular activities while achieving good results?
A. It depends on your time management skills and how you arrange your schedule. On weekdays, I concentrate on studying, preparing before class, and finishing all of my assignments. I have spare time on weekends for social and volunteer activities. I usually plan ahead of each month or plan to attend big, important programs during summer and winter breaks.

By Hoang Thi Le Tra, Reporter