Make the Most With the Least in 2007!

By Cho Jung-Kwan, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Political Science

In this age of globalization and neo-liberalism a new year may not simply be a blessing to ordinary university students. It also denotes huge loss of time for them to spare before their upcoming competition to get jobs. On the first day of the New Year, therefore, many students write New Year’s resolutions of their own that usually contain various study plans for English and other subjects. Students and parents alike are willing to pay high tuition fees for private academies that flourish just outside of campus.

Despite colorful ads and promises those academies provide, however, the effects of such learning are yet to be proven. Most of all, considering the time and money students spend in such private academies their own efforts to apply what they have been taught tend to be lessened. The fact is that the more one studies by oneself, regardless of private education enrollment, the more she/he achieves. Worse still is that the earning of higher TOEIC scores and various certificates does not necessarily ensure good jobs.

Then, what is a wise and economic way for students to attain higher competitiveness for their future? What kind of activities should be included in students’ new-year resolutions? I have some suggestions below.

“Take full advantage of university!” Instead of going around to expensive and ineffective private academies and overseas language programs offered by them, just look at Chonnam National University’s course list for the one that meets your need for job-market preparation. In addition to the conventional courses on foreign languages, the University has recently embarked on widespread initiatives for internationalization that include setting up of both Global English courses and foreign-language courses for every major. Just enroll in such courses and make every effort to utilize them entirely for your own purpose! You do not have to pay extra money. Upon starting the semester you are automatically compelled to study hard because of grade burdens.

Also look for other resources on campus too! You can go overseas through various exchange programs provided by the University and meet foreign students in every corner of campus, whose numbers are rapidly growing these days. You can also organize study groups of your own in your class. You can also read the Chonnam Tribune and make use of it for your English study.

Considering that employers do not select employees merely on the basis of international communication levels, I also recommend students be focused on their own majors and try to improve leadership and cooperation skills by actively engaging themselves in a variety of extracurricular activities. GPA is a reliable sign of one’s ability to perform over a long time. So is one’s track record on campus. Instead of uneconomically consuming money and time in private education, just do your best in everyday life on campus. Then you will be able to make the most with the least.