Lee Jian

I have a dream to live and communicate with other people. The first step I took toward this dream was working as a Korean language assistant at the Ewha Womans University Language Education Center. Through this activity, I regularly meet with foreign students who want to learn Korean and help them learn Korean and adapt to Korean culture. Before I first started working, I was hesitant to apply because I was afraid of forming new relationships and being in a teaching position. “What am I capable of teaching?” My mind, which was full of question marks, was filled with questions, but when I met other students in person, I thought, “I can be helpful to others too!” It changed into an exclamation point. Also, while working, I realized that things that were easy and natural to me, as a Korean who lived in Korea and used Korean, could be difficult and new to my mentees. I believe that this activity is not just volunteer work, but true communication. A foreign mentee once asked me about expressions to praise oneself in Korean. No matter how much I thought about it, I was taken aback by the question because there was no equivalent expression in Korean, but I answered that I usually express myself in a humble way because in Korean culture, we rarely praise ourselves. Communication is not simply a teaching that flows from me to the mentee, but also an activity that gives the mentee enlightenment to me. I dream of participating in JUMP ON mentoring and ‘communicating’ with female youth.
In fact, among the many mentees I meet while working as a Korean language helper, there are some who have little motivation to participate. Regarding these mentees, they expressed their wish for more active participation directly. At this time, there were cases where the word ‘actively’ was ambiguous and the mentees were confused. In this case, specific directions were given, such as "I would like you to write down any unknown Korean vocabulary or expressions that appeared during the activity in a notebook," and the mentees were able to carry out richer activities by following the guidance. When expressing your opinion roughly, I think it is a good idea to directly state your intention to refrain from expressing your opinion harshly. During my Korean language helper activities, I directly point out discrimination and hate speech when I encounter cultural and racial prejudice from foreign mentees. Likewise, it is important to respect and be considerate of the mentor's situation, but when people from different backgrounds meet and communicate, smooth communication should be prioritized by establishing minimal rules.
I want to help mentees feel the joy of communication and build a foundation for them to become mentors. To achieve this, I believe it is important for mentees to experience the joy of communication, thereby strengthening their relationships and building trust. I am looking for opportunities to grow together through communication with mentees to understand and learn from each other. Additionally, I want to help my mentees learn how to freely express their opinions and respect the opinions of others. Through these experiences, we will help mentees build the foundation to become another mentor. We want to create a journey of growth together by communicating and learning together, forming relationships that support and encourage each other.
Since I enjoy dancing as a hobby, I was able to improve my sense of rhythm and build confidence as well as my physical activity through dancing. You can relieve stress and have fun by dancing together. Additionally, dance allows you to be creative and expressive, while also bonding with your friends in the process. I want to enjoy the experience of learning and practicing different dance styles with my mentees and growing together. Together, we want to have fun through dance and contribute to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.