Fellowship Personal Statement TESOL PHD Raised Africa

Fellowship TESOL PHD Korean Raised in Africa

The most compelling aspect of my application to the University of XXXX Fellowship Program is my background as a Korean woman who grew up primarily in Tanzania and Kenya, along with my experiences living in South Korea and the United States. I have also traveled to the United Arab Emirates, China, France, Germany, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. I am a native Korean speaker and nearly fluent in English, as well as fully proficient in Swahili and French. This diverse background will enable me to thrive in celebrating diversity as a fellow in your program.

With a BA in Sociology and African Studies from XXXX University (2005) and an MA in Broadcast Journalism from XXXX, my aspiration to earn a PhD in Second Language Education/TESOL marks a career shift. However, I hope to qualify based on my professional experience, having served as Associate Professor of English Language Studies at XXXX University since 2014. In this role, I have been instrumental in facilitating foreign student exchange programs with three universities in China, India, and Thailand, overcoming cultural and language barriers and promoting communication. I am also a board member of the Multicultural Family Support Center in Cheongju, where we assist immigrant workers in learning Korean.

Before relocating to Korea, from 2010 to 2014, I worked as a lead anchor and politics reporter at XXXX News on Saipan. As the island's only TV station, we were a vital source of information for the community. I take pride in my contributions to uncovering corruption by former governor Ben Fitial, ensuring the health care system met international standards, and reporting on a new immigration visa to support approximately 13,000 transitional workers on the island. I acted as a voice and advocate for my community. My TV ads included island-wide immunization projects like the 'Let’s Move' campaign—a healthy eating initiative started by First Lady Michelle Obama—and campaigns against sexual and domestic violence.

My ultimate goal is to become an international educator who designs innovative global curricula that transcend national borders, fostering freedom, equality, and peace worldwide. I have chosen this path due to my strong belief that internationally focused education can break barriers and build bridges by sharing this vision of international higher education to innovate, discover, and dream, first as a Korean citizen, an Asian woman, and a committed member of the global community.

I have taught over 1,000 EFL students in the past three years and look forward to developing curricula that incorporate intercultural communication strategies to promote Pan-Asian and global identities, particularly through creative, innovative approaches to audio-visual materials that take advantage of social media as a language learning tool.

Fellowship Personal Statement TESOL PHD Raised Africa