The CBNU Center for International Affairs has regularly implemented and made new programs to improve students’ language skills. Among them, there are new opportunities for taking a practice TOEFL -test, a language study abroad program for a few excellent students, a student exchange program and student exchange program fairs.
  One new program is a practice-TOEFL-test this year. The test fee is 55,000 won. In addition to the TOEFL-test, a practice-TOEIC and a TOEIC speaking test are also possible. Last year, the practice TOEIC speaking test fee was 70,000 won but many students didn’t apply to take the test because of the expensive fee, so this year the fee was lowered to 25,000 won. A detailed test schedule can be found on the center’s website.
  Representative programs provided by the center are a TOEIC class and a foreign language class. However, the center made an additional special program, a language study abroad, for more efficiently improving students’ language abilities. A few excellent students who study hard in the language class can receive the chance of studying abroad. The period of studying abroad is about four weeks in summer vacation, and ten students can study in an English-speaking country. Additionally, students who have high scores can take at least 2 classes offered by the center.
  Also, there is a student exchange program where students can have a culture experience as well as study. The 1st selection of exchange students in 2014 is scheduled for March. They will go to the English-speaking and non English-speaking countries in the 2nd semester of 2014.
  In addition, there are also many fairs related to student exchange. The Study Abroad Foundation (SAF) fair will be held on March 6th at 5p.m., and IIT(Illinois Institute of Technology in USA) fair will be held on March 14th. Last year, 28 students were sent abroad to 36 universities in 18 countries. Most students were sent to the Philippines. The Philippines program named Global Frontier is preferred for its high learning effect and low cost.
  Lee Jae-seung(the Exchange program manager) said about the student exchange program, “Students prepare many things to study abroad such as academic scores and money but the most prepared thing is the language score.” Plus, he advised to older students, “Some students have an interest in student exchange programs before graduation, but it needs 6 months to prepare for, from application to being sent abroad, so students have to search and prepare to plan for studying abroad from when they are freshman and sophomores.
 

By Kang Ill-gu
ig33@cbnu.ac.kr