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Notes from the Field
MISTIKorea
Korea
Get off the beaten path and experience Korea—a crossroads in Asia where technology meets tradition. MIT-Korea offers all-expenses-paid internships in top companies and research institutes to undergrad and grad students in any course, as well as intensive teaching opportunities over IAP.
Notes from the Field
Korea Program Details
Preparation & Training
MIT-Korea matches MIT students with internships and research at leading companies and research institutes in Korea. Internships last from 3 to 12 months and are all-expenses-paid.
Timeline
Application due
November 30 for summer internships (applications accepted thereafter depending on available placements)
Placement process
Students are matched with an internship host between Dec. 1-Mar. 1, and students are encouraged to take an active role in this process by researching potential hosts (both current and new), reaching out to relevant alumni or other contacts, and interviewing with proposed placement teams/labs. Final placement is usually determined no later than Mar. 15. Mandatory training sessions are then held Mar. 15-Apr. 30.
Dates and duration
Most internships take place in the summer for 9-12 weeks, starting between the last week of May and the 2nd week of June and ending in the 3rd or 4th week of August. Longer internships of 3-12 months with flexible start/end dates are also available.
Eligibility
Open to MIT undergraduates, graduating seniors, and graduate students in all disciplines
Potential Hosts
| NCSOFT | Korea Institute of Science & Technology (KIST) | Google Korea |
| Naver | Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) | UBS Seoul |
| Hyundai Motors | Qualcomm Korea | LG Chem |
| SK Innovation | Samsung Electronics | Bain Korea |
| GE Korea | KT Advanced Institute of Technology | . . . and others! |
Requirements
GPA
4.0 or better
Language
Undergraduates: 2-4 semesters Korean language courses (depending on host) OR equivalent proficiency
Graduate students: Language requirement waived depending on available internships
Check out Korean language courses at MIT
Prerequisites
Undergraduates: No prerequisites
Graduate students: No prerequisites
Funding
All program expenses are covered, including airfare, housing, and a stipend to cover living expenses.
Preparation
Students are required to attend MIT-Korea training and preparation sessions in March/April and a checkout meeting with the program manager before departure.
MIT-Korea's Global Teaching Labs offer a unique opportunity for MIT students to learn by teaching and share MIT's "mens et manus" approach with Korean students while learning from Korea's extraordinary education passion.
Overview
We're working to promote Korean middle/high school students’ motivation for STEM learning and helping them build a stronger foundation for lifelong education and higher career aspirations. In other words, we encourage students to love learning and dream big!
MIT students work in a teams of 2-4 to develop STEM-focused workshops and teach STEM-related classes, emphasizing MIT's "Mens et Manus" approach and using hands-on activities (experiments, demonstrations, etc.). With emphasis on disadvantaged student populations, teams are placed at one of several potential hosts, including an alternative school for North Korea escapees, an orphanage, and an international school. Each host has specific needs that inform MIT-Korea's selection of applicants and organization of teams.
Check out this student and this student's experience to see an examples of what these MIT student teams do.
Timeline
Application due
September 20, 2017 (late applications NOT accepted)
Placement process
- Sep 21 - 27: Applications reviewed; select students contacted for interview
- Sep 28: Acceptance notifications with school and team placement sent
- Oct. 1: Commitment from accepted students due
Dates and duration
Projects run about 3-4 weeks in January 2018--starting between Dec. 31-Jan. 7 and ending Jan. 20-27, depending on specific school placement.
Eligibility
We welcome any MIT student willing to fully commit to a challenging STEM teaching project.
Requirements
"All physical theories . . . ought to lend themselves to so simple a description that even a child could understand them." -- Albert Einstein
What We Need . . .
- Passion and talent for teaching/learning and ability to excite about STEM concepts (with or without prior teaching experience) both in front of classroom and 1-on-1
- Readiness to commit full-time to host school and project during IAP and spend several hours/week during semester from Oct. to Dec. to develop workshops (see "preparation" below)
- Ability to authoritatively lead and manage class of 10-15 as well as guide and mentor individuals
- Adaptability to diverse team and unfamiliar work and living arrangements in new culture
- Serious interest in participating in MIT-Korea GTL for 2 consecutive years is highly valued
- Experience teaching beginner-level English speakers highly valued for select placements
Language
Korean is NOT required for most placements, but beginner Korean ability is valued. (Check out Korean language courses at MIT.)
Advanced Korean and Chinese language ability is highly valued for select placements.
GPA
≈4.0 or better required
Funding
We've got you covered for all necessities: airfare, housing, and stipend for basic living expenses.
Preparation
From the time you're accepted until you arrive in Korea in January (possibly including time during holiday vacations), your team will meet frequently and you'll also work independently to brainstorm ideas, prepare lesson plans, and find materials. Teams will also coordinate with in-country partners and host school teachers via phone, Skype, etc. You also must commit to attending 5-6 training sessions in October/November on teaching skills and Korean culture and education.
Contact Us
Contact the Program Manager with questions about the program
