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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. The Jae S. Lim MIT-Korea Program 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.
MISTI and the MIT-Korea Program are grateful for the support of the Jae S. Lim Foundation and its founder—Jae S. Lim, Professor of Electrical Engineering at MIT. The Foundation’s support is critical to achieving our mission of empowering MIT students and faculty to work with partners in Korea to advance knowledge and solve the world’s great challenges.
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-Feb. 28, 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 by the end of Feb. 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.
Requirements
GPA
4.0 or above
Language
Undergraduates: 4 semesters of Korean language courses OR similar proficiency is required.
Graduate students: Language requirement may be waived depending on available internships.
Check out Korean language courses at MIT
Course Prerequisites
No other courses are required. The following MIT courses are recommended:
- Cultures of East Asia (21A.140 / 21G.047)
- Communicating Across Cultures (21G.019)
- Introduction to East Asian Cultures (21G.030 / WGS.236)
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 strong foundation for lifelong education and high 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 examples of what MIT-Korea GTL student teams do.
Timeline
Application due
See GTL deadline here (late applications NOT accepted)
Placement process
- Sept 20 - 26: Applications reviewed; select students contacted for interview
- Sept 27: Acceptance notifications with school and team placement sent
- Sept 30: Commitment from accepted students due
Dates and duration
Projects run about 3-4 weeks in January 2020--likely starting between Jan. 2-7 and ending Jan. 25-31, depending on specific school placement.
Eligibility
Any MIT student willing to fully commit to a challenging STEM teaching project is welcome.
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 hands-on 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 lead and manage class of 10-20 as well as guide and mentor individuals
- Adaptability to diverse team and unfamiliar work and living arrangements in new culture
- Willingness to commit to participating in MIT-Korea GTL for 2 consecutive years is valued
- Substantive experience teaching beginner-level English speakers is valued
Language
Korean is NOT required for most placements, but we encourage students with any level of Korean ability to apply. (Check out Korean language courses at MIT.)
We need 4-5 advanced Korean speakers for placements at several hosts schools. We also need 1-2 advanced Mandarin Chinese speakers for select placements.
GPA
Approximately 4.0 or better is 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 in September 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 procure and test materials. Teams will also coordinate with in-country partners and host school teachers. You also must commit to attending 3-4 training sessions in October/November on teaching skills and Korean culture and education.
Contact Us
Contact the Managing Director with questions about the program
