This blog post explores how to effectively articulate diverse experiences—such as presentation skills, club activities, and career plans—in your Chinese Language and Literature major’s Statement of Purpose.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

During my school years, I faced two major challenges related to learning. One was my tendency to lose focus easily, and the other was a lack of confidence. On the other hand, I possessed high levels of curiosity and creativity, which allowed me to find interest in diverse subjects and thoroughly enjoy learning new units. For instance, in language classes, transitioning from studying grammar to poetry units would excite me simply because I was learning something new. In poetry class, when we learned poems themed around seasons and were assigned to write our own poem on the theme of ‘autumn,’ that new challenge was incredibly fun.
The problem, however, was that while I enjoyed the moment of interest, I easily grew bored with tasks that required sustained effort. Especially in non-literature units, reading lengthy essays spanning over a page, identifying key sentences per paragraph, and then connecting the content demanded immense patience from me. The process of summarizing key sentences and rewriting them in my own words also required intense focus, making me naturally want to avoid it. Yet, it was clear that without becoming accustomed to this kind of summary learning, I would struggle to read and comprehend the long passages in the language section of the CSAT. So I resolved to overcome this.
First, when facing a long passage, instead of thinking ‘it’s too long and boring,’ I approached it with the mindset of reading a different piece of writing paragraph by paragraph. If there were four paragraphs, I tried to read them as if they were four short pieces, striving to spark fresh curiosity with each new paragraph. After reading each paragraph, I highlighted key words and wrote down their contextual meanings—not just dictionary definitions—in the margins. I then repeatedly practiced reconstructing these meanings into my own sentences. Presenting these summaries to friends boosted my confidence, and with each presentation, writing and speaking became increasingly enjoyable. The more polished the sentences, the more confident I felt presenting them. I often raised my hand spontaneously, eager to share my work with others.
Through this process, I not only sharpened my focus on learning but also simultaneously developed my presentation skills and confidence. What began as training purely for the ‘college entrance exam’ gradually transformed my entire approach to learning. Now, I can read long texts without fear and naturally connect summarizing with presenting, allowing me to express my thoughts confidently. I believe this experience will serve as a solid foundation for whatever academic field I pursue and whatever work I undertake in society.

Writing about Key School Activities and Reflections

“Cultivating Creativity Through the Chinese Culture Research Club”
I feel immense curiosity when discovering things different from myself, new things, and things I didn’t know well. Encountering foreign cultures is always enjoyable, and I’ve always been interested in learning new languages like Chinese or English. I especially chose Chinese as my second foreign language subject. Learning sentences and conversation allowed me to encounter various aspects of Chinese culture, such as history, food, and clothing, making it even more fascinating. Wanting to explore this interest more deeply, I joined a Chinese culture research club.
Our club wasn’t just about members studying Chinese culture among ourselves; it was founded on the purpose of sharing what we learned with other friends. The club name itself was chosen to mean ‘to talk’ in Chinese. We often held daily Chinese lectures in the campus conversation room, open to anyone who signed up to learn basic Chinese. We also hosted diverse programs like cooking demonstrations of iconic Chinese dishes, trivia quizzes, and Chinese film screenings.
With about 20 members, everyone shared a passion for Chinese culture and enthusiasm for organizing events. Our most frequent activity was the Chinese language lectures, where teams took turns selecting topics and preparing lessons. On the day I served as the main instructor, I taught a class on ‘Tones’. Chinese has four tones, and the subtle differences between them can completely change the meaning of a word, making them a crucial aspect of the language. Instead of simply teaching students to imitate the pronunciation, I introduced a teaching method where they learned by experiencing the tones through physical movements. For example, for the first tone, I had them stretch both arms forward while making an ‘ah—’ sound and walking on flat ground. For the second tone, they climbed upward while raising their voice. For the third tone, they descended and then ascended again. For the fourth tone, they made the sound while performing a rapid descent from a high point. The students found this teaching method engaging and participated enthusiastically, which helped convey the concept of tone more effectively.
Beyond the Chinese language class, the tasting event also received a great response. We prepared a dessert tasting of tanghulu, a traditional tea tasting, and a sampling of the unique Chinese fruit ‘Yili Sabai’. Since it was a rare chance to taste foods not easily accessible, many students came. We sold them for a small fee based on what we prepared. The reaction was especially enthusiastic—friends who tasted the sweet-and-sour tanghulu or the juicy lychee asked, “Where else can we get this?” Seeing this response made the preparation feel very worthwhile.
Through my activities with the Chinese Culture Research Club, I experienced more than just learning a new culture; I discovered the joy of sharing it with others. Preparing lectures taught me how to enhance my communication skills, and organizing the tasting event taught me how to interact and collaborate with people. Above all, the joy was doubled knowing that an activity created by combining our passion and ideas could bring happiness to so many people. This experience will serve as a solid foundation for my dream of becoming a bridge connecting new cultures and people in the future.

Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation and My Reflections

“A Story of Rescuing Someone in a Traffic Accident Outside School”
Our school is located a short distance from a busy main road. Therefore, on the way to and from school, we were always reminded by teachers and parents to be careful of cars. In fact, minor and major accidents frequently occurred at the main intersection, leading to the deployment of a parent traffic guidance team.
That day, our class had consecutive physical education lessons on the playground. After the first period, we were having golf lessons. While learning golf, balls hit near the command platform at the end of the field would often fly all the way to the fence on the opposite side. Retrieving them was a chore, but occasionally, they would go over the fence and out of the school grounds, requiring us to fetch them through the main gate.
That day, while practicing swings with friends in our assigned area, three of our balls went over the fence at once, so we headed together towards the gate. But at that very moment, a deafening crash sounded right before our eyes as a large truck and a taxi collided. Soon, smoke and small flames appeared, and I instinctively knew the situation was serious. The drivers of both vehicles were lying motionless, unable to get out. The thought ‘We have to help them right now’ flashed through our minds.
I ran to a teacher who was far away and asked for help. While the teacher headed towards the faculty room, we asked nearby adults to call 119 for us. Then, together with passing citizens, we opened the car doors, pulled the drivers out, and moved them to a safe place. As we laid the injured people on the sidewalk, we used our gym jackets as padding to make them a little more comfortable.
Shortly after, the 119 emergency crew arrived. Since we were witnesses, we left the accident scene together to give our statements. Thankfully, we later heard that both individuals recovered without serious injury. On the way home after the incident, I thought, ‘What if we hadn’t stepped in?’ Alone, I might have hesitated, but joining forces with friends made the urge to help stronger than any fear.
This experience taught me that cooperation in a crisis can be a tremendous strength. I also felt that sharing and consideration don’t require grand gestures; they start with small actions for those in need right before our eyes. And I deeply engraved in my heart the fact that that small courage and cooperation can protect someone’s day, or perhaps even their life.

Efforts and Preparation for Motivation and Career Plans

I aspire to grow into a Chinese language instructor who contributes to the global community, serving as a bridge connecting Chinese culture and our own. To achieve this, I seek not only a deep understanding of Chinese language and culture but also to actively engage and build friendships with Chinese visitors coming to Korea to learn about our culture. Through this process, I aim to personally introduce our culture, interact with them, and broaden my cultural understanding beyond just language skills. I believe these experiences will significantly expand the knowledge and sensibilities required for a Chinese language instructor. If I am admitted to the Chinese Language and Literature Department at ○○ University, I plan to actively utilize the campus exchange student program. This will provide me with the opportunity to experience and learn about local life, language, and culture firsthand at a Chinese university.
Since nurturing my dream of becoming a Chinese language instructor, I have consistently strived toward this goal since high school. Above all, I approached my Chinese coursework diligently, never neglecting the foundational textbook studies. Textbooks may seem simple, but I believe they contain the core elements that are absolutely essential in language learning. I mastered these thoroughly while simultaneously developing balanced Chinese reading comprehension and speaking skills through preparation for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) second foreign language section.
Furthermore, to gain a broad understanding of Chinese culture, I joined the ‘Chinese Culture Research Club’ and participated in various activities. Preparing events like film screenings, traditional food experiences, and geography/history introductions allowed me to learn new things I didn’t know and deepen my understanding by sharing that knowledge with others. In particular, the ‘One-Day Instructor’ activity, where I personally taught Chinese, was a very meaningful experience for me. By personally experiencing the entire process—from lesson preparation and planning, to introduction and development, to conclusion—I gained the conviction that the profession of Chinese instructor is well-suited to my aptitude.
Upon entering the Chinese Language and Literature Department, I plan to pursue more advanced academic studies. I will also gain practical experience through diverse external activities, such as participating in Korea-China cultural exchange events as an interpreter or running booths at festivals to facilitate cultural experience programs. Building on these efforts and experiences, I will grow into a professional Chinese instructor who bridges China and Korea, taking the lead in cultural exchange between the two nations.