In this blog post, I will focus on my experiences of overcoming my weaknesses in Korean reading comprehension during high school by reading novels, cultivating an appreciation for Korean literature through a book club, and practicing empathy by guiding foreign tourists.

High School Activities and Learning

Academics: Overcoming Weaknesses in Korean Reading Comprehension

I struggled with the reading comprehension section in Korean class. While I did well on practice problems, I often ran out of time and made frequent mistakes during exams. When faced with long passages, I had to reread sentences multiple times to grasp the content, which prolonged my problem-solving time and prevented my grades from improving. I realized that I needed to improve my reading comprehension to raise my grades, so I sought a fundamental solution: reading novels. I decided to read Korean literary novels regularly for about 1–2 hours every day and planned to set a specific reading goal to complete within a single day. At first, reading took over two hours, but as I gradually adapted, my concentration improved, and I was able to finish in less than an hour. As my concentration and reading comprehension improved, I gained more time during exams. In particular, reading Korean literary fiction helped me better grasp sentences and analyze their meanings. As a result, I no longer felt burdened by Korean language exams and was able to improve my grades.

Reading Club Activities

I have consistently participated in a humanities reading club. As I have a strong interest in Korean literature, I often introduced books related to Korean literature and the Korean language within the club. It was meaningful to learn about the development and trends of Korean literature by reading not only classic novels but also novels and essays by emerging authors. The club regularly held sessions where we shared our impressions of the books we read, summarized the plots, and persuaded our friends of the value contained within them. Through these sessions, I worked to dispel the perception that “Korean literature is stuffy” or “Korean literature is boring.” I introduced books imbued with Korean culture and sensibilities, arguing that we must rediscover past literature and address its issues to ensure a bright future for Korean literature. I believed that by understanding both its strengths and weaknesses and drawing on past critiques, we could guide the development of contemporary Korean literature—and that readers, too, must play a role in this process. Therefore, I consistently read Korean literature, reflecting on traditional Korean sensibilities and engaging in analytical reading to compare and analyze how contemporary Korean literature is evolving and how it differs from world literature.

Hosting a Korean Writing Contest

As the president of the reading club, I once organized a “Korean Writing Contest” during the school festival. I organized this event because I felt it was unfortunate that the nuances and meanings of the Korean language were being forgotten as the use of loanwords became more frequent. My goal was to preserve the value of the Korean language—which has beautiful nuances and positive meanings—while allowing for flexible use of loanwords. Participants were asked to choose one of three themes—“Love,” “Friendship,” or “Dream”—and submit a short piece, such as a poem or essay, completed in a short period using only Korean, without any loanwords or Chinese characters. The turnout exceeded our expectations, and all the works written in Korean were beautiful, deeply moving the club members. We selected several pieces that best captured the theme, awarded prizes, framed them, and hung them in the hallway. Before the contest, club members compiled a list of Korean words, which we displayed and distributed during the festival. The experience of discovering and appreciating the beauty and value of the Korean language through this contest was very precious to me.

Practicing Consideration: Guiding Foreign Tourists

Thanks to my experience living abroad briefly as a child, I developed strong English speaking skills, and I once utilized this ability to guide foreign tourists. My role involved introducing Korean landmarks and explaining Korean culture, which I did consistently without letting it interfere with my studies or school life. Since it wasn’t about leading them like a tour guide but rather introducing landmarks and culture at specific locations, I was able to do it without feeling burdened. Through this activity, I was reminded of the importance of being considerate toward others.
Foreign tourists often find themselves in unfamiliar places where they cannot communicate, leaving them in desperate need of help yet unable to easily approach others. I took the initiative to approach them, communicate, and offer assistance, and they were grateful even for simple conversations. I learned that communication alleviates anxiety and that empathy conveys a spirit of consideration. I realized that true consideration lies not in blindly trying to help, but in understanding the other person’s perspective, asking what they need, and then assisting them in the way they desire. Additionally, recalling an experience during a family trip abroad when we got lost and strangers helped us as if it were their own problem, I felt that, just as consideration begets consideration, I must consistently practice the value of sincerely helping others.