"Learn and play with Korean – Pronunciation and fun"

The purpose of this exchange program is to provide an opportunity for faculty and students from universities offering Korean language courses to learn about Korean language and culture through thematic discussions in Korean led by native-speaking experts. The focus is on improving Korean speaking skills with accurate pronunciation and enhancing mental well-being, relieving stress, or providing a form of psychological therapy through creative recreational activities involving movement, music, and dance (recreation). This format is still relatively new to Vietnamese students.

The program content is divided into the following two sections:

• "Speaking and Pronouncing Korean Correctly" is led by Ms. Son Bo Young (former broadcaster at MBC Mokpo). She shared her experiences in training and self-improvement to become a broadcaster. She particularly emphasized the importance of correct pronunciation in conveying information accurately to listeners. This includes pronouncing each word clearly, pausing appropriately within sentences and passages of information.
• “Creative Recreation, Physical Movement, and Laughter” was led by Ms. Jeong Hyeong Ja (Lecturer at the Korea Institute for Lifelong Education in Industrial Economics). Ms. Jeong Hyeong Ja introduced students to a science with practical applications in psychology and psychotherapy. The concepts were quite new to the students through exercises that boosted their spirits, combining laughter and full-body movements to promote relaxation and self-confidence. These laughter exercises incorporated hand and foot movements, facial expressions, and rhythmic music.

Ms. Son Bo Youn shares her experience (Photo: Thanh Ha)

The exchange program was truly a new experience for the students. Learning Korean language and culture is not just about theory, but also about engaging in close-knit activities that help enhance their spiritual well-being.

The Saemaul Globalization Foundation operates in Vietnam through the implementation of a pilot project system based on the Saemaul (New Village) model from South Korea, tailored to the specific realities of the pilot rural areas. Currently, the Saemaul project is in its second year in three villages in Thai Nguyen and Ninh Thuan provinces and is expected to continue until its fifth year. Throughout the project, the Foundation focuses on raising awareness of individual responsibility in the era of globalization, particularly among young people, students, and the future leaders of the country.