The Graduate School of Foreign Language Education, 15th Anniversary with a Successful Alumni-Student Networking N
- Date2025.11.05
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Under the theme “The 15th Anniversary Alumni-Student Networking Night of the Graduate School of Foreign Language Education,” the event featured a variety of programs—including a commemorative ceremony, an alumni lecture, and a dinner—providing a platform for exchange between alumni and current students.
Under the theme “The 15th Anniversary Alumni-Student Networking Night of the Graduate School of Foreign Language Education,” the Graduate School of Foreign Language Education (Dean: Park Sunhee) hosted a commemorative ceremony, an alumni lecture, and a dinner on October 31 (Friday) in Room 108 of the Humanities Building to celebrate its 15th anniversary. Organized by the Graduate School of Foreign Language Education Alumni Association, the event brought together around 140 participants, including faculty members, current students, and alumni from the TESOL, International Chinese Language Education, and Korean Language Education programs. The celebration provided a meaningful opportunity for alumni and current students to connect and share experiences through a variety of engaging programs, including the anniversary ceremony, a special alumni lecture, and networking sessions.
Dean Park Sunhee of the Graduate School of Foreign Language Education delivering the welcoming address; Ih Haeyoung, former Dean of the Graduate School of Foreign Language Education and former Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sejong University (currently Dean of the College of Liberal Arts), giving congratulatory remarks; and Alumni Association; President Lee Youngsoon hosting the alumni greeting and raffle event.
The first part of the event began with a welcoming address by Dean Park Sunhee, followed by congratulatory remarks from Ih Haeyoung, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (former Dean of the Graduate School of Foreign Language Education and former Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sejong University), and a greeting from Alumni Association President Lee Youngsoon (Class of 2012). Richard Day, Professor Emeritus at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and Li Hongyin, Professor at the School of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, Peking University, who were unable to attend in person, sent congratulatory video messages celebrating the 15th anniversary. The ceremony also featured the screening of a commemorative video highlighting classes and graduation ceremonies over the past 15 years, a cake-cutting ceremony, a group photo session, and a celebratory performance by students from the International Chinese Language Education Program. The raffle event, featuring items donated by faculty members, was hosted by Alumni Association President Lee Youngsoon and received an enthusiastic response from participants. In addition, current and former administrators of the Graduate School of Foreign Language Education contributed to the event’s success by making generous donations to the development fund. Professor Emeritus Richard Day expressed his congratulations, recalling how his special connection with Korea led to the launch of the dual degree program with Ewha Womans University, while Professor Li Hongyin shared his hopes for the continued growth of the International Chinese Language Education Program, which has made significant contributions to Chinese language education in Korea.
Alumni Association President Lee Youngsoon remarked, “I sincerely thank all alumni and current students of the International Chinese Language Education, TESOL, and Korean Language Education programs for joining us in celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Graduate School of Foreign Language Education,” and added, “Gathered here today under the name of Ewha, I hope this evening will serve as a new starting point where we share our passion and experience, and connect with the wider world.” She further stated her wish for “the Alumni Association to continue developing into a warm and lasting community where graduates and current students grow and communicate together.”
International Chinese Language Education, TESOL, and Korean Language Education Department Seminars
The second part of the event consisted of program-specific seminars organized by the Alumni Association. To prepare for the seminars, student representatives and the Alumni Association gathered feedback from current students and designed programs suited to each department’s characteristics. The sessions included Q&A discussions, alumni-student dialogues, congratulatory video messages from overseas alumni, and special alumni lectures. The TESOL Program hosted a lecture titled “Knowing My Limits, Finding My Way”; the International Chinese Language Education Program presented “Simple and Practical Tips for Using Edutech in Chinese Language Teaching”; and the Korean Language Education Program featured lectures on “The Current Status of Korean Language Education in Higher Education Institutions,” “Korean Language Textbooks in the Age of AI,” and “Working in the Publishing Industry.”
Balancing work, family, and study, alumni and current students who share the same goal of becoming foreign language education professionals found deep resonance in one another’s experiences through this event. Having been unable to gather in person for the 10th anniversary due to the pandemic, participants celebrated the 15th anniversary with renewed joy as faculty, students, and alumni from all three programs came together in a vibrant atmosphere. The Graduate School of Foreign Language Education created a meaningful space for strengthening ties among members through the anniversary celebration and the alumni-organized seminars.
Established in March 2009 to nurture professionals capable of providing effective education to learners whose first language is not a foreign language, the Ewha Womans University Graduate School of Foreign Language Education has trained competitive foreign language education specialists in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language teaching. The 15th anniversary celebration served as an occasion to reflect on the school’s achievements and explore new paradigms in foreign language education. It was a meaningful time for alumni and students to share their dedication and passion as foreign language education experts and to envision a forward-looking future together.
The Graduate School of Foreign Language Education will continue to strengthen education, research, and alumni networks to foster global professionals in the field of foreign language education.