Issue 27

Alumni Connect

Choi
Nena Choi, MA LACU-Applied Linguistics, 2022

Instructor of Korean, University of Montana, Defense Critical Language and Culture Program

My name is Nena Choi, and I am from South Korea which has been divided by political ideology since I was young, I live in a divided country, and naturally, I came to think of how to help build bridges among South Korea and North Korea and other countries. Personally, I believe in the importance and power of education above all else, as I experienced that education can change an individual's life. Thanks to this, I majored in foreign language education and have worked as a foreign language teacher since 2015.

I was admitted to the MA Languages & Cultures -Applied Linguistic program in August 2020. Previously, I worked in the international and English departments of a Christian school in Korea where I worked as an English teacher beginning in 2016. Later, I learned about a program called ALLEX, which led me to the master's program at the Texas Tech University Graduate School.

For the first year, due to Covid-19, I took online synchronous classes on Zoom while in Korea. What I remember is one class started at 4 am and the midterm exam being at 5 am. Nevertheless, there were fellow students, and after class, we met through Zoom and shared our thoughts and ideas, so the year ended well, and I arrived in Lubbock in August 2021. Since then, I taught Korean as a graduate part-time instructor while completing the mater's program. I have had time to think about the plan I want to take in the future through American culture, classes, and various experiences.

My original plan before coming to the US was to return to Korea after completing my studies. However, with the advice of my friends and professors around me, I decided to use OPT (Optional Practical Training) for F-1 students for a year and started preparing for a job though it was a little late. Thankfully, with the help of people around me, I had been thinking about what experience I could do and wanted to do the most here. Personally, I worked in both middle and high school level in Korea, so I wanted to look at the American public education system above all else. With the idea that to deeply understand the culture of the target country, we need to go to a place where children are and where the first education takes place; therefore, I applied for a teacher position in a nearby elementary school in Lubbock.

Additionally, I have been interested in issues between South and North Korea since college: The journey of North Korean refugees, their settlement problems and the historical interests of the South and the North. As a college student, I participated in the Korean Representative: A peace camp for youth (Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs) of the UN-affiliated organization and was able to learn more about how the present Republic of Korea can exist due to the help and participation of many countries during the Korean War. I felt my interest growing.

Next, I took a position in the international department as an English teacher at the Christian school where I worked for about 4 years in a school specializing in foreign language education in Korea and was responsible for language exchange programs with schools in various foreign countries, overseas study abroad, and exchange student programs. The foreign programs included the USA, Canada, Germany, the Czech Republic, and the Philippines. In addition, we conducted a specialized program related to the reunification of South and North Korea and conducted a vision trip with students to Germany to examine the process of reunification between East and West Germany.

The opportunity to study academics while making a book on unification with my students gave me an opportunity to think about how I can utilize my talents as a teacher. Based on these experiences, I feel that the DCLCP at the University of Montana provides another important starting point on my journey. Due to my increasing interests in this field, I applied to DCLCP program at the University of Montana, and I got a job offer from the program so I will head to start a new journey. There I will teach Korean as a critical language while also providing historical, cultural, and linguistic education related to North Korea.

dclcp

To better understand the DCLCP, Director, Major General (Retired) Don Loranger, and the faculty/staff of the Defense Critical Language and Culture Program provided a thorough explanation about the DCLCP concept. Based on the UMT website,

DCLCP focuses on providing a significant contribution to the DoD's diverse language education requirements, and the broad cultural and regional study imperatives associated with U.S. National Security objectives. DCLCP has leveraged the academic capabilities of the University of Montana and designed a program to provide our DoD military students an optimal academic experience that fortifies them with a deep cultural understanding of their target language's region and its people, as well as a language fluency consistent with their diverse needs. Also, DCLCP provides intensive language and culture training for members of the U.S. military and other government agencies through a congressionally funded grant through the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO). I hope this job will fit into my interest and passions and help others who are eager to work for National security.

I believe that during the Korean War families believed they would see each other next week one would be the last to say that “I'll pick you up if you go down south”. However, over the past about 70 years, they experienced the tragedy of never seeing each other again. Those momentary choices brought great suffering for the South and the North.

Now I am going to start a new journey by thinking about choices and things I can do here, in my location. Recognizing the importance of security in my work related to national defense languages, I would like to close this article with a daily phrase that I teach my current pre-k students, “We are Safe Keepers.” Reflecting on my life, all moments are pieces of a big puzzle, of which I still cannot see the whole picture but I am in the process of discovering it.

Lastly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the professors who have guided me over the past two years, to the helpers who have provided a helping hand in unseen places, and to my colleagues who silently walked through difficult times together. For the past two years, the time I spent in the Texas Tech University Department CMLL was the most valuable time for me, and every moment brought up the word ‘courage'. I will move forward, always remembering that I can be here now thanks to the people who helped me in a place I could not imagine. 감사합니다!

Kolins
Caroline Weir Kolins, French BA, 2013

Learning a second language is an experience that has deeply enriched my life, it has afforded me experiences to teach, work, and serve in west and central African contexts. As an undergraduate student, I spent one summer studying abroad in Reims, France, and another as an English teacher in the Democratic Republic of Congo. h of these experiences helped my French language skills grow immensely, but they also broadened my horizons as to how French could be used in my profession. After finishing my bachelor's degree in French and Political Science at Texas Tech, I spent 6 months at a language institute in Annecy, France, and sat the exam to receive a DELF B2 certification. I then attended graduate school at The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, which required proficiency in a second language. There I earned a Master's degree in International Affairs, with concentrations in conflict and development and international nonprofit management.

I went on to work for World Vision, one of the largest faith-based nonprofit organizations in the world, where I was imbedded on with marketing and fundraising teams to develop content around global food security and international relief and development. I helped interpret monitoring and evaluation data (in French and English) for US-based marketers, which they turned into social media posts, reports, presentations, and fundraising appeals for American donors. I developed a grand writing curriculum in French and went to Macenta, Guinea and taught that grant writing course to a group of teachers at an agricultural technical school through a volunteer program sponsored by the US Government called Farmer to Farmer. I went on to work in the corporate fundraising space for World Vision and then entered higher education as a program manager for an international agriculture research program at Kansas State University. I currently serve as the Associate Director of External Relations in the College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech but have recently accepted a position to move back into international agriculture at Kansas State in January 2023.

In 2020 I joined the Congo Initiative Board of Directors. With the belief that the greatest challenge facing Congo is a lack of ethical leaders in every sector. A committed group of Congolese and a few expats founded a university to raise the next generation of ethical, service-minded Congolese leaders. I believe that education is the most sustainable and proven path out of poverty, I am fortunate to serve Congo Initiative and I believe my academic background and language abilities allow me to make a difference in the lives of others because of my involvement with the organization.

My experience in international nonprofit work, my French language skills, any my experience in the Congo prepared me to serve in this capacity. Speaking French allows me to communicate with my Congolese counterparts and avoid confusion during meetings. I have been known to stop a meeting, clarify a concept, and translate that back to the Americans on the conference call. I am also able to serve the organization more holistically because of my language abilities. Congo Initiative is a nonprofit organization that founded a university (Universite Chritienne Bilingue du Congo) in 2007.

On a more personal note, French enriches my life every day as I speak French to my 13 month old little boy, John Mark. I am a Francophile and I enjoy French food, pastries, antiques, and music. I visit Round Top, Texas nearly every year for their antiques show and connect with many French vendors, learning more about each piece or work of art and their lives as antiques dealers. French has introduced me to some of my dearest friends from all over the world. Any chance I have to speak French, I take it! I always encourage students to add a language minor or double major. Knowing a second or third language is a life long journey that provides opportunities to see the world, solve global problems, and meet people that can change your perspective. Some of my dearest friends to this day I met in French class or while studying abroad. I am living proof that from here, it's possible is not merely a slogan, but it is true! I am grateful to the professors, advisors, and administrators that invested in me, encouraged me to try new things, and taught me French!!

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