배재미디어센터

 

On September 12th, as part of the mental care program for international students, Pai-Chai University organized an FCPI workshop, marking the first time external events targeting international students have been held publicly since the outbreak of COVID-19. This significant outcome was achieved through the dedication of the 9th president of our university.

 

Our university currently hosts over 1,000 international students, making it a large-scale global campus. With an increasing number of students, it becomes crucial to provide proper management and support for them. The student counseling center has been committed to focusing on the mental well-being of international students.

 

The FCPI workshop had been promoted at the beginning of the fall semester, and numerous interna- tional students of various nationalities reached out and gathered at the student counseling center on the 12th. Consequently, there was a considerable influx of students, highlighting the importance of the event. Students from many different countries, such as Southeast Asia, Africa, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, were present.

 

At this point, you might be curious about what FCPI stands for. A female student even asked, "What exactly is FCPI?" FCPI stands for Foreign College Student Psychological Inventory. To put it more simply, it's designed to assess whether international students have adapted well to Korean life, whether they experience psychological loneliness in a foreign place, and if they have conflicts with other friends.

 

Upon listening to the counselor's explanation, the students nodded and took their seats. First the students were issued a delicious lunch box, then the test papers were handed out and the students diligently responded to the survey, each holding pens and computer styluses, with their heads bowed.

 

As the surveys were finished, the quiet counseling room quickly buzzed with chatter, becoming a hub of communication. Languages from various countries, including English, filled the air with warmth. Students exchanged smiles and stories, asking each other, "How have you been?", "I missed you," and "Lately, I've been so caught up with studying." Meanwhile, the results of the FCPI were revealed.

 

A specialized counselor arrived and gave a detailed explanation accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation. The students, with somewhat serious expressions, listened to their results and the counselor's explanation, nodding continuously.

 

The reporter waited for a participant in the FCPI workshop who was trying to leave the SP building and requested an interview. In response to the question asking about whether or not life in Korea challenging, an anonymous international student mentioned, "I do miss my parents a lot," adding, "I want to make friends with Korean students, but it seems a bit daunting sometimes." Another anonymous international student said, "Just being in Korea makes me happy," and shared their wish to become good friends with Korean students and attend a concert together; however, there is a sense of distance between international students and Korean students when it comes to getting to know one another. International students who enrolled at Pai-Chai University to explore Korean culture and academia often find themselves perplexed due to the stark disparity between their expectations and reality. Korean students, on the other hand, may feel reluctant to engage with speakers of other languages and sometimes feign ignorance or become flustered when approached by international students. This mutual confusion creates a gap between them. To address this gap, Pai-Chai University has been making an effort to reduce these differences by establishing courses where international and Korean students attend classes together; however, in reality, the number of courses available for both groups to attend together is very limited. Most departments within linguistics have been discontinued, leading to a decreased opportunity for interaction between international and Korean students.

Recently, due to a decrease in the number of incoming students in provincial universities, Pai-Chai University has taken this issue seriously and initiated projects focusing on mental health, particularly targeting foreign students. Moreover, the school created a public interaction between Korean and international students through workshops. A 'Healing Workshop,' where Korean and international students can participate together, is scheduled for October 26-27th. Furthermore, for international students struggling to adapt to life in a foreign country and those who unfortunately couldn't participate in the FCPI workshop, the Student

Counseling Center is accepting test reservations during working hours from Monday to Friday. The location is Room 101 in the SP Building, and there is no specific deadline for reservations, except for Saturdays and Sundays. If you desire a more in-depth counseling session, it is recommended to inquire at the Student Counseling Center. English counseling is available on Mondays, and Chinese counseling is available on Wednesdays. International students who use Korean can receive counseling five days a week. On September 25th, a group counseling project for international students is also planned, and if you have the time, it's highly recommended that you participate. The announcement can be found in many buildings such as the P Building, the SP Building, and the G Building. As international students come to Korea with a positive impression, there is a need to provide programs tailored specifically for them or fulfill their needs. For example, creating numerous platforms for interaction with Korean students and assisting them in engaging in activities together could continuously bring smiles to the faces of international students.