'My eight weeks at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) will remain one of the most precious and meaningful periods of my life. I would like to thank JBNU for giving me the opportunity to learn more about Korea and the Korean friends who helped me.'

Starting in June, American students selected for the U.S. Department of State's language education program, the CLS Program (Critical Language Scholarship Program), studied Korean language and culture at JBNU and completed the eight-week schedule, holding a graduation ceremony on August 12.

The CLS Program is an overseas language education initiative launched when the U.S. Department of State designated Korean as one of the '13 Critical World Languages.' In 2010, the Korean Language Education Center of the Language Education Institute was selected as the first host center in Korea, and this year the program marked its third year of operation.

This year, 32 students from top U.S. universities selected by the U.S. Department of State — including Stanford University, UC Berkeley, William & Mary, and Fordham University — participated. They used only Korean for eight weeks while enthusiastically studying the language and experiencing Korean culture.

In particular, the American students not only received 20 hours of Korean instruction per week but also studied Korean history, geography, society, and culture. Outside class, they learned pungmul (traditional Korean folk drumming) and made efforts to immerse themselves in Korean culture.

Leslie Grothaus of Stanford University (Ph.D. candidate in Anthropology) said, 'While studying at university in the United States I developed a strong interest in Korean culture amid the Hallyu wave, so having this opportunity at JBNU is very meaningful to me,' and added, 'I am deeply grateful to JBNU for providing an excellent program and first-rate educational conditions, and I will do my best to introduce Korean culture and the excellence of JBNU to American students.'

At the ceremony, President Seo Geoseok said, 'The fact that JBNU has been able to operate the CLS Program for three consecutive years is due to the university's efforts to provide high-quality educational services and the U.S. Department of State's firm confidence in us as a leading institution for Korean language education,' and added, 'We will not be satisfied with this and will do our utmost to ensure we are evaluated as superior to any CLS program worldwide.'