Busan language exchange enables international friendships to brew

K-campus

Published: 02 Jul. 2024, 17:10

Busan language exchange enables international friendships to brew

People attending UN Nonsummit, a language exchange meetup, pose for a photo at Cafe With in Nam District, Busan, in May. [LEE SOO-HYUN]

For those eager to move beyond exam-focused language learning or make friends from different nationalities, language exchange meetups offer a way to embrace a global mindset.

Being fluent in various languages is a goal for many, but learning a language to the point where one can easily use it to communicate in everyday life isn't easy.

In such cases, a helpful alternative is to participate in weekly discussion sessions where Korean and international students can gather to chat and mingle.

Many options already exist in the Busan area.

At 7 p.m. on May 3, a group of people gathered at Cafe Banker in Busanjin District, Busan, to participate in a Japanese language exchange meetup hosted by Busan Korea-Japan Exchange Meeting Uni-One (Uni-One).

Attendees first ordered drinks on the second floor, then gathered on the third floor and sat around tables in groups of four or five. Korean and Japanese students introduced themselves and chatted in a calm atmosphere, talking about studying Japanese, Japanese culture and daily life.

A meeting hosted by Busan Korea-Japan Exchange Meeting Uni-One at Cafe Banker in Busanjin District, Busan in May. [LEE SOO-HYUN]

Uni-One's language exchange started in 2015, open to Japanese students interested in learning Korean and Koreans interested in learning Japanese. Participants meet to share their stories and learn about each other’s languages and cultures.

“It was enjoyable to talk with people who share an interest in Japanese for various reasons," said Miyazawa Chie, a 25-year-old from Tokyo, who attended the meeting during her trip to Busan. "Even though we were meeting for the first time, I enjoyed talking with them.”

No complicated application process is needed to participate in Uni-One. Each week, meeting announcements are posted on the club's official Instagram account, and those who wish to join can send a direct message to the organizers.

Regular meetings are held every Friday at 7 p.m., but there is also another session held once a month on Saturday for those who find it difficult to attend on Fridays.

Jeon Se-yoon has been participating in club activities since 2015 and is now the organizer of the club. Although joining may be tough at first, Jeon encouraged students to give it a go.

“Many people hesitate to join because they are alone or feel their Japanese skills are insufficient, but anyone interested in Korea and Japan is welcome," said Jeon. "Just come and enjoy.”

Another language exchange meetup, known as UN Nonsummit, was also happening on the same day at Cafe With in Nam District, Busan.

People at Cafe With in Nam District, Busan, talk to each other during the UN Nonsummit meetup in May. [LEE SOO-HYUN]

UN Nonsummit is a language exchange program that allows attendees to talk to each other in English, organized by Lee Eung-hyun, the owner of the cafe.

Language exchanges are held at the cafe every Friday, and English board game nights are held every Wednesday evening. No prior registration is required, and people can join on the spot.

People visiting Cafe With on May 3 were all holding a drink they ordered when entering the cafe, the only fee needed to attend the event. They were wearing name tags that also listed their nationalities and spoken languages, and the initial awkwardness quickly disappeared as they began talking about their jobs, hobbies and other topics of interest. If people run out of things to say, participants can draw wooden sticks that have topic suggestions on them and start a new conversation.

“Many of the foreign participants work as English teachers, so they can talk using simple terms or break sentences down so they can be easily understood," said Lee. "Instead of aiming to speak in perfect English, just come with the intention of making an international friend.”

Boyaval Pablo, a pâtissier from France, demonstrates how to make Paves Breton at the first UN Peace Table program held on May 3. [LEE SOO-HYUN]

Before the language exchange session, the UN Peace Table, a cooking session led in English, was also held at the cafe. During the session, participants made Pavés Breton with Boyaval Pablo, a pâtissier from France.

Registration was accepted online on a first-come, first-served basis, with participation free of charge.

Starting with the May session, the cooking program has become a regular monthly event, with various international hosts teaching baking in English.

“I learned about the language exchange meeting through a friend’s introduction," said Aurore, a 25-year-old French student attending the Kyungsung University Language Education Center. "I participated in the program to practice my English and Korean, and I could talk more naturally with strangers while baking during the cooking program.”

This article has been contributed by Lee Soo-hyun and Kim Tae-yi of Channel PNU from Pusan National University.

BY STUDENT REPORTERS LEE SOO-HYUN, KIM TAE-YI [50lsh@pusan.ac.kr]