Talkshow with Xaviera Putri : What It Is Like Being Student In South Korea (Part 1/2)

Summary

In this episode of the 3our news show, the hosts delve into the experiences of two sisters, Savier Putri and Nabila Cindi, who received a full scholarship to attend a prestigious science high school in South Korea. They discuss the challenges of adjusting to a new educational system, the importance of identity, and the pressures of representing their culture as international students. The conversation also touches on the Korean education system's focus on early specialization, the intense study culture, and the opportunities for research and internships in university. The sisters share their insights on the Korean government's efforts to recruit foreign talent and the support for academic and research pursuits.

Takeaways

• 🎶 The hosts discuss a song from Nikki's album that is popular for its motivational beat, especially for workout warm-ups.
• 🏫 The conversation revolves around the experiences of two sisters, Savier Putri and Nabila Cindi, who share their journey of studying in a prestigious science high school in South Korea.
• 📚 The sisters received a full-ride scholarship to attend a specialized science high school in Korea, highlighting the competitive and academically rigorous environment they experienced.
• 🌍 The sisters faced cultural and identity challenges as international students, being part of a minority within the school, and having to represent their culture and religion.
• 👩‍🎓 The education system in Korea is described as highly specialized, with different high schools focusing on specific fields such as science, sports, and performing arts, allowing students to pursue their interests from a young age.
• 🏛️ The sisters attended a boarding school with a strict schedule, including self-study periods known as 'chupan', which contributed to the intense academic focus.
• 💼 The script mentions the importance of taking initiative and putting oneself out there to integrate into Korean society, which was crucial for the sisters' acceptance and success.
• 🎓 The Korean university experience is depicted as research-oriented, with opportunities for students to engage in research and internships from an early stage.
• 🌐 The Korean government is noted for its investment in education and research, offering merit-based scholarships and creating a supportive environment for academic growth.
• 🍲 The metaphor of kimchi, being sour but also healthy and beneficial, is used to describe the challenging but rewarding experience of studying abroad in Korea.

Q & A

What is the name of the book mentioned in the script?

The name of the book mentioned in the script is 'Kimchi Confessions'.

Why is the book called 'Kimchi Confessions'?

The book is called 'Kimchi Confessions' because it discusses the sour, yet beneficial experiences of the author while studying abroad in South Korea, similar to how kimchi is sour but healthy.

What is the significance of the song 'High School in Jakarta' in the script?

The song 'High School in Jakarta' is significant because it resonates with the speakers' experiences and shapes their strength and identity, much like their high school experiences in Jakarta.

Why did Savier Putri and Nabila Cindi go to South Korea for their high school education?

Savier Putri and Nabila Cindi went to South Korea for their high school education because they received a full-ride scholarship to attend one of the most prestigious science high schools in Korea.

What was unique about the high school they attended in South Korea?

The high school they attended in South Korea was unique because it was a science-focused school that accepted a limited number of international students, and they were among the few female students wearing the hijab.

How did the sisters adjust to the academic environment in South Korea?

The sisters adjusted to the academic environment by engaging in self-study times to catch up on homework and materials, and taking additional study sessions to keep up with their Korean peers.

What challenges did the sisters face in terms of identity while in South Korea?

The sisters faced challenges in terms of identity as they were young, female, international students wearing the hijab, and they felt the pressure of representing their community in a foreign environment.

How did the sisters integrate into Korean society?

The sisters integrated into Korean society by participating in club activities, interacting with Korean students both in and out of school, and taking the initiative to engage with the community.

What is 'chupan' in the context of the script?

In the context of the script, 'chupan' refers to the self-study time at their boarding school in South Korea, where students would study from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

How does the Korean education system differ from the one in Indonesia according to the sisters?

According to the sisters, the Korean education system differs in that it offers specialized high schools for different fields of interest, such as science, sports, and performing arts, and places a strong emphasis on early preparation and specialization.

What opportunities are available for students in South Korea regarding higher education and research?

In South Korea, students have opportunities to engage in research from a young age, with many universities offering research positions and internships, and companies participating in job fairs to provide industry experience.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 High School Experiences in Jakarta and South Korea

The segment begins with a warm welcome to the news show, highlighting a favorite segment where the host discusses their high school experiences. The host shares their fondness for a particular song that resonates with their high school days in Jakarta, which they believe shaped their strength and character. The conversation transitions to the introduction of a book titled 'Kimchi Confessions,' which leads to a discussion about high school experiences in South Korea. The author and content creator, Savier Putri, and Nabila Cindi, join the show to share their journey as high school students in South Korea, having received a full scholarship to attend a prestigious science high school. They discuss the unique aspects of the Korean education system and how it differs from their experiences in Jakarta.

05:01

🏫 Challenges and Adjustments in a Korean High School

In this paragraph, the sisters discuss the challenges they faced while attending high school in South Korea. They highlight the differences in the education system, including the need for self-study and the pressure to keep up with the academic pace. They also touch upon the social challenges of being young international students, being in the minority as girls and wearing the hijab, which added to the complexity of their integration. The sisters share their strategies for adjusting to the new environment, emphasizing the importance of taking the initiative to engage with the community and participate in activities that would help them fit in and represent their background.

10:02

📚 The Korean Education System and Its Influence

The conversation delves into the specifics of the Korean education system, with a focus on specialized high schools for science, sports, and performing arts. The sisters reflect on the early decision-making process Korean students undergo to choose their academic paths, and how this differs from the Indonesian system. They discuss the flexibility within the Korean system that allows students to change their educational focus even after committing to a specialized high school. The paragraph also touches on the culture of preparing early and taking time to ensure readiness for the real world, rather than rushing through education for the sake of graduation.

15:02

🌐 Opportunities and Scholarships in South Korea

The final paragraph of the script focuses on the opportunities available to students in South Korea, including the scholarship opportunities that the sisters themselves benefited from. They discuss the Korean government's efforts to recruit foreign talent and the support provided to students, both local and international, in terms of academic and research opportunities. The sisters also share their experiences with job fairs and internships, highlighting the open culture that encourages students to explore different career paths and gain real-world experience. The segment ends with a teaser for the next part of the show, promising further insights into the sisters' experiences and the potential for similar opportunities in Indonesia.

Keywords

💡High School in Jakarta

High School in Jakarta refers to the educational experience of attending secondary school in the capital city of Indonesia. In the script, it is mentioned as a formative period that shapes individuals, suggesting that the experiences during this time can have a significant impact on personal development. The script implies that the sisters' high school years in Jakarta were challenging but also influential in building their strength and character.

💡Scholarship

A scholarship is a financial aid awarded to students based on academic merit, talent, or other criteria. In the context of the video, the sisters received a full-ride scholarship to attend a prestigious science high school in Korea, indicating that they were recognized for their potential and provided an opportunity to study abroad without financial burden.

💡Science High School

A science high school is a specialized secondary school that focuses on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The script highlights that the sisters attended one of the most prestigious science high schools in Korea, emphasizing the rigorous and advanced nature of their academic program.

💡International Students

International students are those who leave their home country to study abroad. The script describes the sisters as international students in Korea, which implies they were part of a diverse student body and had to navigate cultural differences and language barriers while pursuing their education.

💡Identity

Identity in this context refers to the sense of self and belonging, particularly in relation to cultural, religious, or social affiliations. The script discusses the challenges the sisters faced in terms of identity as they were young, female, international students who wore the hijab, making them a visible minority and requiring them to represent their community in a foreign environment.

💡Chu Pan

Chu Pan, also known as self-study time, is a period designated for students to complete homework or study independently. The script mentions that after regular class hours, students are expected to engage in Chu Pan, reflecting the intense study culture and high academic expectations in Korean education.

💡Academic Pressure

Academic pressure refers to the stress and expectations associated with achieving academic success. The script alludes to the high level of academic pressure in Korean high schools, where students are expected to excel and often study long hours to meet these expectations.

💡Cultural Integration

Cultural integration is the process of adapting to and becoming part of a new culture. The script describes the sisters' experiences in integrating into Korean society, which involved overcoming language barriers, participating in club activities, and interacting with local students to be accepted.

💡Representation

Representation in this context means being a symbol or example of a particular group or identity. The sisters felt the responsibility of representing their community as they were one of the few wearing the hijab in their school, highlighting the importance of their actions and behavior in shaping others' perceptions.

💡Research Opportunities

Research opportunities refer to chances for students to engage in scientific or academic research, often under the guidance of a professor or researcher. The script mentions that university students in Korea have access to research opportunities from an early stage, which can help them explore their interests and prepare for their future careers.

💡Merit-based Scholarships

Merit-based scholarships are financial awards given to students who demonstrate exceptional academic performance or other specific merits. The script suggests that the Korean educational system offers such scholarships, indicating an emphasis on rewarding and supporting high-achieving students.

Highlights

Introduction of the news show segment featuring high school experiences in Jakarta.

Mention of a favorite song that resonates with the hosts' high school memories.

Discussion on the impact of high school education in Jakarta on personal development.

Introduction of the book 'Kimchi Confessions' and its symbolic representation of sour but beneficial experiences.

Interview with Savier Putri and Nabila Cindi, authors and content creators sharing their high school journey in South Korea.

Receiving a full-ride scholarship to a prestigious science high school in Korea.

Challenges faced by the authors as international students in a Korean high school.

The importance of identity and representation as Muslim women in a foreign educational environment.

Strategies for integrating into Korean society and the value of taking initiatives.

Comparison of the Korean and Indonesian educational systems, particularly in terms of early specialization.

Experiences with chupan, the self-study period in Korean high schools.

The reality of late-night studying and the pressures of the Korean education system.

Opportunities for research and internships in Korean universities.

The Korean government's investment in foreign talent and scholarship opportunities.

Encouragement for Indonesians to consider the spicy and sour experiences as opportunities for growth.

Transcripts

hello there welcome back to the 3our

news show here's the favorite segment

the um see the stories so you are now

watching our signature segment and as

you keep I'm sorry I'm sorry okay H H

has been cating us with the high school

inja card no because I don't know that

is my uh warm-up song at the

gym with uh the whole album of Nikki um

uh that actually

uh what I usually hear at the gym and

also while I was driving that really

pumps you to work up out right you know

with a beat and also the BPM that

actually that fits for my warming up uh

session but also uh that is one of uh my

sister and my favorite song so both of

us we love that song and I know why

because there was something happening

during your high school time tell us

about that wish you well uh not really

because uh we can pretty much relate to

what what what is told in the song in

the song so uh High School in Jak sort

modern Sparta um Teenage Suburban Armada

or something like that so uh we pretty

much relate to that and we both agree

that being um getting getting uh uh uh

educated in high school in Jakarta that

shaped us to a certain um uh uh how do

you say it to a certain like strength

exactly strength

really to a certain Network okay now I

have a book here it's called kimchi

confessions I know kimchi is very

sour although we believe that it has

something good in it something healthy

that it contains in it so we want to

know um because the author of this book

is actually studying abroad so she

didn't really have any um experience

here in Jakarta for her high school so

maybe we can can we can tell her how is

it being how was it how sour was it

having the high school in exactly so

today we are joined by savier putri and

nabila Cindi the author and content

creator who will share her journey as a

high school student in South Korea so

please welcome them

in hello hi welcome H how are you I'm

good hi please have a seat have a seat

for having us of course it's it's it's

an honor for us to also have the author

of the book and also the designer of the

cover so you are saier correct with and

nail C and they are sisters oh which one

is older guess who looks

older from the uh should we guess really

50/50

chance may

you it's her okay okay most of the time

people get it wrong that's why we like

to ask yeah just to make it fun uh well

with with women I would consider that as

a test but um yeah so uh the book

Christoper tell us about this but wait

can you uh can you introduce yourself in

Korean oh wow can you you speak Korean

right so can you uh introduce yourself

through that camera and Korean both of

you uh one by one oh here I'm sorry this

camera okay okay I'll go

first

please okay okay

okay this is like them saying something

that we we were like stuned was that so

that was actually your in intructions

yeah yeah it's a simple introduction of

who I am what I'm doing and living in

Korea and now how did you guys end up in

South Korea for your high school yeah

that is actually a very interesting

question because both of us didn't

expect actually how we got in there

because we started when we were 15 years

old actually so we're 2 years apart so

Nua started her journey a bit earlier um

so what happened was we received a full

ride scholarship to attend this both

yeah both of us yeah so Tu everything

was free and it was actually a

scholarship to one of the most

prestigious science high schools in

Korea wow oh there's a dedicated Science

High School exactly yeah so I I'll talk

about this more later but it Korea has a

very interesting system in terms of how

they handle their education and so forth

and our journey started there and it was

very interesting because it was a Korean

high school but they also accepted

International students only a few though

from 100 of students only around 15

maximum was chosen around the world yeah

exactly and there's actually very little

women as well because it's a science um

Tech based kind of school so we only had

like what 20 women from in one year in

one year so you're like the very little

among that whole batch there's like20

total and then 20 are the women yeah but

I know that the the science Gene is

running on their

blood from the sister and two siblings

here they're all the scientific ladies

so I just want to know how challenging

was it because the sourness of kimchi

sounds like um you know projecting how

challenging it was was it really

challenging um I think there are like

very different aspects to why it's

really challenging so first of all I

think the education system is really

different from here so when we went

there uh usually uh we have have like

self-study times to catch up on like

homeworks or materials that are covered

in class and because the level of

education system among International

students are like different between the

Koreans we also have to like study

before we enter the school so yeah

there's like studying before and then

even inside the school we have to study

a bit more because we have to catch up

with the other uh Korean students as

well so focus focus focus very take

academics very serious

and I think one thing to add to that

besides the academics is actually um in

terms of identity because I think uh we

were very young when we came cuz you

know like that's when you go to puberty

and then you want to try to do

everything but then somehow we were put

in a situation of oh my God what is

going on everybody's studying so hard

everybody's so smart and then it was

really hard to adjust especially like on

our first years because as mentioned

before we are minorities um girls and

international students who wear the

hijab as well so we were somehow put

into the shoes of someone um it's like

what we do represents like the first

occurance of what they think we would be

like yeah cuz they've never met someone

who were like us so we kind of had to

represent people who were like us which

was a very tough thing to do because you

know we're still learning we're still

young but that was actually it's a quite

pivotal moment for us actually that's

such an ambassador sort of like task you

think what uh what I'm really curious

about is

uh you put it in in words of like us

what is like us like uh uh girls from

Indonesia science I think it's more like

it's kind of like layers so first

International students were very rare

and then women were very rare and then

Indonesians were very rare and people

who identify as Muslims but wear the

hijab were very rare because if we wear

the hijab you kind of like obviously

show that you are part of that community

so they respect or they kind of have

this kind of like mindset or their first

impressions to you much easier than

those who don't okay so so you are the

minority of the minority yeah we were

the only ones who were wearing the hijab

so you did not speak the language when

you arrived at the first time again how

was it I mean how did you do or what did

you do to basically get into the

community get accepted what was the

first steps that you if you could

probably share with others uh in our

high school we had to take some Korean

classes but even as like a high school

student you have activities like Club

activities and when you're in the club

activities of course you merge with

other Korean students right so for me at

that time I was doing like art club and

for our art club we had like a lot of

outside of school uh exhibitions or like

uh you know you have to go on stage and

show your work so you know even uh

inside of school I interacted with a lot

of my Korean friends but also outside of

the school we did like uh face painting

strangers so sometimes you would talk to

them and then because they know that I

wear the hijab and I'm like really young

so they like to ask me like oh what are

you doing here in Korea and why are you

in this booth painting my face something

like that you know it's really a very

common question to you yes yes and don't

don't don't they know that a lot of

Indonesians love Korean movies and

Korean everything yeah before actually

when we came Korea wasn't as popular as

it was now which is in how when cuz we

are still living in Korea we're still

buing our career there and as we live

there we can see like the progress of

how they view Korea now I remember going

home for the first time after my first

year there not a lot of people were

asking they would they would ask the

typical question of is it South Korea or

North Korea oh wow yeah but then now

everybody like knows so many things even

people who read my book know Korean much

better than when I came to Korea for the

first time yeah and I don't know and to

add to nil to what she me mentioned is

that's actually true it's um it's really

hard to integrate with the Korean

Society even if you can speak Korean so

one thing that we always remember and we

learned from is to always put yourself

out there actually to just always take

the initiative um so like just don't be

scared and ask around cuz you'll never

know what will happen so we we followed

that kind of like mindset and I think it

really helped us till now and do realive

and the Korean drama match up I mean

they often they often put in the

pictures St studying late um because of

uh intense competition lots of homework

but wearing some fashionable F yeah and

also eating all those uh you know uh

Foody

whatsoever uh does it

match uh if if it's if you're talking

about like the falling in love with like

the hot uh student in the school okay

maybe not that's like a bit too of yeah

media but about the learning late until

night yeah we used to have that so we

had this thing called chupan which is

like study time can you repeat that

again

CH chipan yeah

chip yeah that sounds like tip

no what is that again that's like study

time self study time so usually our

class goes from like 99: to 6:00 p.m.

and then at 6:00 to 7:00 we have dinner

and then 7:30 we go to this designated

room and then we study until 7:30 to 9

so you were stay you were staying at a

dorm or something yes it was boarding

school boarding school so okay you you

said that Koreans they took the

education system really seriously if you

can adopt anything that can be applied

here that we probably behind of Korea

what would it

be okay um for me I think their system

of high schools is really interesting so

Fe mentioned before that we went to this

uh science gifted High School they also

have a science high school they also

have a sports gifted high school and

they also have a Performing Arts gifted

high school so depending on what you

want to pursue when you grow older you

go to that High School from a young age

so when I I mean how difficult was it to

to to choose then you you you already

chose your way which is science right

and it had to be decided when you

graduated from ele J High Junior High

Junior High I mean how how could that be

I mean we're we Indonesians do not you

know get used to that yeah that is

actually one thing that I realized that

is very common in the Korean society

that they prepare very very early on so

if you see the dramas like those famous

dramas of them studying since they were

young it's actually because they are

actually set into what they want to do

so they have to prepare very early to

know what they want what they're good at

what they're somehow passionate about

and from there they could choose on

certain like special schools as Thea

mentioned I mean is there anyone one in

Korea that decided to no no no that's

that's not what I want to do I I just

want to move can I can I change High

School from Science High School to

performing art High School oh oh there's

actually it's actually common yes

because they you can't really know what

happens or how you do it until you

actually get into it yeah so I actually

had friends who were in specialized

schools um but then they wanted to

pursue art so then they took a gap year

or or something else because

I think what I realized as well is

despite having like a strict curriculum

they don't mind taking their time like

even in University because there's this

um kind of culture here like oh you have

to graduate on time true yeah but then

there a lot of people take their time

like they would have like 5 years of

University six years of University but

with a mindset of I have to prepare as

much as I can I would rather be fully

prepared and go to the real world than

only graduating for the sake of it but I

mean how's life in University univers is

it only on the you know in the classes

or what are different do they have like

um maybe sitting in in some companies or

maybe trying out you know that field in

the real life situation um for our

University we are like a very uh

Research Institute and also engineering

so everyone in our University does

either science or engineering and a lot

of people who go to that University want

to be researchers so a lot of chances

for you to do research from a very young

age so when you first start a sophomore

year you you can already contact the

professor and say like oh I really love

your class can I join your lab to try

research and sometimes they give you

like small tasks of like oh yeah

actually I have this research that's

going on and I saw that you have this

skill maybe we can try work something

out or if you're interested in

internships or company based stuff

there's a lot of companies that come to

our University as well in job fairs yeah

I remember going to a lot of job and

like oh this company looks interesting

like they do AI stuff and then you just

sit and ask like oh this is my CV like

just a very short C this is the kind of

classes I took and I'm really interested

is there a way for me to uh get

experience in this company so it's

really open to what you want to do and

like f said people don't really know

what they want until they try and people

also don't know what they don't want

until they try so yeah usually you go

through research and then you realize oh

maybe that's not for me so you want to

go to company but in company there's

also like do you want to be this

engineer or that Designer or something

so options as well okay one one last

question before we go on a break just u

a short answer do people in Korea also

get the same uh opportunities uh as in

for the scholarship uh as you got oh

yeah so this is actually one thing like

a followup with previous question is

very connected I what one thing that I

realized is the Korean government they

are really set into also recruiting

foreign Talent recently right so so um

of course um it's different systems how

they give scholarships to local students

and Internationals but I can see that in

certain ways we do have a lot of um

advantages and almost kind of almost

similar opportunities in terms of

getting scholarships and I think one

thing that I wish Indonesia could also

adopt more is they really the government

itself really invests in terms of

research in terms of science and

academic support So students who perform

well got get a lot of Merit based

scholarships a lot of companies do

donations so it's it's just it's a very

nice and cultivating environment all

right okay so we have two talents here

that you know have been doing their um

expertise in the research as well would

they actually be in Indonesia we don't

know but that's going to be next and

it's always worth it to try the spicy

and sour kimchi we talk with them after

the breaks of stay tuned fermented one

oh every Kim she is fermented

though

[Music]