What is SPARKS?
SPARKS is not just another summer camp—it's a springboard into higher education and a deep cultural immersion. Here’s what you need to know about Seoul SPARKS and how it caters to your child’s safety, education, and overall experience.
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Who will take care of my child during SPARKS?
SPARKS 2024 will be directed by Sarah Mack, an experienced study abroad facilitator with a unique understanding of the experiences of international students in Korea. Sarah came to Korea for the first time as a 15-year-old exchange student and loved her time in Korea that she has made the country her second home for the past eleven years. Sarah has a bachelor's degree from the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and a master's degree from Seoul National University.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DIRECTOR SARAH MACK?
How will Seoul SPARKS help my child?
1. Comprehensive Pre-departure Briefing
The SPARKS experience begins before you or your child ever sets foot in Korea with informative online webinars for all participants. The sessions will cover topics such as a program itinerary, safety measures, travel tips, and basic Korean language skills.
These sessions also serve as an opportunity to meet the SPARKS team (as well as other student participants!) and have any and every question addressed before departure.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SPARKS BEFORE COMMITTING?
RSVP to an online information session led by SPARKS 2024 Director Sarah Mack or potential students, parents and guardians, educators, and more.
WOULD YOU RATHER TALK TO A SPARKS TEAM MEMBER ONE-ON-ONE?
Book a free online consultation with a staff member. Doing so gets you and your child priority status in the SPARKS 2025 admissions cycle.
2. Thoughtfully Crafted Curriculum
Seoul SPARKS is not just a Korean language program - it is a rigorous, enriching, and comprehensive Korean studies program designed specifically for youth. Every moment of our program has been meticulously crafted to maximize enrichment and learning for its participants so they can learn as much as possible during their time in Korea.
On weekday mornings, your child will take university-level Korean language classes at Seoul National University, the #1 ranked university in Korea. The transcripts from these courses can later be used to transfer up to six college credits (a $12,500+ value at top 20 US universities).
When they are not in class, they will be fully engaged with Korean culture, history, and heritage. Each week, they will hone a new skill in culture classes where they can study Korean martial arts (taekwondo), appreciate and create folk paintings (minhwa), learn how to prepare healthy and delicious Korean meals, and more.
SPARKS will enable students to dive deep into Korean history in ways no other program offers. Each week, we will be immersed in one of six pivotal periods of Korean history and engage in a number of activities that help students learn about that theme. These include but are not limited to tours of key historical sites, field trips, talks with experts, meals, film screenings, and more.
Rather than giving our students a list of facts and figures from Korean history to memorize, we help them experience the formation of the Korean nation firsthand through interactive simulations and exhibitions and activities that engage all five senses.
3. Health and Safety First
Students receive comprehensive health insurance as part of their program fees, and all SPARKS staff will be trained on how to respond to any challenges our students might face throughout the program.
Students will have 24/7 access to a SPARKS team member via phone, and a minimum of two staff members will stay in the residence hall with students at all times.
Furthermore, all students will receive SIM cards with unlimited data to ensure that they are able to use map applications, find information, and reach staff members if necessary.
We are also equipped to help students navigate challenges like allergies, dietary restrictions, medication, and more.
4. Attention to Dietary Restrictions and Special Needs
All students will receive breakfast and dinner at the residence hall. In addition to being healthy and tasty, all meals will be prepared with individual students' dietary restrictions in mind.
All students with dietary restrictions will be provided with personalized, wallet-sized cards that explain what they can and cannot eat in Korean. These cards can be presented to Korean staff when dining out or shopping for groceries. This ensures that even students with limited Korean language ability will be able to communicate their needs and enjoy Korean cuisine without worrying about accidentally ingesting something that could cause them harm.
5. Independence and Friendship
On days where there are no mandatory SPARKS activities scheduled, students will have freedom to explore Seoul with their peers, alongside their undergraduate "Seoul Mate" mentor, or even on their own. Navigating the safe, clean, and relatively simple Seoul public transportation system teaches students valuable navigation skills and empowers them to make the most of their time in Seoul.
By navigating their new environment alongside peers from all over the world, they will develop cross-cultural communication skills and build international networks that will benefit them for years to come.
6. College Preparation and Admissions Consulting
Learning the equivalent of two college semesters' worth of Korean at Korea's most prestigious university will help your child show college admissions officers around the world that they are prepared for the rigors of university coursework. The credits they earn at SPARKS can also be applied toward their undergraduate degree, reducing the cost of tuition at top 20 schools by an average of $12,500 or more.
If your child enjoys their time in Korea with SPARKS so much that they decide to return for their undergraduate degree, they will receive free admissions consulting to apply to up to three Korean universities through Skudy, the parent company of SPARKS, in the calendar year following their completion of the SPARKS program.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
CURIOUS WHAT PAST SPARKS PARENTS HAVE TO SAY?
Book a free consultation with a SPARKS team member today.
We will get back to you within 48 hours.
Read about the experiences of our past students and parents experiences with the SPARKS program.