Katherine Guild
Experiences abroad have been a significant part of my life since my junior year of high school, when I was selected to become a Rotary Youth Exchange student to rural Brazil. I used my time in Brazil to reaffirm my fascination with language and intercultural communication, and I returned resolved to continue exploring these topics for the rest of my life. I have since graduated from UW Seattle with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics & Korean, the latter of which I "accidentally" obtained after naturally taking enough language and elective courses to complete the degree. I have been fortunate enough to study abroad in South Korea twice through UW in the past: once as an academic year student in Seoul and once as a summer FLAS fellow in Cheongju. I currently work with a US-based study abroad provider to support high school students throughout their own study abroad application processes. Through the Fulbright South Korea ETA program, I am excited to explore another side of Korea, while strengthening my own Korean abilities and deepening my understanding of what it means to acquire a second language. My goal is to combine my own perspectives on language acquisition with the educational atmosphere of South Korea (quite different from that of the US), showing my students new perspectives on language-learning and learning from their own perspectives in turn. My post-Fulbright plans are not set in stone, but I hope to pursue a graduate degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Applied Linguistics, or Education. I also hope to continue assisting students from all backgrounds as they explore and take advantage of opportunities abroad. Whatever path I choose to take, I am certain that Fulbright will provide indispensable insight into the field of education, strengthen my passion for linguistics, and give me tools that will help me support my current and future communities for years to come.
Tips
It is always better to start your application early when possible, but shorter timelines are absolutely doable (especially with OMSFA's excellent advising and support). If you are starting your application within a month or so of the UW campus deadline, the first thing you should do is identify your preferred recommenders and request recommendations: having the recommendations in by the campus review phase is beneficial for your preliminary review, and best practice is to give your recommenders as much time as possible to get those in. Remember to think about your goals outside of the classroom. The Fulbright ETA, as with many US scholarships and grants, sets itself apart from pure English-teaching jobs with its emphasis on cultural immersion and ambassadorship. It doesn't hurt to be candid about what has drawn you to the country and how you hope to spend your free time - I wrote half of an essay about going to Korean baseball games!
