Usher Institute

Every international student who does not speak English as their first language must submit their English proficiency test if they want to attend an English-speaking college. The most common test is TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language). I studied at a test-prep institution in Seoul, South Korea, during the COVID, as the school closed due to the Chinese government policy. After receiving a sufficient score to apply for colleges and graduating from high school, one of the teachers who taught me texted me to suggest I work at the institution to manage and supervise students' study sessions. I accepted his suggestion and contracted work in July since the college starts in August.

The working environment was comfortable since I knew the employees and how the programs worked. Students studied English vocabulary in study sessions after the regular study hours, and my role was to manage and supervise them. I monitored whether they spent their time effectively and warned them if they did not fully focus on studying. Also, I gave them study tips as someone who passed the test or assisted them if they struggled at studying. I built good relationships with the students, and they became friends after I quit the job. This was my first official working experience since becoming an adult, and it was interesting to watch students reminiscing when I sat there, struggling to study as they did.