Grade 10
Work Experience Program
SEOUL FOREIGN CreatingSCHOOL a community of excellence
FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Parents and Friends, I am thrilled to welcome you to our Grade 10 Work Experience Program. Introduced last year by our Director of College Counseling, Joachim Ekstrom, it has fitted right in to our passion for preparing students for their lifelong learning journeys. We are truly grateful for the time and generosity of parents and friends of SFS who helped us last year. Perhaps you or someone you know would be interested in partnering with SFS to help our students get a week’s taster of what it’s like to be a full time member of a professional environment. You too can help make an exciting and invaluable contribution to the lives of our High School students. Take a look at our brochure and contact us to learn more. Best wishes, Colm Flanagan
2018 Grade 10 Work Experience Program
An Opportunity to Grow Led by our High School Counseling team the program ran for two weeks in April/May with all Grade 10 students having the opportunity to work for a full week in one location. The aim of the program was to give our students a chance to learn about the world of employment. We wanted them to have a chance to mix with different types of people within different age groups and backgrounds and learn more about the real world. For many it was their first experience of a working environment and working conditions. Most importantly our students had the chance to discover more about themselves - their skills, talents and interests and to build on their strong study ethics in more practical ways. The students emerged from the experience with the knowledge of why industry, service and commerce
are so important in society. It piqued their interest and offered them many different points of view on their futures. Many felt their ideas turned upside down while others had their hopes and ambitions confirmed! The launch of the program was greeted with enthusiasm by our community. Parents, students and the wider community agreed that this contributes to offering our students an unmatched experience. Industries involved included architecture, advertising, medical research, catering, law and many more. We also offered students the opportunity to work in various departments of our school to experience the challenges and opportunities of teaching and school administration. We will be running a similar program in 2019 and we invite all Seoul based companies to consider working with us to benefit students and businesses alike.
Student Work Experience at Grand Hyatt
Seoul Foreign School launched its Grade 10 Work Experience Program in 2018.
The Student Experience Our students make immeasurable gains from their participation in the Work Experience Program. They are given the opportunity to choose the type of field they are interested in and are supported in their choices by their counseling team. Many students in 2018 described their experiences as life-changing. They were all invigorated and challenged by the days they spent in the workplace. Employers found the students positive and hard-working. They enjoyed discussing their roles and experience with a new generation and were receptive to the ideas and enthusiasm our students brought to them.
Jazmine Jones worked in Law “I always wanted to be a lawyer because I was infatuated with the idea of using analysis and research skills to fight for the rights and justice of others. I was ecstatic when SFS offered students the chance to work at Lee International. The lawyers that I got to meet were all SFS alumni and they were all welcoming and incredibly friendly. I got the sense that they were really interested in getting to know us and that put me at ease. We were able to look at some of their cases, conduct due diligence and even take part in a mock arbitration trial. The lawyers really trusted us and as the week went on every task and activity served to validate my wish to become a lawyer! This experience truly was a life-changing experience for me and will play a critical role in determining what I want to pursue as an adult.”
Andrew Chung worked in Marketing “Over the week I spent in Marketing and Communications several things became very clear. A good department should work as a team but most importantly get along. I found that not drawing lines on what tasks they were willing to do was an important part of their success. I learned a lot from this being my first office work experience because everything made sense. I learned how to navigate myself in an office and in which manner to behave in a professional environment to maximize efficiency and minimize unnecessary barriers. Being able to observe a functional team of co-workers was great. I will take those insights with me in my future endeavours.”
Employers described students as a breath of fresh air and all said they would like to take part in future programs.
Peter Choi
Student Work Experience at dmp
“When I was a young high school student, the idea of architecture was almost mystical. I remember my counselor arranging visits for me with two architects who were also parents at my High School. My visit with the architects left an indelible impression that fired me up even more to pursue architecture as a career. So naturally when the counselors asked for professionals to share our career experiences with the sophomores, I was more than happy to do so. The students who arrived at my office were curious, bright and a pleasure to host. We had good discussions that were light and at times weighted. I am certain that the students walked away with a good sense of what architecture was and also was not. My students were very articulate in talking about their interests which resulted in a mutually satisfying experience.�
Student Work Experience at Yonsei University College of Medicine
Design Principal, Designcamp moonpark dmp architects
Student Work Experience at Grand Hyatt
They described the process as an important part of building for the future and helping foster new talent. They loved communicating the great (and some not so great) parts of their daily activities!
Student Work Experience at crave
What do our employers gain?
Not only do our students gain from this experience - so do our partners, their employers! All of the companies told us how much they valued the perspective of our students. They praised them as hard-working, enthusiastic and open to ideas. They explained how opening up to the students and training them helped them take stock of their own roles.
Michael Forster
Student Work Experience at geometry global
CEO, Geometry Korea
“We were delighted to host two Grade 10 students from SFS on the inaugural Work Experience Program. Some of our team studied at the school themselves and were keen to see their younger selves! We got the students involved in real projects research, pitches, meetings and creative briefs. We wanted to give them life in an agency as it is, not something drummed up! The students worked on a Coca-Cola pitch and covered all elements of a brief before presenting their ideas at the end of the week. We all found our students - Anna and Zoe - to be incredibly hard-working and enthusiastic. They were punctual and willing to undertake whatever tasks were allotted to them.
Student Work Experience at Grand Hyatt
We would be happy to participate again in this Work Experience Program.”
Silvia Kim
Biomedical Consultant, IVI Laboratories “We were delighted to welcome 11 SFS students to IVI at the beginning of May for their week of work experience. Our aim was for them to learn a variety of skills from laboratory bench work to vaccine production and clinical trials. In addition, they researched and wrote about two infectious diseases that are still very prevalent in third world countries: Cholera and Typhoid fever. Their work was summarized in two posters that they prepared throughout the week. These posters were on display at the 18th international vaccinology course that was held in Seoul 3-7 September at the IVI HQ which is located on the grounds of Seoul National University. This meeting is usually attended by young researchers and physicians throughout Asia that want to learn more about vaccines. I was so grateful to the students when I saw the posters up and it was such a great way to showcase the commitment that IVI has to teach everyone about vaccines!”
- Our History When you work with Seoul Foreign School you are working with the best! Widely regarded as the leading international school in Seoul, SFS offers an unrivalled 100-year legacy of academic excellence, international diversity and a commitment to educating future global citizens and leaders.
Seoul Foreign High School. Photo by Yoon, Joonhan
Seoul Foreign School
High School students study for the IB Diploma in Grades 11 and 12 so this work experience is invaluable in helping them develop their choice of study. The High School is housed in a brand new state-ofthe-art building designed by Ennead Architects in New York. The building offers the finest learning space possible featuring multi functional spaces, quiet and collaborative learning spaces, a suite of science labs, the Walt Whitman Library and much, much more.
The Walt Whitman Library in High School, Photo by Yoon, Joonhan
The school is the number one choice of international schools in South Korea. Our High School offers the IB MYP and DP - the most robust of academic programs and internationally respected. Our High School accommodates 450 students at present. It’s a friendly, close-knit multicultural community committed to excellence in education with a welcoming student body and an incredible selection of extra-curricular activities.
High School Faculty
Seoul Foreign School
Our High School Principal,
Jeff Holcomb
“I love the Work Experience program - it is a great culmination of the focus in Grade 10 on students exploring potential career interests. This is so important, as often students in Grade 11 as they begin university research have also begun thinking about their futures for the first time. What a fantastic opportunity our students have to take career surveys and explore their potential career interests throughout Grade 10, culminating in their work experience where they get to be part of the real world of work. The students I visited learned so much - both about regular working life such as getting ready for work, being on time, figuring out transportation to work, dressing professionally, preparing lunch and working in a variety of settings. They also considered other potential issues. What do I do every day? What parts were more or less engaging than I expected? They enjoyed the experience and learned so much.”
- Our Faculty
Director of High School Counseling,
Joachim Ekstrom
“The SFS Work Experience Program is the culmination of the Grade 10 Career Research project and gives insight into the career(s) they are currently considering. The experience also helps students make connections with their IB Diploma course choices. This is an important transition point in their lives. Most students have never worked in a formal setting, so the experience helps develop social and workrelated applications required in the workplace. They can develop skills such as interviewing, asking for help and advice, understanding expectations and networking. These are all developed through authentic experiences. Students become more independent as they travel to and from ‘work’, they interact with adults and deal with the physical demands of a week ‘at work’. Inclusion of work experience in their university application will help them be more competitive and compelling.”
The High School Counseling Team, left to right Joachim Ekstrom, Tu Anh Gilmore, Jennifer Holcomb, Rebecca Mayo
How to Participate in the 2019 Program This amazing and innovative program can only happen with your support. We urge you to consider partnering with SFS and helping our future global citizens. Dates : 6 - 10 & 13 - 17, May (commit to one week or two) We are seeking partners for our 2019 Work Experience Program from all areas including: • • • • • • • • •
Law Accounting Advertising/Marketing/Communications Arts/Culture Medicine/Research Charities/Not-for-Profits Universities Catering Hospitality and Hotels
Contact Us
Please contact Tu Anh for further details and to confirm your support.
Tu Anh Gilmore
Work Experience Coordinator 82-2-330-3100 (Ext. 14121) tuanh.gilmore@seoulforeign.org
Joachim Ekstrom
Director of High School Counseling 82-2-330-3100 (Ext. 14122) joachim.ekstrom@seoulforeign.org
Seoul Foreign School Inspiring Excellence, Building Character - since 1912
www.seoulforeign.org
Student Work Experience at Lee International
What You Can Expect From An SFS Student • • • • • • • • • • •
Punctuality Appropriate attire and demeanor Good attitude and enthusiasm Reliability Adaptability Initiative Professionalism Knowledge Great faculty back up from SFS HS Counselor support led by Joachim and Tu Anh Marketing support and PR