Cynthia Johnson

Cynthia Johnson is an alumna of the 2021 CLS Korean Program hosted by Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea. Cynthia graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor’s degree in Critical Language and International Studies with a minor in Korean translation and localization. Cynthia currently works at TransPerfect, a language service/translation provider, where she puts her Korean language skills to use daily. In the future, Cynthia hopes to work in video game localization for a Korea-based company. 

Future Goals

In college, I minored in Korean localization and translation. I often questioned what I would do with a degree in international studies but who knew there was a field where tech and language collided? It was a huge goal of mine to graduate college with a job lined up in this industry and I am happy to say that I achieved this. Since I’ve started, half of my projects have been Korean related due to my experiences, and I look forward to continuing to use my Korean cultural and communication skills. Eventually, I would like to work in video game localization for a Korea-based company. 

A Catalyst for Self-Reflection 

One thing that greatly impacted me was my results on the program. I had been studying the Korean language for quite some time and had dedicated a lot of energy to it. I was placed in the highest level and often complimented by my teachers for speaking the most natural and like Koreans. However, I struggled greatly when it came to tests and proficiency exams. Most of my language abilities had come from immersion settings and interacting with Koreans, so I was not used to rigorous study and advanced Korean topics. It was the first time I felt challenged in my Korean abilities. On top of that, I came to learn that being introverted affected my language capability. I thought to myself, “If I don’t want to talk in English in this situation, how can I motivate myself to speak in Korean?” I realized I needed to speak up more to accurately show my level of skill. CLS allowed me to self-reflect on my language abilities and better understand how to improve. I am currently studying for the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) exam, and I am excited to take the test and see just how much I learned on the program. 

Words of Advice 

My advice for those applying to CLS would be to carefully think about what your target language means to you and strategically state its importance and your plans for using it in the future. Also, consider what distinguishes you from other applicants and emphasize that as well. For those considering CLS, you will never regret visiting a new place and learning to communicate in a way that will connect you to new people.