ATLANTIC VIDEO
Su-Jin Baek

One of five female students from Kyungpook National University, in Daegu, South Korea, who came to the Washington Internship Program in the fall / winter term of 2005, Su-Jin applied to WIP and then spent time in Los Angeles during July and August. Su-Jin studied at L.I.K.E. English Institute, and she worked in the past as a tutor of English, math, and science. Su-Jin had taken a course in announcer training at the MBC Academy, and her major was in English literature and languages with a minor in computer science. She received a scholarship from KNU and took CNN and screen classes at the Pagoda Institute. Su-Jin had a phone interview and was accepted by Atlantic Video on September 29, 2005 for an internship to meet two days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) starting in early November.

Initially, Su-Jin was doing well at her internship, but in late November her supervisors asked her to work on Tuesdays (which suggests that she was not doing so) because her assistance was needed. However, as indicated by excerpts from Su-Jin’s final paper, an internship in television – unlike watching TV – requires considerable work and is not “entertaining” at every moment. Because the Washington Internship Program thought Su-Jin’s problems might be related to English deficiencies and since Su-Jin wanted experience as a television announcer that would help her after returning to Korea, WIP placed her at a second internship three days a week with WKTV – a Korean cable station located in Fairfax, Virginia. Although Su-Jin did get an opportunity to practice there as an announcer, she had similar difficulties with the serious work ethic in America and either quit or was fired a second time. Absenteeism and tardiness seem to have been problems at all her internships, and Su-Jin admitted that frequent complaining at work was a strategy of hers that generally led to dismissal. Su-Jin begged for a third internship, so the Washington Internship Program finally placed her in mid February of 2006 at Mobilizing America’s Youth, a nonprofit organization in downtown D.C., but MAY reported that Su-Jin’s English-language skills were poor, and she quit her third placement almost immediately. Although Su-Jin was only minimally successful at any of her internships, she enjoyed her time in the United States and learned some important lessons on the job and in classes about the relationship between attitude and professional achievement. Whether in home-making or running a TV studio, completing what Su-Jin calls “chores” constitutes the hard work that leads to productivity. Many students fantasize that working in television will be glamorous, but interns who do well generally realize that concentration, endurance, and attention to detail are three skeleton keys that open most doors. Better for Su-Jin to have made mistakes on the internship level rather than failing in the workplace following graduation. She learned much about American culture, made close friends, and took full advantage of the cultural and historic sites throughout Washington. Below are selections from Su-Jin’s insightful paper.

“A First Step toward the Rest of the World: Washington, D.C.”

“The Washington Internship Program was a great chance for me to learn English and American culture while working for companies that are involved in my major. It seemed more attractive to me than the student-exchange program. I tried my best to meet the qualifications for a WIP intern, and eventually I got accepted. I remember that one day KNU’s Associate Dean for International Studies Lorne Hwang told me that working as an intern in the United States would be much harder than any other challenges I faced in life so far.”

“I waited for phone interviews with some American companies after my resume and cover letter were revised a few times. However, arranging interviews took time, and the date on which I was supposed to go to the United States was delayed from August to November. I consistently studied English and had mock interviews with Ms. Hwang before going to the United States. I was required to attend every session regarding the internship program supported by KNU. I prepared everything our university recommends for interns.”

“In Washington, I worked at Atlantic Video, which involves broadcasting production. Thirty employees worked in several departments, mostly on ESPN shows. The main program was called HORN, in which sports-casters in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago analyzed athletic games and presented their opinions. I monitored the process for the first couple of weeks, and then I learned more by assisting staff who invested lots of time and effort into a single program until it was shown on television. Checking mail every morning was one of my tasks.”

WKTV CABLE TELEVISION

“I told my supervisor about what I would like to do. I thought it was really important to keep reminding my boss that I was eager to work in the field where I would be involved in areas that interest me. The picture to the left is the control room at Atlantic Video where I worked twice a week, so I tried to find another internship.”

“My second internship was at WKTV, a cable broadcasting station providing service in the greater Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia area with local news from the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS). I conducted research to help producers and monitored information from other channels. I tried to get news by surfing the Internet, translating materials, and reading news in front of the cameras. Standing before the camera was significant because my dream is to be an announcer.”

“I really enjoyed some of the attractions in Washington, D.C. I learned a lot of world history by visiting museums on weekends. One of the most impressive facts was that there were no entrance fees; for example, all the Smithsonian Museums are free because Mr. Smithson, the British man who donated the seed money for these institutions, made the absence of entry fees a condition for the United States accepting his donation. In addition, I loved to go to free performances held at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts every day at 6 P.M., and I was fond of visiting political places like Capitol Hill.”

“One lesson I learned was the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and showing initiative in all the challenges I face outside my home country even though doing so is very difficult. For example, when I was living in a dormitory, many of the other interns were working on Capitol Hill. I couldn’t even talk to the others there at first, and I felt so lonely, but I approached these interns first and then got much closer with them. We shared information, and I made friends with a girl who was deeply interested in Korean television and films that are now exerting an influence throughout the world. I was invited to stay at her home during the Christmas season.”

“I really appreciate all the classes provided by Washington Internship Program, like Dr. Bayer’s classes and Andrew Kolb’s English seminars for Korean students and others from non-English-speaking nations. I tried to participate in all activities, and they helped improve my English.”

Play Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center

“My internships in Washington, D.C., which is in the center of the world, broadened my point of view by introducing me to a diversity of people from different countries and cultures. I will always remember Washington, which is populated not only by Americans but also people from all around the globe, as the city that provided me with the most precious experiences.”

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