By John Redmond
Contributing Writer
Many foreigners study at Korean universities. Most study for their MBA, as a great many MBA programs are conducted in English. But what about other courses? Say, for example, theology.
Iranian national, Pedram Tabrisy, a Muslim, is studying theology ― defined in the dictionary as ``the study of the nature of God and religious truth'' ― at Seoul Christian University, in Korean.
To answer my curiosity about the language aspect, Pedram informed me that he speaks four languages. His native language is Farsi ― modern Persian written in Arabic ― his second language is English, his third Arabic and he has since taught himself Korean.
He said that he went to conversation classes and would listen to the audio material wherever he went. ``I could speak and understand Korean, long before I could read or write it,'' he said. ``Whenever I went home to Iran I would take the tapes with me,'' he added.
Studying at university in Korea doesn't necessarily mean that all lectures are in Korean. A large number of Korean professors have pursued post-graduate studies at universities overseas, resulting in a high level of English literacy across campus. ``Many of my professors give additional tuition in English, plus some of the texts we study have no Korean translations other than what the professor has done. It's easier to get the original text,'' Pedram explained.
English is not limited to professors. ``A great many students try to communicate with me in English,'' he said. ``They're very curious about Islam and I once had to do a presentation in English.''
Financing study in Korea is very dependent on one's visa status. Full time study qualifies one for a D2 visa. With a D2 visa its possible to apply for scholarships and legally work for up to 20 hours a week. ``I'm on a full scholarship now, so I can also legally work,'' he said, adding that he is very lucky to have a supportive network here in Seoul.
Pedram says that studying at a Korean university is a great learning experience, allowing him to gain a unique understanding of Koreans and Korean culture,
Pedram has been in Korea since 2005 and can be reached on