MFA Graduate Student and CLS recipient, Neil Cooney, featured in SU’s Graduate School Newsletter

AS REPORTED IN SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY’S GRADUATE STUDENT NEWSLETTER:

Grad Student Spends Summer in Korea through a Critical Language Scholarship

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) is a program funded by the Department of State that sends undergraduate and graduate students abroad to learn a critical-need foreign language (Swahili, Arabic, Russian, Hindi, Chinese, among others) for 8 weeks during the summer. Last year, Syracuse University graduate student Neil Cooney, a second-year M.F.A. in Creative Writing (Fiction), received the award to study Korean in South Korea. He recently shared his thoughts on the experience with The Center for Fellowship & Scholarship Advising (CFSA), who helped him apply for the scholarship.

“The way the program is structured, you can’t help but learn” explains Cooney. Cooney and his cohort spent five days a week learning Korean in an immersive language classroom at Chonnam National University. “Instruction was 100% in Korean,” he explains. “The teachers were wonderful and accommodated their instruction to the language proficiency of the students.” In addition to studying the language in the classroom, Cooney and his cohort lived with Korean host families during their 8-week stay. According to Neil, the best part of the program was “having dinner with my host family.”

Cooney was inspired to apply for the Critical Language Scholarship because of his previous experience teaching in South Korea and his interest in developing his language skills in order to translate Korean literature into English. “As part of my M.F.A. work, I was translating a short story by Korean author Lee Kiho. Despite my previous time in Korea, I quickly realized that my language skills needed to improve to really do the work justice.” Learning a language in a country where it is predominantly spoken, says Neil, means “constant exposure to the language, and greater insight into the people who speak the language.” Cooney now feels he has a greater grasp of the language and the culture of Korea.

After graduation, Cooney hopes to apply to graduate programs in Korea dedicated to literature and translation. When asked what students should do if they are interested in applying, Cooney says “get help from the Center for Fellowship & Scholarship advising! Jolynn Parker, the director, read two versions of my application before I submitted.” He continues, “It wouldn’t have happened if she didn’t actively support me through the process.”

CFSA will host an information session on CLS on Oct. 4, 2-3:30pm in Hall of Languages 207. If you plan to apply, you can get help with your application essays at two writing workshops: Nov. 1, 2-3:30pm and Nov. 8, 2-3:30pm, both in Bowne Hall 306D. You can also reach out directly to CFSA: cfsa@syr.edu / 315.443.2759. For more information about the program and eligibility requirements, visit the CLS website.

graduateschool.syr.edu/oct2019gradnews/