BestFriend Center and introduction to Sinchon-dong

Important update! If you are interested in this school, please read my two posts about the problems I had with this school: here and here.

BestFriend Korean Language Center is situated in the Sinchon-dong (법정동, dong = neighbourhood), Seodaemun-gu (gu = district), Seoul. Here’s a map to see where Sinchon-dong is located. As you see, the school is near Ewha Womens University, which I referred to in earlier posts.

Here you see where Sinchon-dong is located within Seoul. (photo credit: whatsonkorea.com)

First, a map to illustrate the neighbourhood of Sinchon (click to enlarge).

Sinchon-dong. (photo credit: ?)

As the map shows, no less than four universities are in the vicinity of my school (which is located near Sinnara Records on the map) and another one which is not shown on the map (Myongji University). I suppose most of you don’t know, but Korean universities are enormous! I hereby refer to EatYourKimchi’s WANK on Ewha Womans University (it’s really fun, just watch ^^). It’s a very busy area and has lots of department stores, cinemas and shopping area’s, mainly for young people. Also hundreds of entertainment facilities can be found, such as bars, karaoke rooms (noraebang), PC-rooms, DVD rooms and much more, in the neon lighted streets of Sinchon-dong.

Sinchon Station is on line 2 of the Seoul Subway, between Ewha Womans University Station and Hong-ik University Station.

BestFriend Korean Language Center is located near Sinnara Records, as I said, and is in the same building as Pizza Hut, so if I don’t like Korean food, I don’t need to go far. 😉

Here’s the school, as you see it’s just on top of Pizza Hut! (photo credit: BestFriend Center)

They moved here not so long ago, so the interior is still new and fresh! Let’s see what it looks like!

First, the fifth floor:

I suppose it’s the reception desk and those things. (photo credit: BestFriend Center)

The Global Lounge:

On the left: by day, on the right: by night. (photo credit: BestFriend Center)

Here a bit of an idea of what Sinchon looks like. (photo credit: BestFriend Center)

This is the cafeteria:

Coffee, tea and fruit shakes. (photo credit: BestFriend Center)

Affordable drinks in the cafeteria (1000 won = 0,68 euros, 1200 won = 0,81 euros, 1500 won = 1,02 euros, 1700 won = 1,16 euros) (photo credit: BestFriend Center)

About the classes: I will take the ‘One Month Korean regular Course’ for 2 months.

The specifics:

• class of 4-5 students (max. 8)
• use of English is class (other schools persist on using Korean only, which make student uncomfortable to learn)
• specialized class in ‘adjusting to life in Korea’, ‘passing entrance exam for college’, ‘preparing for a job’
• 4 days a week
• 3 hours a day
• total of 48 hours a month
• October course: October 8 – November 2, November course: November 5 – November 30

I will apply in July and once I know more, you’ll know more!