"What do you want to be in the future?" As one of senior undergraduates, I have been told the same question continuously. Of course, for several years of my whole college life, I had struggled to find my own answer about my potential career question, and finally I got an answer. Recently, I found myself dreaming to become a diplomat. For my future career, abilities which I have need to be classified in importance order: language proficiency, regional knowledge and multi-cultural mind.
The most important skill to be a diplomat is, in my personal opinion, language proficiency. Needless to say, English is really crucial language among diplomacy. It does not mean that all people who want to be diplomats must be "native" speakers, nor all English native speakers can be diplomats, because whether to be native speakers is not an issue. Whether they can express their opinion fluently and clearly is the thing regardless of one's pronunciation or intonation. However, it is true that even I am a non-native speaker, I should try to be fluent speaker or writer in English. So, to improve my English skill, I am now doing a language-Korean and English- exchange program with American diplomats in Seoul. It is a great luck to have opportunity to study with them who want to study Korean. So, we help each other to understand each language. And I think the ability to learn another language fast is really important. I have a quite good linguistic sense and I have learned Turkish in a short time, as well. It would be the great ability for my career.
The second most important ability is professional regional knowledge. Although we live in a global society, we actually do not know well about another culture with specific knowledge. I would like to be a regional specialist on Turkey or Middle Eastern culture among diplomats. As time has changed, our examination system on Foreign Affairs was totally changed. There are regional expert sections. The systemic change stands to reason, because there are few regional experts on "another" world except for neighborhood nations such as Japan, China, or the U.S. To meet this new criterion, my knowledge on both English culture and Turkish or Middle Eastern culture would be really useful. Also, for professional studies on Middle Eastern countries, I am planning to go to graduate school in Turkey for MA degree. And if the opportunity comes, I will study in the U.S. for doctor's degree to understand western perspectives and ideas on Middle East and Asia.
Lastly, the next best thing to become a diplomat is keeping multiculturalism in mind. I am interested in another culture, and try to understand and embrace the differences, because there is no superior or inferior culture in the world. I lived in the U.S. and Turkey both, so became to understand there are huge differences in different countries. Also, to acquire a cosmopolitan outlook, I have been working in U.S. Embassy in Seoul as an intern. Even I am an intern, I have learned a lot, and experienced how diplomats are working, and what is Embassy's role in another nation. If I have a chance, I want to have experiences at international organizations in the future, as well.
To sum up, I have mentioned three major abilities to become a diplomat: language skill, professional regional knowledge, and multi-cultural mind. Needless to say, all I have mentioned and planned above are not enough to gain my goal. However, I hope to create my small achievement step by step as I have done so far.
Seung Ah Lee
ReplyDeleteWow, i'm impressed and i felt great sympathy! I also dreamed of becoming a diplomat. ;)
Firstly, it's good that you recently found the answer to the 'what is your future dream' question. I'm happy for you.
You seem to be full of ambitions and passion.
It is good to see that you are continuously making efforts to come closer to your goal.
In you writing, i can tell that you tried to use different expressions and collocations. Well-organized with specific details! Good job ;)
I once had a dream to be a diplomat so I enjoyed your reading haha.
ReplyDeleteIn the expression in the first body paragraph 'fluent speaker or writer in English' you'd better change 'or' into 'and' since it's better to say both, not just one.
And the expression 'The systemic change stands to reason' needs to be changed as 'stands for a reason'
"What do you want to be in the future?" As one of senior undergraduates, I have been told the same question continuously. Of course, for several years of my whole college life, I had struggled to find my own answer about my potential career question, and finally I got an answer. Recently, I found myself dreaming to become a diplomat. For my future career, abilities which I have need to be classified in importance order: language proficiency, regional knowledge and multi-cultural mind.
ReplyDeleteThe most important skill to be a diplomat is, in my personal opinion, language proficiency. Needless to say, English is really crucial language among diplomacy. It does not mean that all people who want to be diplomats must be "native" speakers, nor all English native speakers can be diplomats, because whether to be native speakers is not an issue. Whether they can express their opinion fluently and clearly is the thing regardless of one's pronunciation or intonation. However, it is true that even I am a non-native speaker; I should try to be fluent speaker and writer in English. So, to improve my English skill, I am now doing a language-Korean and English- exchange program with American diplomats in Seoul. It is a great luck to have opportunity to study with them who want to study Korean. So, we help each other to understand each language. And I think the ability to learn another language fast is really important. I have a quite good linguistic sense and I learned Turkish, of course it is not perfect level, in a short time, as well. That ability to learn a new language in a short time would be the great ability for my career.
The second most important ability is professional regional knowledge. Although we live in a global society, we actually do not know well about another culture with specific knowledge. I would like to be a regional specialist on Turkey or Middle Eastern culture among diplomats. As time has changed, our examination system on Foreign Affairs was totally changed. There are regional expert sections, now. The systemic change stands for a reason, because there are few regional experts on "another" world except for neighborhood nations such as Japan, China, or the U.S. To meet this new criterion, my knowledge on both English culture and Turkish or Middle Eastern culture would be really useful. Also, for professional studies on Middle Eastern countries, I am planning to go to graduate school in Turkey for MA degree. And if the opportunity comes, I will study in the U.S. for doctor's degree to understand western perspectives and ideas on Middle East and Asia.
Lastly, the next best thing to become a diplomat is keeping multiculturalism in mind. I am interested in another culture, and try to understand and embrace the differences, because there is no superior or inferior culture in the world. I lived in the U.S. and Turkey both, so became to understand that there are huge differences in different countries. Also, to acquire a cosmopolitan outlook, I have been working in U.S. Embassy in Seoul as an intern. Even I am an intern, I have learned a lot, and experienced how diplomats are working, and what is Embassy's mission and role in another nation. Beyond this experience, if I have a chance, I want to have experiences at international organizations in the future, as well.
To sum up, I have mentioned three major abilities to become a diplomat: language skill, professional regional knowledge, and multi-cultural mind. Needless to say, all I have mentioned and planned above are not enough to gain my goal. However, I hope to create my small achievement step by step as I have done so far.