Language professor earns Fulbright scholarship to teach English overseas

Language ties people and cultures together. Liberty’s Jaeshil Kim chose to explore the boundaries of language with the Fulbright US Scholar program. As a scholarship that is only awarded to U.S. citizens, the Fulbright grant allows higher education faculty to conduct research and teach in a foreign country.

Jaeshil Kim, a professor of Modern Languages, recently received the Fulbright grant. Kim originally grew up in a Christian home in South Korea and came to the U.S. as a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She has lived in the U.S. for over 25 years and has worked as a linguist at Liberty for 15 years. Not only can she speak Korean and English, but she can speak several Southeastern Asian languages as well. 

 Kim studied English literature for her undergraduate degree and took a class on Native American literature. Her professor, a man who was a part of a unique tribe and one of three people left that could speak his tribe’s language, inspired her to dig deeper into languages. Kim soon discovered her passion for linguistics. 

“I couldn’t put it down,” Kim said after scouring her campus’ library for an introductory book on linguistics. This was only the beginning of Kim’s language journey that would pave the way for her career at Liberty and receiving the Fulbright grant. 

While studying at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Kim struggled with many difficult questions about the purpose for living after one of her professors ended his life. A year later, Kim transferred to the University of California, Irvine to earn her doctoral degree. There, she met a missionary couple who shared the gospel with her. She accepted the Lord as her personal Savior in that moment.

In 2007, Kim began working at Liberty and has enjoyed having the opportunity to have more personal interactions with her students at a faith-based institution. 

“Speaking English as a second language is both my strength and weakness because I can give my students that unique perspective that they cannot possibly figure out on their own,” Kim said while discussing teaching and researching linguistics at Liberty.

When explaining the extensive process for the Fulbright scholarship, Kim stated that she had to meet with a Fulbright liaison, Edna Udobong, who is the director of the program at Liberty. Kim heavily researched the process for the scholarship and encouraged her students to consider applying for the grant. While speaking with Udobong, Kim felt that her field work experience in Southeast Asian countries could be helpful with applying. 

“(The Fulbright) goal is to send the American professionals and professors to the countries which need these professionals for advancing their education or promoting their research,” Kim said. 

To have an application that stands out, Kim described how applicants must have a well-thought out proposal that can advance lives in other countries. 

 “I feel like God is opening up a new opportunity for me to understand this Muslim country,” Kim said when describing her plans to research in Indonesia. The inspiration for Kim’s research is partly due to the field work she carried out for local English teachers in Southeast Asian countries. 

Kim will begin her Fulbright research and studies next January until the end of next July. 

Davis is a feature reporter for the Liberty Champion