URBANA, Ill. — Students held back tears as they soaked in every word said by Peter Chiligiris, senior lecturer for Illinois International’s Intensive English Institute (IEI), during a speech on August 8, 2026, inside the Illini Union.
Once his speech concluded, the sniffles and tears all made sense. An incredible journey in their lives was officially over. The moment was bittersweet.
The Ajou University students from South Korea participated in the 2026 Paran Summer Program where they spent a month on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus improving their English while diving into immersive cultural experiences.
Ajou, IEI, and Global Education and Training coordinated the program that brought 25 students to campus between July 13 and Aug. 8.
Chiligiris was speaking at a ceremony marking the end of the program, highlighting the many things that the students learned as well as the many things he learned.
It was clear that students walked away with more than a great learning experience. Not only did students learn English but they also learned how to become confident in their new skill set, how to adapt to a new environment and a new culture, and how to trust themselves.
Student Speeches Tell All
Four Ajou students—Minhyeok Lee, Chaejin Im, Jihyun "Tiffany" Kim, and Harin Kim—stood before their peers and explained how the month-long program changed them.
Each speech echoed similar themes surrounding the program, like how it was a pivotal experience because it taught them to step outside their comfort zones and try new things like learning a new language and meeting new people.
They also agreed that, to an extent, the program had altered the way they think about their future.
Im said during his speech that for 20 years he was scared to learn English and went out of his way to avoid speaking the language.
However, he noted that because of the program he was able to face his fear instead of running away from it, and his confidence grew as a result.
“Standing here and giving this speech, even though it’s not perfect, gives me more confidence. This is just the beginning, but I think it’s a good start,” Im said. “This (program) was a huge opportunity. We’ve had an experience that most will never get.”
For Lee, the program sparked something within him, helping him realize that he wants to build his life in America.
He added that he plans to work toward this goal the moment he returns to South Korea.
“It’s no longer just a dream. It’s a plan,” Lee said. “I truly hope this experience has sparked something real in each of you guys and at the end of the day, we’ve only got one life and if you really want to experience everything this world has to offer, dreaming isn’t enough. We have to act. We have to be doers, not dreamers.”
Harin mentioned the many goals each of her peers set for themselves and explained that some of those goals were simple like ordering food from Chipotle in English or eating Chicago-style pizza.
In the end, she said she was confident that everyone accomplished the goals they set forth, and then some.
“Even if our English wasn’t perfect, we kept talking to each other. We made new friends, and we lived together, learned together, and made great memories together,” Harin said. “Soon, we will all go back to our normal lives, but I think we will remember this summer for a long time.”
Tiffany touched on how difficult the program was at first.
She remembered realizing that some of the simpler things, like buying groceries, asking for directions, or navigating public transit, didn’t come as easy as they did back home.
Now, looking back, she said those moments of difficulty were the start of something beautiful.
“We came from different places with different stories and yet somehow, we all met here at (Illinois) in Champaign. Out of this incredibly large country, this became the place where our paths crossed. What once felt unfamiliar slowly became a place that felt like home,” Tiffany said. “On the first bus ride, the people sitting next to us felt like strangers. Today, many of them are friends whose smiles I’ll never forget.”
She noted that the best journeys change the person who returns home. When she goes back to South Korea, she won’t just be bringing home new knowledge, skills, souvenirs, and photos, she’ll be bringing home friendships, new perspectives, unforgettable experiences, and the courage to stand outside her comfort zone.
“Thank you to all of you for becoming part of my story,” Tiffany said. “I hope that whenever we think (of each other), we remember where we were (and) who we became.”
Tears, Cheers, and a Whole Lot of Hugs
Another common trend throughout all four student speeches was how grateful they were to the staff at GET and IEI.
Each of them specifically thanked Chiligiris, IEI Academic Director Kristin Bouton, GET Assistant Director Wendy Spencer, and GET graduate student worker Richard Byington, for teaching them, hanging out with them, and guiding them through such an important time in their lives.
Tiffany summed it up best in her speech when she said, “Peter taught us that one simple small word can open the door to a new friendship. Kristin helped us understand the history and culture of this country in ways that made us see America differently. Wendy and Robert filled our days with activities that brought us closer together and gave us memories that will stay with us long after this program ends.”
And if their words didn’t paint a good enough picture of how appreciative they were of their instructors and guides, then the crying faces and many hugs and photos posing next to each of these individuals at the end of the ceremony did.
Harin dedicated the end of her speech to cheering for the faculty and staff that left such an impression on her and her peers.
After all, she emphasized that their instructors and the GET staff made this program possible.
Chiligiris noted in his speech, the students weren’t the only ones who learned something during the month-long program.
“I learned that a group of young Korean students could solve most of the world’s problems…I hope that in the future when you think back to the summer of 2026, you’ll remember it with a smile,” he said.
Analicia Haynes is the storytelling coordinator at Illinois International. She can be reached at ahayn2@illinois.edu.