All that Korean Medicine

There are a lot of study groups going around in Korean Medical Schools. Study group activities make up a considerable portion of school life for students majoring in Korean Medicine. Students participate in at least one study group. They usually deal with classic medical texts: ones that are dealt with in class, and also others that are not dealt with in class.

Pf. Kim Nam-il gives out group reports every semester for grade 2 and 3 students. There are some study groups going around for grade 1 students but actual study group activities starts with Pf. Kim's assignment. Grade 2 is when students start to develop their own points of view, which is very essential in becoming Korean Medical doctors. Study group activities go on even after graduation.

You give out "group study reports" for grade 2 and 3 students every semester. What made you start the project?

Well, first of all, there is a certain amount of elements that school curriculum can not all cover: for example, Korean Medicine requires great amount of thinking for students themselves which cannot be spoon-fed through classroom lectures.

Study groups provide students with chances to develop their own points of view. The process itself teaches each student on how to study. And it also has the advantage of studying together rather than by yourself, because you can exchange ideas and actually not give up the book and keep going on to finish it.

My personal view is that 2 years of group study reports is enough for students to get used to studying medical texts and go on even after graduation. I am sure these group study reports will set school tradition.

I've heard so many times that "you should develop your own point of view in doing Korean Medicine." What do you think this means?

It is important to have your own point of view when you're studying Korean Medicine. Korean Medicine itself requires the learner to keep thinking and thinking. "Developing your own point of view" starts with knowing diversely and broadly about Korean Medicine. Only full understanding can be led to intellectual basis for developing your own point of view, and also give you the ability to cope with clinical problems after graduation. "Your own point of view" is never a thing that someone can give you. You have to keep working on it.

Byung-eun:
How has been the students doing with the project so far?

Pf. Kim:
Some groups surprise me with the efforts they put in and I can just see how much they've thought and thought about even so small problem in the texts. These people really make me feel happy. The point is, the more effort you put in for the study group activities, either for the report or not, it will help you in "developing your own point of view."