Two years ago the Namseoul Global Education Institute began offering Masters programs in International Teaching, I ended up signing up for the program last year. I was very hesitant at first because it was a new program and I imagined myself being asked to cram tons of information and take extremely precarious exams like my students. However, that was not the case. This is a very westernized program with a focus on essay tests. In addition to essay tests, we do a lot of projects that directly apply to my teaching classroom such as developing assessment strategies, curriculum, and creating policies. The practical application aspect of the MIT brings the content to life and makes me feel very capable. What I have appreciated the most so far (I am halfway through the program) is that the head of the thesis department made our thesis proposal paper and presentation feel very doable. Don't get me wrong, it was a lot of work, but it was doable and he kept us motivated on track in year one so that year two feels very doable. I am starting year 2 with a clear plan in place to finish on time. There have been some hurdles for sure. It can be tough in the classes taught by ESL OR EFL teachers. It takes extra effort to make sure I fully understand them. There was one teacher we all struggled with but the office listened to the students and worked with the professor to makes sure a solution was found that made class go smoother. It was huge to have the office listen to the students and I have a lot of respect for them after that. Another struggle is that students from other countries don't always have the same dedication to their studies as I do. This can be a struggle during group work, however, I have learned how to work with different cultures better so it's also a benefit to the program. Honestly, I value this hurdle now. It's a key benefit of the program.