WEST Program

Program Overview

Program Highlights

WEST—Work, English Study, Travel—is a joint initiative of the Republic of Korea and the U.S. Department of State to promote understanding between our countries. The CDS team looks forward to working with the outstanding Korean students and recent graduates who are selected for WEST in Round 4!

The CDS WEST program is for young Koreans who want their U.S. experience to take place in a very special location: our home of New York City. Living in New York is the opportunity of a lifetime, and we are very excited to introduce WEST participants to our great city.

CDS WEST participants will complete a four-month language course at Hunter IELI in Manhattan followed by a professional internship lasting up to 12 months, and then will have the opportunity to travel independently throughout the U.S. before returning home.

Please note that the program start date for CDS WEST Round 4 participants, which will appear on all visa documents, is Tuesday, August 24, 2010. According to U.S. Department of State regulations for the J-1 visa, WEST participants must arrive in the U.S. on or before this date. Orientation in New York will begin on August 25. Participants should arrange their accommodations accordingly.

CDS will sponsor J-1 visas, facilitate the language program at Hunter IELI, place each participant in a customized internship (most likely in the New York City area), organize a seminar program, and serve as participants’ main point of contact for any problems throughout their stay in the U.S. A full list of the services CDS will provide is included.

Why CDS?

CDS International is based in New York City, where our WEST participants will live, study English, and work. We are New York City experts. We specialize in programs like WEST that focus on building the professional, as well as intercultural, competencies of our participants. Our motto is We Build Careers. We will give WEST participants the opportunity to participate in seminars and cultural activities with Americans and with students and young professionals from other CDS programs worldwide. We offer personalized service to each of our participants.

Because we’re located in New York City, a short subway ride from your language school, you will get to know us well as a WEST participant. Your proximity to us and to potential host companies during the language training portion of the program ensures that CDS will know you well enough to customize the best possible internship placement for you.