Building English Skills and Confidence in Brisbane – Jo Seoyoon (Evelyn)

A childhood memory of Sydney has stayed with Jo Seoyoon for years. As a young girl visiting Australia with her family, she watched people relaxing on the grass in a city park, enjoying life at an unhurried pace. One day, she hoped, she could live like that too.

Years later, that dream has become reality.

Now living in Brisbane, Jo is spending a year studying English while pursuing her long-term goal of becoming a global marketer. Unlike many young Koreans who come to Australia on a Working Holiday visa, she made a different choice—committing to a full year of language study to build the English skills she believes are essential for an international career.

With a growing passion for K-beauty, fashion, and content creation, she hopes her Australian experience will become the foundation for a future on the global stage.

Q. Please introduce yourself.

Most people my age come to Australia on a Working Holiday visa, but I chose to come on a one-year language study program because I really wanted to improve my English.

I enrolled in a language school for a full year, which is a little unusual compared to many of my friends. At first, I wondered if I had committed to too much time, but I’ve met people from all age groups and learned so much from them. Thankfully, I’ve adapted much better than I expected. (Laughs.)

Q. What inspired you to come to Australia?

I still remember visiting a park in Sydney when I was in primary school.

I was travelling with my parents, and I was fascinated by how relaxed everyone looked, lying on the grass and enjoying the day. I remember thinking, “I’d love to live that kind of life someday.”

Later, when the opportunity to study abroad came up, I considered both Canada and Australia. Since I’d already visited Australia once and loved the weather, I chose Australia. I had also heard many good things about Brisbane, especially how comfortable it is to live here.

Q. What were your first three months in Australia like? Any memorable experiences?

Finding accommodation and settling in was definitely the hardest part.

Building a new life from scratch wasn’t easy, and it was mentally exhausting at times.

One experience that really stayed with me was when a friend experienced serious racial discrimination, and the police had to get involved. I stayed with my friend and helped throughout the situation. It made me realize that living overseas can bring unexpected challenges, and it taught me a lot in many different ways.

Q. Has studying English been helpful?

I’ve realized that real-life practice is what matters most.

Back in Korea, most of my English education focused on reading and grammar, so improving my speaking skills was my biggest goal.

At first, I wasn’t sure whether language school would make much of a difference, but after making friends from different countries and speaking English every day, I gradually became much more confident.

I’m now working at a store that sells clothing, Korean cosmetics, and contact lenses, and talking directly with customers has helped my English improve even faster.

Q. Why did you decide to study for a full year?

Honestly, English and I weren’t exactly best friends! (Laughs.)

I’ve always wanted to work in global marketing, especially in the beauty and fashion industries. With K-beauty becoming increasingly popular worldwide, I believe English is absolutely essential.

I knew a few months wouldn’t be enough, so I decided to commit to a full year—not only to improve my English but also to experience different cultures and meet people from around the world.

Q. How did you get started with content creation and social media?

I was honestly surprised when one of my Korean fashion videos reached 50,000 views.

At first, I was simply documenting my life in Australia, but gradually my content started attracting attention—not only from people in Korea but also from locals here.

After seeing that response, I became even more interested in content creation and digital marketing.

Q. What kind of experience did you gain in Korea?

In many ways, I learned more by doing than by studying.

Although I studied Tourism Management and learned marketing at university, I grew the most through hands-on experience—running social media accounts, editing videos, creating content, and working on magazines.

There wasn’t anyone teaching me step by step, so I made plenty of mistakes, but those experiences became some of my biggest lessons.

I also spent three years working for my university’s English newspaper, eventually serving as Editor-in-Chief. I managed everything from editing articles and planning newspaper sections to publishing each issue. I also organized promotional events to increase readership, which gave me valuable marketing experience.

Q. How does life in Australia compare with life in Korea?

Sometimes I do feel a little anxious, but I know this is an experience I can only have right now.

I’m currently on a leave of absence after my third year of university, so eventually I’ll have to return to Korea. Sometimes I compare myself with friends who are graduating and moving ahead with their careers.

Still, I believe the experiences I’m gaining now—meeting people from different backgrounds and communicating in English every day—will become valuable assets for my future.

Q. Do you have any tips for learning English?

Don’t wait until you can speak perfectly—just start talking.

Making international friends and speaking English every day has been the most effective method for me.

Watching YouTube Shorts and repeating useful expressions also helps. Even if you make mistakes, using English in real conversations helps you improve much faster.

Q. What are your future career goals?

I’d like to work in global sales and global marketing.

I believe everything I’m experiencing now will eventually become part of my professional portfolio. Communicating with people from different cultures is something you simply can’t learn from a textbook.

Q. Finally, what would you like to say to people who are thinking about coming to Australia?

I think taking the first step is more important than worrying too much.

The biggest thing I’ve gained from living in Australia is confidence. Before I came here, I had so many worries, but once I arrived, I realized it was much more manageable than I had imagined. (Laughs.)

Even if you think you’re starting late, it’s never too late to begin.

That said, I do think it’s helpful to come with a clear goal. Having a purpose—even a simple one—can make the entire experience much more meaningful.

Follow Jo Seoyoon’s journey on Instagram:
https://instagram.com/ch_sy.5