Korean Language Program Courses
K10 Beginning Korean and Culture I
This course assumes little or no previous knowledge of Korean, and as such, aims to train the students to acquire the fundamentals of the Korean language and culture and to be able to function socially at a basic survival level. The course starts with the building blocks to study the Korean language and culture, such as the practice and mastery of Hangul, the Korean alphabet, from the very beginning of the semester. Subsequently, the course emphasizes not only the acquisition of basic Korean sentential patterns and sound system but also the communicative application of frequently used language functions, such as exchanging greetings, giving their identity, asking directions and naming a number of familiar objects from their immediate environment, posing simple questions, and telling time and counting money. Approximately forty (40) elementary grammar items and six hundred (600) new expressions are introduced. Upon the completion of the course, students are expected to have Korean speaking proficiency equivalent to the Novice-Low level on the ACTFL scale.
K10 Beginning Korean and Culture II
Prerequisite: K10-I or equivalent
As a continuation of Beginning Korean and Culture I, this course assumes some previous knowledge of Korean including the mastery of Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Continuing to explore more basic Korean sentential patterns and attempt the communicative application of frequently used language functions, the course introduces a full range of the fundamentals of the Korean language and culture with which the students can function socially at a basic level, such as a limited number of irregular predicates, the past and future tenses, and honorifics and deferential speech styles. In an effort to simulate the contexts the target language is adequately used, culturally appropriate manners and culture-specific social information are also highlighted throughout the course . Approximately forty (40) further grammar items and six hundred (600) new expressions are added to those explored in Beginning Korean and Culture I. Upon the completion of the course, students are expected to have Korean speaking proficiency equivalent to the Novice-Mid level on the ACTFL scale.
K11 Advanced Beginning Korean and Culture I
Prerequisite: K10-II or equivalent
As a continuation of Beginning Korean and Culture I and II, this course requires previous knowledge of basic Korean including the mastery of Hangul, the Korean alphabet. The course expands the scope of learning and starts to explore grammatically complex structures and socially delicate situations beyond the basic sentential patterns and communicative functions introduced in Beginning Korean and Culture I and II. Accordingly, more irregular predicates, connectives, sentential transformations, and speech styles are introduced along with the various cultural contexts in which they are adequately used. Approximately forty (40) further grammar items and six hundred (600) new expressions are added to those explored in Beginning Korean and Culture II . Upon the completion of the course, students are expected to have Korean speaking proficiency equivalent to the Novice-High level on the ACTFL scale, being able to manage successfully a number of uncomplicated communicative tasks in straightforward social situations, sustain conversations to a few of the predictable topics, and express personal meaning by relying on learned phrases.
K11 Advanced Beginning Korean and Culture II
Prerequisite: K11-I or equivalent
This course continues to explore grammatically complex structures and socially delicate situations introduced in Advanced Beginning Korean and Culture I . More irregular predicates, connectives, sentential transformations, and speech styles are introduced along with the various cultural contexts in which they are adequately used. Approximately forty (40) further grammar items and six hundred (600) new expressions are added to those explored in Advanced Beginning Korean and Culture I. Upon the completion of the course, students are expected to have Korean speaking proficiency equivalent to the Intermediate-Low level on the ACTFL scale, able to handle successfully a limited number of uncomplicated communicative tasks in straightforward social situations, to sustain conversations limited to the concrete exchanges and predictable topics necessary in the target language culture, and express personal meaning by combining and recombining into short statements what they know and what they hear from their interlocutors. They are expected to manage topics relating to basic personal information covering, for example, self and family, some daily activities and personal preferences, as well as to some immediate needs, such as ordering food and making simple purchases.
K20 Intermediate Korean and Culture I and II
Prerequisite: K11-II or equivalent.
These courses, continuations of the Advanced Beginning Korean and Culture classes, broadly expand the scope of learning. Students in each of these courses continue to study approximately forty new complex grammar points and six hundred new expressions along with the delicate cultural contexts they are adequately used. Both oral practices and writing exercises are equally highlighted. Upon the completion of the courses, students in K20-I are expected to have Korean speaking proficiency equivalent to the Intermediate-Mid level on the ACTFL scale ( e.g., to handle successfully a variety of uncomplicated communicative tasks in straightforward social situations such as daily activities, interests and personal preferences, as well as food, shopping, travel and lodging; to ask a variety of questions when necessary to obtain simple information to satisfy basic needs, such as directions, prices and services; to express personal meaning by combining and recombining known elements and conversational input) and those in K20-II to the Intermediate-High Speaking Proficiency ( e.g., to converse with ease and confidence when dealing with most routine tasks and social situations of the Intermediate level; to handle successfully many uncomplicated tasks and social situations requiring an exchange of basic information related to work, school, recreation, particular interests and areas of competence).
K30 Advanced Korean and Culture I and II
Prerequisite: K20-II or equivalent.
These courses aim to achieve students' systematic understanding of high-intermediate to advanced Korean grammar and to promote active use of the language both in and out of class. Students are expected to be able to manage some free discussion on general topics on Korea and read some authentic materials related to current affairs. Reading short but challenging Korean texts is emphasized to contextualize the grammar, cultivate communicative competence, and enhance cultural awareness. Also introduced are a large amount of new vocabulary including some Hancha s (Sino-Korean characters) and essential information about Korean culture, including her history, customs, folklore, geography, and the contrast between Korea and other countries. Upon the completion of the courses, the students in K30-I are expected to have Korean speaking proficiency equivalent to the Advanced-Low level on the ACTFL scale ( e.g., to participate actively in most informal and a limited number of formal conversations; to narrate and describe in all major time frames in paragraph length discourse; to handle appropriately the linguistic challenges presented by a complication or unexpected turn of events that occurs within the context of a routine situation or communicative task with which they are otherwise familiar) and those in K30-II equivalent to the Advanced-Mid level ( e.g., to handle with ease and confidence a large number of communicative tasks; to participate actively in most informal and some formal exchanges on a variety of concrete topics relating to events of current, public, and personal interest or individual relevance; to narrate and describe in all major time frames by providing a full account, with good control of aspect; to handle successfully and with relative ease the linguistic challenges presented by a complication or unexpected turn of events; to contribute to conversations on a variety of familiar topics, dealt with concretely, with much accuracy, clarity and precision; to state an opinion or cite conditions).
K40 Business Korean
This course focuses on reading newspaper and magazine articles covering a wide variety of topics. Students will be able to ascertain the important issues and share their own opinions, ideas and experiences.
