Touring around the heart of Seoul, it is nearly impossible not to realize the significant influx of travelers. According to Chemical News, tourist number surged from 470,000 in October 2022 to 1.08 million in August 2023, which aligns with the rising number of foreigners learning Korean. As a result, more universities are showing a heightened interest in Korean language education to attract international students, and they are also being introduced at Korea University (KU). The Granite Tower (GT) will explore the question How is Korean perceived around the world, and how is Korean language education being conducted in response to this growing interest? through delving into an elective general studies course at KU titled Korean Language in the World, conducted by Professor Lee Eun Hee (Department of Korean Education).
Korean Language in the World is a Korean-mediated course that examines how Korean is used globally and discusses the necessary policies of Korean education that need to be adopted to keep up with this growing trend. The course’s objectives are to comprehend Korean characteristics through language comprehension, forecast future trends in educational demands, and discuss efficient strategies to support the growing population of this language. Despite it being a Korean-mediated course, beginners are welcome to enroll considering that Professor Lee asks students to fill out a brief questionnaire in the orientation and makes an effort to take into account their level of language, often checking on their understanding during the class.
Introduction to Korean Language in the World
There are two main sections to Korean Language in the World: the pre-midterm and the post-midterm. The pre-midterm involves lectures by Professor Lee which focus on comprehending Korean from a linguistic perspective. The first part of the course covers semiotics, as well as the iconicity and symbols of language. It goes on to discuss the fundamentals of phonetics and phonology as well as the challenges that international students may have when pronouncing Korean words. After covering the fundamentals of linguistics, the lectures conclude with discovering idioms and dialects, allowing students to deepen their awareness of the language’s cultural nuances. Professor Lee frequently raises questions for students to discuss in groups, often ending with a huge thought-sharing session with the whole class. Following the midterm, students work in groups allocated according to their “interested regions of the world,” in order to showcase Korean education in the chosen region as a group. In this semester’s class, one group’s presentation focused on East Asia, and they discussed the usage and education of Korean in China and Mongolia, listed related institutions, and concluded with an open-ended question asking the class for some possible solid solutions to the challenges that Korean education in East Asia faces. Additionally, the professor assigns groups based on a mix of majors and nationalities, which makes the lecture more engaging. Also, all group members — including the international students — are expected to participate in the presentation conducted in Korean, which lasts the duration of the class time. By doing this, students get the opportunity to interact with peers from other countries and understand how Korean is perceived overseas.
Voices of the International Students
Approximately one-fifth of the students enrolled in this course this semester are from other countries, such as China, Mongolia, and Japan. GT spoke with Nomin Erdene (‘20, Economics), a student from Mongolia, to gain insight into the perspective of an international student enrolled in this subject.
GT: Why did you decide to enroll in this course, and what do you like about this course?
Nomin: To the question “What is language?”, I would usually think nothing more than “a tool for communication” or regard that as a lame, pointless inquiry. However, after having learned Korean for five years, I wanted to deeply understand the linguistic aspects to find an answer to that profound yet necessary question. From this lecture, I was able to answer that with the knowledge of the qualities of language that Professor Lee imparted to us. Also, since I am majoring in Economics and only had one experience with a team project, I really enjoyed doing a team project with a group from different majors and nations. In addition, Professor Lee makes an effort to utilize basic vocabulary, and I appreciate that she is always willing to assist me with any concerns or problems I may have.
GT: Is it difficult as an international student to take this class? What are some tips for those who want to join this course?
Nomin: I bet the answer is a “yes” for any international student. Due to the course’s extensive linguistics focus, I frequently struggled with a number of challenging terms. In addition, I occasionally felt ashamed when participating in group conversations with Korean students because I was afraid I might say something awkward. However, as I grew accustomed to these discussions and as students recognized my challenges as an international student, I observed that they paid extra attention to what I had to say and respected me as a vital member of the group. A point I would like to underline to those international students wanting to enroll in this course is that, unlike our fear that we might be neglected due to a lack of Korean skills, students will instead listen more carefully to your ideas. Additionally, as this lesson covers countries from all over the world, be prepared for a “bucket of questions” on your home country from the students, who will always be curious about where you are from.
Therefore, this course helps students broaden their views outside of Korea and understand the influence the language has abroad. Nomin expressed her satisfaction that students and Professor Lee recognize them as a crucial part of the course and that this course aims to “incorporate international students,” instead of just focusing on linguistics as international students may struggle with challenging linguistic terms or lack confidence when speaking Korean.
