Focused on practical language skills and cultural context, the King Sejong Institute Washington, D.C. (KSIDC) offers a range of classes that build skills in speaking, reading, listening, and writing Korean. All classes are limited in size and led by native Korean-speaking instructors with teaching experience at U.S. universities or professional institutions. Classes primarily teach language skills, while also introducing students to the traditional, modern, and social culture of Korea. 

The KSIDC is a DC-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which operates Korean language classes and educational programs in partnership with the Korean Cultural Center. Registration for all KSIDC classes is open to the public, and all those who wish to improve their Korean are welcome! For more details, see our nondiscrimination policy below.

2020 Schedule

Spring: February 3 - May 13 

Summer: June  – August 

Fall: September – December 

Exact start and end dates for each class vary. A detailed schedule will be added to this website and sent to our mailing list a few weeks before each session of classes.

   Follow the KSIDC on Facebook for updates!

Summer 2020 Overview

How to Register

Registration is now open for the classes listed below. All registration is first come, first served by email request to awoj@koreaembassy.org, until classes reach maximum enrollment. Please first check the class status below and indicate in your email the SPECIFIC class you would like to register for and the day of the week. See the section at the bottom of this page for more on the registration process. Please note that classes may sometimes become full before we have a chance to update their status here. To receive future class announcements as soon as they're available, join our e-mailing list at the link above or follow us on Facebook.

Schedule

All Summer 2020 classes will be entirely online, with regular video conference meetings via Zoom or other platforms, generally during weekday evenings. Most regular sequence (numbered) courses meet twice per week; see below for individual schedules, which vary. All regular sequence courses meet for a total of 24 in-class hours (the same as in-person classes, but online course meetings are slightly shorter and more numerous). Special topic course lengths vary. Most Summer 2020 classes will finish by late August, but may end earlier if there are no unexpected cancellations.

Fees 

Tuition for new students is $240 per regular sequence course (comprising 16 meetings). Returning students receive a discount rate of $220. Tuition for special topic courses varies. The KSIDC will not be offering textbook sales this session, so required textbooks should be purchased by students on their own prior to the start of class, and are generally available through Amazon and other online retailers (with some exceptions for Advanced courses). All courses are contingent upon a minimum enrollment, and tuition is fully refundable only up to the day after the first class meeting.

Perks 

Students with 75% attendance or better receive a certificate of completion upon completion of the course and can also address their particular language learning needs by arranging to meet before or after class meetings with their instructor during virtual office hours, as available. Although in-person KSIDC classes typically include a catered Korean dinner during at the end and snacks during each meetings, these are unfortunately not possible with online courses; instead, to help facilitate online learning and provide greater individualized attention, average enrollment for online courses is reduced.

Course Levels / Sequence

Some courses levels are not be offered every session, but most are. The number and variety is also gradually expanding to meet demand. Those in bold below are currently being offered:  

     Beginner 1 

     Beginner 2 

     Beginner 3 

     Intermediate 1 

     Intermediate 2 

     Intermediate 3 

     Special Topics:

      - Digital Korean Proficiency through Korean History and Current Affairs (Advanced) 

     - A Taste of Korean: Language and Culture through Cooking at Home (Korean Cooking Class, Beginner and Up)

Nondiscrimination Policy of the KSIDC

The King Sejong Institute Washington, D.C. admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to its students. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission and registration policies, support related to registration costs, and other school-administered programs. All are welcome! 

Schedule of Classes

Beginner 1, Group A (Mondays & Wednesdays)

NOTE: This class is tentatively full! However, we may add additional sections. Please join the waitlist for updates HERE.

When: Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:00-7:30 pm (first class meets June 15)

Instructor: Hannah Chong

Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1A Student Book AND Workbook (sold separately)

Description: This class is designed for those who have no previous experience learning Korean. Students will be introduced to the Korean alphabet Hangeul, basic sentence structures, simple vocabulary, and conversation. By the end of the semester, students will be able to read and write Hangeul, introduce themselves, exchange greetings, count numbers, order food at a restaurant, and carry out basic daily conversation. Cultural aspects will also be included in the course content, so that students may grow in their understanding of Korean culture and share their cultural experiences. Students will be encouraged to speak Korean in class through different communicative activities often carried out in pairs or groups. There will be weekly assignments and quizzes to review what was covered in class. Students in this class will be able to continue to Beginner 2 during the next session.

Beginner 1, Group B (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

NOTE: This class is tentatively full! However, we may add additional sections. Please join the waitlist for updates HERE.

When: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00-7:30 pm (first class meets June 30) 

Instructor: Heecho Kim

Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1A Student Book AND Workbook (sold separately)

Description: This class is the same as Beginner 1 above, but meets on a different schedule.

Beginner 2 (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

NOTE: This class is tentatively full! However, we may add additional sections. Please join the waitlist for updates HERE.

When: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00-7:30 pm (first class meets June 23) 

Instructor: Eunjung Park

Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1A Student Book AND Workbook (sold separately)

Description: Beginner 2 is a continuation from Beginner 1 and is appropriate for beginner learners who have some prior experience learning Korean. Students are expected to be able to read and write the Korean alphabet, Hangul, and understand basic Korean dialogue, such as exchanging greetings, ordering food, and asking for information. This course will focus on developing essential conversational skills needed for daily communication in Korean, such as making an appointment, talking about daily activities and past events, and asking for/giving directions. In addition, students will learn to use the formal/deferential speech style and make the 5 Wh- questions in Korean. Cultural aspects will also be included in the course content, so that students may understand social and historical distinctiveness of Korean culture. Students will be encouraged to speak Korean in class through different communicative activities carried out in pairs or groups. There will be weekly assignments and quizzes to review materials covered in class. Students in this class will be able to continue to Beginner 3 in the next session.

New students registering for Beginner 2 should understand most of the following sample dialogue: 

앤디: 미나 씨, 오늘 일해요? 

미나: 아니요. 

앤디: 그럼 뭐 해요? 

미나: 친구 집에 가요. 

앤디: 몇 시에 친구 집에 가요? 

미나: 여덟 시에 친구 집에 가요.

Beginner 3 (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.

When: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00-7:30 pm (first class meets June 23) 

Instructor: Jiyoung Yim

Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1B Student Book AND Workbook (sold separately)

Description: Beginner 3 builds on the basic foundation established in Beginner 1 and 2. This class is appropriate for those who have completed both Beginner 1 and 2 at the King Sejong Institute or those who have taken an elementary Korean course in college. Students who register for this class need to have basic knowledge of sentence structures, the present and past tense verb conjugation, informal and formal speech styles, and numeral systems in Korean. In this class, students will be introduced to diverse settings of daily conversation and specific tasks to be carried out in Korean. By the end of the semester, students will be able to talk about future plans and previous experiences, describe and compare varied things, make suggestions, ask for a favor, give reasons, prepare for a job interview, and use honorifics. Authentic materials in Korean, including drama clips, news, commercials, and music will be used to understand the usage of varied expressions and to broaden cultural understanding. There will be regular assignments and quizzes to review the materials covered in class.

New students registering for Beginner 3 should understand most of the following sample dialogue:

앤디: 미나 씨, 주말에 뭐 했어요?

미나: 공원에 갔어요.

앤디: 공원에 운동하러 갔어요?

미나: 아니요, 친구를 만나러 갔어요.

앤디: 그런데 근처에 공원이 있어요?

미나: 네, 집 앞에 있어요.

Intermediate 1 (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.

When: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00-7:30 pm (first class meets June 30) 

Instructor: Keum Sook 'Grace' Yang

Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 2A Student Book AND Workbook (sold separately)

Description: Intermediate 1 is a continuation from Beginner 3 and is appropriate for those who have taken Beginner 1-3 or 1-2 college semesters of Korean. This course aims to further enhance students’ understanding of the intermediate-low level of Korean language skills as a second language; it emphasizes practicing diverse settings of conversation, additional grammatical structures, broadening vocabulary, various styles of conjugation including the future tense, context-sensitive honorific speech styles, and cultural understanding of historical and contemporary written texts. Students will have the opportunity to synthesize their speaking, composition, and comprehension skills in through brief class presentations. Students who register for this level need to have basic level grammar knowledge including basic tenses, informal and formal speech styles, numbers, about thirty action verbs, and basic sentence structures.

New students registering for Intermediate 1 should understand MOST of the following sample dialogue and text (if not necessarily all vocabulary): 

한국:  미국 씨, 한국 음식을 드셔 보셨어요?

미국:  네, 먹어 봤어요.

한국:  김치를 좋아하세요?

미국:  아니요, 김치는 좋아하지 않아요. 

한국: 왜요? 

미국:  김치가 맛있지만 너무 매워서 못 먹어요.  

저는 회사원이에요. 집에서 회사까지 버스로 30분쯤 걸려요. 그래서 보통 7시에 일어나요. 8시에 집에서 출발해요. 그런데 오늘은 1시간 늦게 일어났어요. 버스 정류장까지 뛰었어요. 그런데 정류장에 사람이 너무 많았어요. 버스도 안 왔어요. 그래서 택시를 탔어요. 택시가 정말 빨리 갔어요. 9시 전에 도착했어요. 그래서 회사에 들어가기 전에 편의점에서 우유를 하나 샀어요.

Level Guideline: Students need to have basic knowledge of sentence structures, present and past tense verb conjugation, informal and formal speech styles, and numeral systems in Korean.

Intermediate 2 (Mondays & Wednesdays)

NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.

When: Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm (first class meets June 29)

Instructor: Hyunah Kim

Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 2B Student Book AND Workbook (sold separately)

Description: Intermediate 2 is a continuation of the Intermediate 1 Korean language course and is appropriate for those who have taken at least 2 college semesters of Korean. This course is designed to enhance students’ ability to speak, listen to, and write various nuanced Korean in an interpersonal and an interpretive situation with a contextual understanding of intermediate-mid level grammar. Students therefore develop an expanded ability to communicate in a culturally appropriate manner and critically examine current Korean issues. When students attend this course regularly, they will be expected to be able to comprehend and communicate suggestions, sharing experiences, thoughts, intentions, desires, feelings, and abilities using about about seventy various action verbs. In addition, students will develop their cultural competencies by acquiring cross-cultural understanding of Korean ways of thinking.

New students registering for Intermediate 2 should understand MOST of the following sample dialogue and text (if not necessarily all vocabulary):

앤디: 미나 씨, 축구 보는 것을 좋아하세요?

미나: 왜요? 텔레비전에서 경기를 본 적이 있어요.

앤디: 그럼, 오늘 같이 축구 보러 가요!

미나: 미안해요. 오늘은 다른 친구하고 만나기로 했어요.

앤디: 그럼, 다음에 같이 갑시다.

미나: 네, 다음에 갈 때 꼭 알려 주세요.

김민수 씨는 회사 동료인데 한국 무역 회사애 다닌 지 1년쯤 됐어요. 한국 회사에 다닌 지 1년쯤 됐어요. 대학에서 경영학을 전공했어요. 민수 씨와 함께 일하고 있는 사람은 수지 씨인데, 두 사람은 내가 회사에 처음 들어왔을 때부터 나를 많이 도와 줘서 항상 고맙게 생각하고 있어요. 민수 씨는 내년부터 해외 출장을 다녀야 해서 요즘 영어 공부를 열심히 하고 있어요. 민수 씨는 10년쯤 후에 무역 회사애 사장님이 되고 싶어 해요.

Level Guideline: Students need to handle verb/adjective conjugation rules in tenses and make sentences using basic causal conjunctives (-아/어서,  -고, -(으)려고, etc.). And they need to have the basic knowledge of noun-modifying forms. 

A Taste of Korean: Language and Culture through Cooking at Home [Special Topic, Beginner and Up] 

NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.

When: Mondays, 6:00-8:00 pm (9 ONLINE meetings, first class meets June 22)

Tuition: $120 (single rate) Updated fee!

Instructor: Jin Choi

Textbook: none 

Description: In this special topic course, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the culture and language that surrounds Korean food by preparing a variety of classic Korean dishes. Students will receive a list of ingredients to acquire for each weekly dish (with alternatives available at standard grocery stores), which will be prepared together during lively online class meetings with discussions. Dishes will be authentic but not overly complicated, such as불고기 (bulgogi), 잡채 (japchae), 비빔밥 (bibimbap), and others decided on as a group. The course will introduce contextual aspects of Korean food culture, such as cooking traditions, common practices, useful terminology and expressions, and important social aspects of enjoying food. Basic Korean language proficiency (such as topics covered by Beginner 1) will be helpful for the class, but it not strictly required. Some prep work may be required, and access to a kitchen and a portable device that can join a Zoom meeting with video and audio is required. While this is not primarily a language course, it will include skill building and conversation to compliment any proficiency level, and will welcome learners at a range of levels.

Digital Korean Proficiency through Korean History and Current Affairs [Special Topic, Advanced]

NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.

When: Mondays, 6:00-8:00 pm (12 meetings, first class meets June 8)

Tuition: $240 (new) / $220 (returning)

Instructor: Hei Sook Yoo

Textbook: Learning Korean through Korean History (Sunrye Kim, Darakwon, 2019) / 역사 이야기로 배우는 한국어 (김순례 저, 다락원, 2019년)

Description: This Special Topic Advanced level course will provide students with an opportunity to explore famous figures in Korean history and to discuss current affairs related to the figures and contemporary issues on the Korean Peninsula. Students are expected to cover various topics and thoroughly explore all sides of the issues. The course aims to add relevance to traditional and contemporary history as well as to promote Korean proficiency by exploring the lives of Korean historical figures and their legacies in current affairs. Through various class activities and practice exercises, students can enhance their language proficiency as well as their knowledge of Korean history via an online class format. Each class will introduce a prominent figure in Korean history and related current news sources. Students will be able to apply increased Korean fluency from multimedia resources to real-life situations. Students will work in pairs and small groups to complete exercises and tasks as assigned by the instructor. This class requires extensive class participation and discussion though the learning platforms (Zoom, Google Sites/Doc/Classroom, KakaoTalk, and various class apps., etc.). This course will be delivered primarily as regular synchronous meetings. Course content can be accessed via Zoom Learning Management System (LMS) via the King Sejong Institute DC and Google Sites/Doc/Classroom built by the instructor. Students will log in to Zoom using their individual ID and invite links. For a class outline and important proficiency requirements/reading samples, please visit our advanced class website here.

Registration / More Information

To register, check the current status of the class above and, if it is not full, email your request to AWOJ@koreaembassy.org including the name and day of the specific course. You will receive a reply with details on registration / payment forms for available classes. 

NOTE: Registration requests are taken in the order received until a class is full, at which point a waitlist option will be added to this website and existing registration requests will be confirmed. Joining the waitlist is a good idea, as enrollment often shifts ahead of the start. For more information, contact Adam Wojciechowicz at awoj@koreaembassy.org or (202) 587-6168 (part time office hours only, on odd-numbered days in June).

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. is located at 2370 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC, 20008. Free parking in our private lot is available to students attending in-person classes, and the center is bus route-accessible or a 15-minute walk from the Dupont Circle metro station. For a map of the embassy and the KCC, click here.