Spring 2020: Korean Language & Culture Classes
Summer 2020 information is available HERE!
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 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: May 18 - August 19
Fall: August 31 – December 16
Hallyu Camp: TBD
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.
Spring 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 the class reaches maximum enrollment. Please first check the class status below and indicate in your email the SPECIFIC class you would like to register for and its day of the week. Scroll down to the bottom section below for additional details on registration. Please note that classes may sometimes become full before we have a chance to update their status here. To receive future class announcements by email as soon as they're available, join our mailing list at the link above.
Schedule
All classes meet once a week, 6:45 to 8:45 p.m., at the Korean Cultural Center, either on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday evenings. All classes meet a total of 12 times through mid-December (the last possible class dates are May 18-20). Some classes may end earlier if there are no unexpected cancellations. Although unlikely, some classes may meet on an irregular day if needed to finish on time. See the full schedule below.
Fees
Tuition for new students is $240 per course (12 meetings). Returning students receive a discount tuition rate of $220. Required textbooks can also be purchased from the KSIDC (usually $40, details below) along with tuition and picked up on the first day of class. All classes are contingent upon a minimum enrollment, and tuition is not refundable after the first class.
Perks
All classes include a catered Korean dinner party at the end of the session, complimentary Korean snacks, coffee, and tea refreshments during every class, access to parking at the KCC (limited to availability), and additional class and Korean Cultural Center materials. Students with 75% attendance or better receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course.
Some class levels may not be offered every session, but most are. The number and variety of classes is also gradually expanding to meet demand. Classes in bold are currently being offered:
Beginner 1
Beginner 2
Beginner 3
Intermediate 1
Intermediate 2
Intermediate 3
Advanced
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 (Mondays A)
NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.
When: Mondays, 6:45-8:45 pm (first class meets Feb. 3)
Instructor: Eunjung Park
Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1A ($40)
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 (Mondays B)
NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.
When: Mondays, 6:45-8:45 pm (first class meets Feb. 3)
Instructor: Juyoung Park
Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1A ($40)
Description: This class is the same as Beginner 1 above, but meets in a different room.
Beginner 1 (Wednesdays)
NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.
When: Wednesdays, 6:45-8:45 pm (first class meets Feb. 5)
Instructor: Juyoung Park
Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1A ($40)
Description: This class is the same as Beginner 1 above, but meets on a different schedule.
Beginner 2 (Mondays)
NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.
When: Mondays, 6:45-8:45 pm (first class meets Feb. 3)
Instructor: Heecho Kim
Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1A ($40)
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 2 (Tuesdays)
NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.
When: Tuesdays, 6:45-8:45 pm (first class meets Feb. 4)
Instructor: Jiyoung Yim
Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1A ($40)
Description: This class is the same as Beginner 2 above, but meets on a different day.
Beginner 3 (Wednesdays)
NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.
When: Wednesdays, 6:45-8:45 pm (first class meets Feb. 5)
Instructor: Jin Choi
Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1B ($40)
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 (Wednesdays)
NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.
When: Wednesdays, 6:45-8:45 pm (first class meets Feb. 5)
Instructor: Keum Sook 'Grace' Yang
Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 2A ($40)
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 3 (Tuesdays)
NOTE: This class is tentatively full! To join the waitlist in case space opens up, click here.
When: Tuesdays, 6:45-8:45 pm (first class meets Feb. 4)
Instructor: Hyunah Kim
Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 3A ($40)
Description: Intermediate 3 is a continuation of the Intermediate 2 Korean language course and is appropriate for those who have taken at least 2-3 college semesters of Korean. This course is designed to enhance students’ ability to speak, listen to, read, and write various nuanced Korean in intermediate-high level. In this course, students will develop an expanded ability to communicate in proper usage of vocabulary and expressions. In addition, students would be able to comprehend the situations in consulting and suggestions, sharing experiences, describing appearance and characters, expressing thoughts, solving problems, by using various speech styles. Students will practice a variety of class activities such as role-plays, pair works, conversation stations, group activities, playing games, etc. assigned by the instructor. Students are also expected to improve their cultural competencies by adapting contemporary Korean culture trends using various media materials.
New students registering for Intermediate 3 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 all verb/adjective conjugation rules including irregular rules and noun-modifying forms in various aspects.
Advanced 2: Communication and Composition through Current Affairs in the Korean Peninsula
When: Tuesdays, 6:45-8:45 pm (first class meets Feb. 4)
Instructor: Hei Sook Yoo
Textbook: Korean Composition, University of Hawaii Press ($30)
Description: This class is a continuation of the Advanced 1 Class but not a prerequisite course. This class will provide students with an opportunity to explore current affairs and ever-changing arrays of social concerns and issues on the Korean Peninsula. Students are expected to cover various topics and thoroughly explore all sides of the issues. This course aims to add relevance to past and current studies as well as to promote global awareness by exploring current affairs in the Korean Peninsula. Through various class activities and practice exercises, students can enhance their language proficiency as well as their knowledge of the Korean Peninsula in this class. Each class will introduce current issues from news sources that are in line with the interest of students. Students will be able to apply increased Korean fluency through composition and translation they acquired from multimedia resources into real-life situations. This class requires extensive class participation and discussion. Students will work in pairs, small groups, and complete exercises and tasks as assigned by the instructor. For a class outline and important proficiency requirements/reading samples, please visit our advanced class website here.
Registration / More Information
To register, please check the current status of the class above and if available email your request to AWOJ@koreaembassy.org including the name and day of the specific class for which you would like to register. You will receive a reply with details on registration / payment forms for available classes.
PLEASE 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.
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 registered students, 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.
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