The Fall 2026 session offers a majority of courses that meet online/remote with regular video meetings via Zoom or other platforms, generally during weekday evenings with some Saturday morning and afternoon options, as well as in-person courses that meet at the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. In-person and online courses cover the same content and meet for the same amount of time.

All courses meet primarily once per week for a total of 24 class hours/12 meetings and finish by mid-December at the latest (earlier without cancellations). All online courses include the option to review full class recordings for a period of time after each meeting; in-person class meetings do not include recordings, but do include other perks: light Korean refreshments during every meeting, cultural exposure and special invites from the KCCDC, and a final class catered Korean dinner party. In the future, the majority of courses will remain online/remote as we expand in-person options.

Fees 

Eligibility & Other Terms

Perks 

Learners with 75% attendance or better receive a certificate of completion upon completion of the course. All online courses include the option to review class recordings for a period of time after each meeting. Students can also arrange to meet before or after class with their instructor during virtual or in-person office hours, as available. In-person classes do not include recordings but instructors are usually available before class and in-person courses also include light Korean refreshments during the breaktime of every meeting as well as a final class catered Korean dinner party and food-making workshop. Although refreshments and the dinner are not possible remotely, online courses instead feature reduced average class size to help facilitate online learning and greater individualized attention, in addition to more schedule and viewing options.

Registration

To register for any course listed here, scroll down to see the registration steps at the bottom of this page. 

Schedule of Classes

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!

Course Descriptions, Textbooks, & Placement Reading Samples

Beginner 1

Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1A Student Book AND Workbook (2nd Edition)

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 2

Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1A Student Book AND Workbook (2nd Edition)

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

Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 1B Student Book AND Workbook (2nd Edition)

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

Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 2A Student Book AND Workbook (2nd Edition)

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

Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 2B Student Book AND Workbook (2nd Edition)

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 have basic knowledge of noun-modifying forms. 

Intermediate 3

Textbook: NEW Sogang Korean 3A Student Book AND Workbook (2nd Edition)

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):

미나: 앤디 씨, 이사 잘 했어요?

앤디: 네, 친구들이 도와줘서 잘 끝났어요.

미나: 이사 간 집은 어때요? 좋아요?

앤디: 네, 좋아요. 지은 지 얼마 안 돼서 깨끗한 편이에요.

미나: 그런데 학교에서 좀 멀지 않아요?

앤디: 좀 멀긴 하지만 괜찮아요.

미나: 언제 집들이 한번 하세요.

앤디: 네, 그럴게요.

한글을 만든 사람은 세종대왕이에요. 세종대왕이 한글을 만들기 전에는 한국에 글자가 없었어요. 말은 지금과 같은 한국말을 사용했지만 글을 쓸 때는 글자가 없어서 중국의 한자를 사용하고 있었어요. 세종대황은 이것을 안타깝게 생각해서 1443년에 한글을 만들었어요. 만든 사람과 만들어진 시기가 정확하게 알려진세계에서 유일한 문자예요.

Level Guideline: Students need to handle all verb/adjective conjugation rules including irregular rules and noun-modifying forms in various aspects.

Special Topic Courses

The prerequisited and proficiency requirements vary for Special Topic courses, which may not be offered every session. See the schedule above for details.

Advanced

Advanced-level courses vary and may not be offered every session, and levels may vary. To review the current or most recent course, including proficiency information applicable to such courses, visit our Advanced classes website here.