Informational handbook

Language Study

Anyone selected for a Fulbright award to Korea who doesn't have elementary skills in the Korean language should make some effort to learn some before arrival. As mentioned, the Korean alphabet can be learned easily, and a few phrases can be picked up as well. The primary objective is to familiarize the beginning learner with the Korean sounds, words and everyday expressions which anyone residing in Korea for a period of time will need or at least will find very useful. In addition, there are a number of useful books on the subject, such as Daniel D. Holt and Grace M. Holt, Korean at a Glance: Phrase Book and Dictionary for Travelers (Barrons, 1988). In additional, useful beginning information on the Korean language can be found at such websites as these listed below.

http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Language/korean.cfm

http://www.koreainfogate.com/tutor/tutor.asp

http://www.interedu.go.kr

http://www.mct.go.kr/hangeul/index.html
Those who aspire to know more than a minimum exposure to the language, and have the time to do something about it, are encouraged to undertake formal study. An increasing number of universities in the United States offer Korean language courses. Often these courses are open to non-students at reasonable fees. Korean may even be taught at your own institution or at one nearby. Check with the East Asian Studies or East Asian Language departments. Other universities offer Korean online, which is not as good as being in a classroom, but better than no study at all. As these change so often, probably the best way to find them is a Google search.
Learning a language is a long process that often becomes very frustrating. There are a variety of possible approaches: enrollment in a Korean language program is the obvious and preferred one; study with a professional tutor may make good sense for somewhat more advanced students of the language; and there are always language "exchanges" with Koreans whereby you teach and learn each other's language. Some choose a combination of these approaches and others do none of the above--either hoping to learn by immersion (Good luck!) or deciding not to make language learning a priority for one reason or another. Realistically speaking, if you are in Korea for a one semester lecturing assignment and are already past your prime as a language student, you might as well relax and be grateful to learn a few useful phrases.
For students, of course, it is a different matter. You will need to study Korean seriously, and generally a language study allowance is provided for this purpose. KAEC must be consulted in advance about any Korean language study that is to be covered by the language allowance. Some programs offer a 30% discount to Fulbright Grantees (i.e. Yonsei and Sogang). Talk with Mrs. Im in the KAEC office prior to paying any fees.
Once you arrive in Korea, you will find that there are many Korean language programs available in Seoul and other major cities in Korea these days. As demand has increased, the programs have proliferated. While Yonsei University's Korean Language Institute (KLI) remains the best known, it doesn't satisfy everyone. Fortunately, the diversification of opportunities in recent years makes it more likely that nearly all students will find programs that more or less meet their needs. Some programs, notably KLI at Yonsei University, are so popular that classes may fill up long before a quarter begins. Upon receipt of your request, KAEC will make efforts to enroll you in the program of your choice provided space is still available.

The following is a list of some Korean language programs in Seoul. No attempt is made to describe all the available programs or even to offer complete descriptions of those listed. The only objective is to give a thumbnail sketch of several of the most popular programs. The telephone and fax numbers given are located within Seoul. If you are calling from outside Seoul, dial (02) before the numbers. If dialing from outside Korea, dial your international access code and (82-2) before the numbers. As this information (particularly the class times and the prices) changes with some regularity, you may wish to wait until you arrive and ask for our office to help you make arrangements. After the general description there is a table listing the class schedule, term, class size and tuition of each of the schools.

KOREAN LANGUAGE INSTITUTE (KLI), YONSEI UNIVERSITY. Runs on a four-term system, each term being 10 weeks, day or evening program, with teaching on multiple levels. Particularly good for Korean-Americans or those who are no longer at a very elementary level. Through a special arrangement with KAEC, Fulbright grantees usually are offered a partial tuition reduction. Individual classes, though expensive, can also be arranged. Classes are more focused on grammar than conversation, with emphasis on repeating memorized conversations.

Korean Language Institute

Institute of Language Research and Education

Yonsei University

134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749

Tel. # [phone]

Fax # [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Homepage: http://www.yonsei.ac.kr/~kli

INSTITUTE OF LANGUAGE EDUCATION, EWHA WOMANS UNIVERSITY. Runs on a four-term schedule, with both "intensive" and “regular” (i.e. less intensive) programs. Classes are more conversation based than the Yonsei classes.
Institute of Language Education

Ewha Woman’s University

11-1 Daehyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-750

Tel. # [phone]

Fax # [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Homepage: http://ile.ewha.ac.kr
LANGUAGE TEACHING RESEARCH CENTER (LTRC). This independent non-profit language center teaches nine levels on a six-term schedule with each term lasting approximately eight weeks.
Language Teaching Research Center

Room 101, Daesung Building

60-17 Daepyeong-no 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-101

Tel. # [phone]

Fax # [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Homepage: http://www.ltrc.co.kr
SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY LANGUAGE EDUCATION INSTITUTE. Teaches Korean on six levels on a four-term schedule with each term lasting approximately ten weeks.
Seoul National University Language Research Institute

San 56-1 Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742

Tel. # [phone]

Fax # [phone]

Email: [e-mail] or [e-mail]

Homepage: http://language.snu.ac.kr

SOGANG UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR KOREAN STUDIES. Offers three course schedules--regular, semi-regular, and evening. All three run on a four-term, ten-week-per-term schedule. Sogang has been spoken of highly by Fulbrighters who are seeking a less-intensive program with good conversational focus.
Sogang University Center for Korean Studies

1, Shinsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul 121-742

Tel. # [phone]

Fax # [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Homepage: http://sgedu.sogang.ac.kr/korean

GANADA KOREAN LANGUAGE INSTITUTE. Many of the teachers at this institute previously taught at Yonsei University's KLI. In 1991, there was a labor dispute and they left Yonsei to establish their own school. They have been particularly successful with Fulbrighters at the beginning levels who are not ethnic Koreans.

Ganada Korean Language Institute

568-51, Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul 121-866

Tel. # [phone]

Fax # [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Homepage: www.gkli.co.kr
SISA EDUCATION INC. (KOREAN LANGUAGE INSTITUTE) SiSa is Korea’s largest education conglomerate, with large divisions for publishing, English language teaching, and study abroad advising. Their classes have the advantage of being inexpensive and short and frequent. Not every level is taught every period – you may be assigned to a particular time based on the results of a placement test.
Sisa Education KLI

YBM Sisa, ELS Building, 3^rd floor

48-1 Jongno 2-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-122

Tel. # [phone]

Fax: # [phone]

Homepage: http://www.ybmsisa.co.kr/els/kli/intro.asp