Introduction
I intend on taking Korean Studies as my minor, so I took Korean I as one of my university courses in Semester B of 2015/16 academic year. As Kyung Hee University is a partner institution of City University of Hong Kong, I got the opportunity to take part in the Korean Studies Program offered by Kyung Hee University's Institute of International Education (IIE) through sponsorship from my university.The Korean Studies Program at Kyung Hee University has a regular course, which is 10 weeks long and an intensive course, which is 3 weeks long. I took part in the regular course offered in the summer semester, from 22.06.16 ~ 31.08.16. Kyung Hee University offers six different levels of Korean, and each level is designed to fit each one of the TOPIK levels.
Affordability
Course fee - ￦1,700,000
Application fee - ￦60,000
Books - ￦65,000 (5 books in total, each one costs ￦13,000)
Application fee - ￦60,000
Books - ￦65,000 (5 books in total, each one costs ￦13,000)
Lessons
On the first day, we had a placement test. The placement test determines which level of Korean you belong to. I was placed in Level 2 (초급2). There were fourteen students in my class, and I had for four hours, from 0900 to 1300 every Monday to Friday. Hence, 200 hours of Korean lessons in total.
We use five books for the program, one for each skill you need in order to become fluent in a language: grammar (문법), listening (듣기), reading (읽기), writing (쓰기), speaking (말하기). All five books are part of the Get It Korean Series which are written by Kyung Hee University and published by Hawoo Publishing.
Everyday, we would learn 2 new grammar rules, and study each rule for an hour. Hence, we study Korean grammar during the first two hours of each lesson. The second half of the lesson, we study one chapter of the other skills. Each day, you will learn a different skill and the pattern will repeat. The focus on grammar was extremely strong which had a significant impact on my level of Korean. I also learnt approximately 30 new words in Korean each day, from the four other skills. There was a noticeably large improvement in my Korean within the ten weeks.
Regardless of which level you are in, the teachers only speak in Korean during class even if they know how to speak English.
If you have a Korean Language Buddy, you usually meet up with him or her once every week. My roommate, who was from Hong Kong and I had the same buddy. The purpose of having a buddy is to increase communication in Korean as well as explore Korea with a local. My buddy was really kind and took us to places we wanted to go. The places we went to include Korean sauna (찜질방), Racoon Café (맹쿤 카페), Gwanghwamun Kyobo Bookstore (광화문 교보). The picture above was taken at the SPAREX Korean sauna ice room (roommate on the left, and the Korean language buddy on the right). Having a buddy was really useful and effective in improving my Korean language speaking skills.
There are four different dormitories available for students studying in Kyung Hee University's International Institute of Education. They offer both single and double rooms, and the costs are available on the website. I stayed in a double room in the Changdeok Ahn building which was very convenient since it is located right next to Heogi station. The facilities of the room includes:
Everyday, we would learn 2 new grammar rules, and study each rule for an hour. Hence, we study Korean grammar during the first two hours of each lesson. The second half of the lesson, we study one chapter of the other skills. Each day, you will learn a different skill and the pattern will repeat. The focus on grammar was extremely strong which had a significant impact on my level of Korean. I also learnt approximately 30 new words in Korean each day, from the four other skills. There was a noticeably large improvement in my Korean within the ten weeks.
Regardless of which level you are in, the teachers only speak in Korean during class even if they know how to speak English.
- For the first two levels, grammar rules are explained in both Korean and English as shown in the picture above. The Reading and Listening books have vocabulary lists for all the chapters, and includes an English translation.
- For level 3 and onwards, textbooks contain no English translation for aid and students are obligated to use dictionaries to search up unknown vocabulary.
Click here for a detailed review of the Kyung Hee University Get It Korean Series textbooks.
Korean Language Buddy (도우미)
At the beginning of the course, students fill in a form and there is a section where they tick a checkbox if they want to have a Korean Language Buddy. Students who want a Korean Language Buddy will be assigned a full-time Kyung Hee University student as a buddy. My buddy was a freshman studying at Kyung Hee University's Suwon campus.
If you have a Korean Language Buddy, you usually meet up with him or her once every week. My roommate, who was from Hong Kong and I had the same buddy. The purpose of having a buddy is to increase communication in Korean as well as explore Korea with a local. My buddy was really kind and took us to places we wanted to go. The places we went to include Korean sauna (찜질방), Racoon Café (맹쿤 카페), Gwanghwamun Kyobo Bookstore (광화문 교보). The picture above was taken at the SPAREX Korean sauna ice room (roommate on the left, and the Korean language buddy on the right). Having a buddy was really useful and effective in improving my Korean language speaking skills.
Field trip
The course includes a field trip, and the location depends on the level of Korean you take. My class went to Korean Folk Village (민속촌) and Icheon Ceramics Village (도예촌). At the Korean Folk Village, we witnessed elements of traditional Korean life and culture. We then went to Icheon Ceramics Village where we got the opportunity to make our own ceramic objects and paint on a ceramic cup.
Dormitory
There are four different dormitories available for students studying in Kyung Hee University's International Institute of Education. They offer both single and double rooms, and the costs are available on the website. I stayed in a double room in the Changdeok Ahn building which was very convenient since it is located right next to Heogi station. The facilities of the room includes:
- Bunk bed
- Desk, chair, bookshelf
- Electric stove, refrigerator, microwave oven
- Internet, air conditioner and heater
The website states that a pillow, a pillow case, blankets and bed sheets will be given. However, we were only provided with bed sheets and blankets and had to pillows by ourselves.
The Changdeok Ahn building consists of only international students. The website states that the entrance gate is locked from midnight to 5am, however the building also has non-student residents hence the entrance gate is never closed. There is also no security guard from midnight till 5am. There is a convenience store and a TOM&TOMS Coffee Shop right next to the entrance. The only issue we faced was there were neither dryers nor ropes to dry our clothes, hence we had to buy a rope and dry clothes indoor.
The Changdeok Ahn building is located approximately 10 minutes away from the campus, hence I would just walk to the university everyday.
The Changdeok Ahn building consists of only international students. The website states that the entrance gate is locked from midnight to 5am, however the building also has non-student residents hence the entrance gate is never closed. There is also no security guard from midnight till 5am. There is a convenience store and a TOM&TOMS Coffee Shop right next to the entrance. The only issue we faced was there were neither dryers nor ropes to dry our clothes, hence we had to buy a rope and dry clothes indoor.
The Changdeok Ahn building is located approximately 10 minutes away from the campus, hence I would just walk to the university everyday.
