KOREA FOUNDATION

Greetings! I have been teaching the Korean language at the School of Modern Languages at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) since the fall semester of 2019. Since UCR first launched introductory Korean language classes in August 2013, its number of Korean language learners has increased steadily and several classes at introductory and intermediate levels are currently available every semester.

Students who take Korean language as an elective general studies subject belong to a diverse range of majors encompassing several lines of study — humanities, language and literature, social sciences, and science and engineering. The majority of these students study Korean language out of an interest in Korean culture or because they hope to travel to Korea in the future; a few have chosen the language to study at Korean universities and graduate schools.

Movies held at UCR’s School of Humanities’ auditorium, I was able to discuss Korean films with students. I also had a wonderful time with them when I took part in the Culture Week organized by the School of Modern Languages’ student association. The week presented a special lecture on Hangeul, the Korean alphabet; allowed students to try on hanbok, the traditional Korean attire; and hosted rounds of the Korean folk gameyunnori. Additionally, I managed a workshop for Korean language instructors from various Costa Rican institutions and gave a special free-of-charge open lecture to help learners of the Korean language living in the capital city of San José prepare for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK).

Since the spring semester of 2020, everyone at UCR, from teachers to students, have been having a hard time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I continued teaching Korean language classes through online platforms and received many words of gratitude from students for keeping on with the semester uninterrupted. My third semester in the fall of 2020 proceeded better than the previous semester as both the students and I became more familiar with online classes. There is the prospect of resuming classes offline, albeit partially, in the fall semester beginning in August 2021. If things take a favorable turn, I plan to hold various cultural events and another open lecture for people planning to take the TOPIK exam.

I have long dreamed of teaching Korean language to people in the Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America and am overjoyed to work with such a kind team and be able to communicate with excellent students. I feel proud that I can contribute to sharing the Korean language and promoting Korean studies in Costa Rica while maintaining a sense of teamwork and unity with the Korean Embassy in Costa Rica, UCR’s Office of International Affairs and External Cooperation, the King Sejong Institute, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Costa Rica, as well as with the Hangeul School teachers’ group.

I also feel grateful to the Korean language students at UCR who are happily learning with great interest and love for Korea and its language. Sixteen weeks of classes per semester is rather short to produce tangible results in enhancing the students’ Korean language proficiency, but it is enough to make me realize how great my students are. In the remaining days of this year, I will continue to try my best to fulfill my duty joyfully.

[Caption 1] A Korean language class in the fall semester of 2019

[Caption 2] Messages of gratitude sent by Korean language students at the end of the 2020 spring semester.

[Caption 3] As reported in an article by a UCR student published in January 2021, “The University Administration and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea reaffirm their commitment to the development of joint projects.”