KOREA FOUNDATION

Instructor Workshops Held for KF Online Korean Class

In August, the KF conducted four workshops for the KF Online Korean Class (KF OK Class), a Korean language teaching program that connects visually-impaired instructors in Korea with undergraduate Korean majors located overseas for one-on-one lessons (held via telephone or video conference). The program is implemented based on an MOU signed in 2021 by the KF and the education company Korean At Your Door (KAYD).

The online and in-person workshops sought to enhance the instructors’ special capabilities and promote interaction among them. Approximately 20 KAYD instructors took part in the workshops, in which they learned how to teach listening, reading, speaking, and grammar.

Non-language classes were taught on the characteristics of students in Indonesia, Russia, and Viet Nam by KF visiting professors who have experience with teaching Korean in one of these countries. Professors offered background knowledge on the history and culture of each of the three countries to allow a better understanding of their schools and students. For example, instructors learned that Indonesian students find it hard to differentiate between singular and double form of the Hangeul consonant siot (ㅅ) as well as the fact that Korean studies is popular in Viet Nam and the interests of Vietnamese students. An instructor who participated in the workshops noted that they helped to share her teaching experiences with other participants and prepare lesson plans for this year.

After the workshops, KAYD instructors began teaching Korean conversation via telephone and video conferencing to students at eight universities in the three countries. Their classes will be taught until November.

* Three countries: Indonesia, Russia, Viet Nam

* Eight universities:

(Indonesia) Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia University of Education

(Russia) Far Eastern Federal University, Herzen University, Moscow State University, National Research University Higher School of Economics

(Viet Nam) Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU University of Languages and International Studies

KF Online Korean ClassInstructor WorkshopsKorean At Your DoorKAYDvisually-impaired instructorsone-on-one lessonsKorean conversation via telephone and video