Module details
- Offered to all undergraduates
- Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, 16.00-18.00 (depending on year of study)
- Planned delivery: On campus (South Kensington)
- Two-term module, worth 7.5 ECTS
- Available to eligible students as part of I-Explore
- Extra Credit, or Degree Credit where your department allows
Korean advice
contact the Coordinator:
Dr Hyejin Jang
0207 594 8767
Room S306, Sherfield Level 3
(Student office hours: Thursdays, 14:30 - 15:30)
Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication
A communicative module on the language and culture of South Korea, for students with some prior knowledge of Korean.
This module aims to:
- further develop the four basic language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), based on the knowledge foundation established during any previous study or experience with the language;
- revise and consolidate previous knowledge and basic grammar;
- introduce more complex grammatical structures, a wider range of speech patterns and extend your vocabulary;
- provide the tools for you to comprehend and produce pre-intermediate-level texts and interact in a range of spoken conversations.
To be eligible for this module, you need to have done one of the following:
- Successfully completed Korean Level 1
- Gained a Korean GCSE qualification
- Have already achieved the equivalent level by other means
Please note: The information on this module description is indicative. The module may undergo minor modifications before the start of next academic year.
Information blocks
On successful completion of this module, you will be better prepared to:
- respond to and produce simple spoken language in familiar contexts;
- respond to and produce simple written texts, applying grammar and vocabulary;
- from the TOPIK Level 2 range (Test of Proficiency in Korean): demonstrate intercultural awareness in your handling of everyday social interactions in Korean and in your use of language;
- use a range of digital language-learning tools to support your production.
In this module, you will cover the following linguistic structures:
- Noun/adjective/verb-modifying forms
- Honorific particles and expressions
- Clausal connectives (reasons, causes, sequential)
- Progressive forms
- Present perfect forms
These linguistic structures will be applied to the following topics:
- Talking about professional life and career
- Searching for accommodation
- Making telephone conversations
- Talking about travel plans and arrangements
- Describing events and relevant feelings
- Writing letters and emails
- Aspects of Korean culture, history, and traditions
In line with MFL communicative and active learning methodology, in-class activities cover all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and include: pair work and group work (dialogue practice, information gap exercises, discussion and collection of key terms/ideas, followed by report to plenum), individual tasks (face-to-face and online); discovery and formulation of rules; work with texts, audio and video material to develop learning and communicative skills. Homework and coursework tasks give you the opportunity to revise and consolidate knowledge and skills and to develop awareness of how to use language-learning tools independently. This approach not only ensures you engage with a wide range of tasks, but also supports different learning styles.
All coursework assignments will be marked and returned to you within two weeks. Marking criteria and revision guidance (how-to guides) will be included as needed with each assignment, to ensure that learners are aware of all expectations. Detailed feedback will be provided for each individual section of every coursework assignment. Feedback will detail the correct answer(s), along with suggestions for improvement. In addition to the points awarded for each assignment, an overall percentage grade will be given. Generic feedback on coursework will also be given during class.
The module includes formative as well as summative assessment. Homework tasks (theory revision, reading, writing, listening, etc.) are set every week on the Virtual Learning Environment, following a flipped-classroom approach to ensure face-to-face time is devoted to interactional learning and communicative skills acquisition. This means that you will be provided with materials to study independently beforehand and then apply these during classroom time. Your lecturer will provide you with support materials and guidance to reinforce topics covered at your own pace.
You will need to complete two pieces of summative coursework (set during mid-autumn term and mid-spring), which will include rubrics and revision guidance to ensure you are supported when completing your work and so that you are aware of the assessment expectations. There will also be a 1-hour in-class examination (scheduled at the end of spring term), and one practical - in the form of an oral examination (at the end of spring term or during the summer term). The coursework, tests, and practical contribute to your final grade.
- Coursework (25%): Integrated skills: grammar/listening (2-3 minutes), reading/writing tasks (100-120 words), pre-recorded oral presentation (2-3 minutes).
- Coursework (25%): Integrated skills: grammar/reading/listening (3-5 minutes), writing tasks (100-120 words), pre-recorded oral presentation (2-3 minutes).
- Examination (25%): 1-hour in-class written test, consisting of grammar/reading comprehension/writing (120 words).
- Practical (25%): Oral examination (15 minutes), including free/guided conversation and role play.
- 7.5 ECTS points awarded on successful completion of the module.
- Available to take for credit towards your degree, where your department allows. Also available for extra credit. The Module options by department page has a full list of the credit options.
- You must be prepared to attend all classes and undertake approximately 3 hours of private study each week in addition to the assessment.
Module materials
- Cho, Y. et al (2010). Integrated Korean Textbook; Beginning 2 (2nd ed.), University of Hawai’i Press, US. ISBN: 978-0-8248-3515-6.
- Park, M. et al (2010). Integrated Korean Workbook; Beginning 2 (2nd ed.), University of Hawai’i Press, US. ISBN: 978-0-8248-3516-3.
The course is supported by additional materials.