VOL.74/2024.09

 

[English Books in Korea ④]

The Global Craze for Korean Language and Culture!

King Sejong Institute Foundation’s new textbooks for international Korean language learners

 

2024.09.02

 

As the Hallyu (Korean Wave) spreads across the world, the demand for learning Korean has been increasing internationally. In response, a variety of Korean language-related textbooks are being developed for various learning purposes and levels. Among them, the following are representative textbooks provided by the King Sejong Institute Foundation, a representative organization for the promotion of Korean language and culture abroad.

 

A variety of Korean textbooks for all purposes and levels, from beginner to advanced

 

The first is King Sejong Institute Korean, a textbook specifically designed for beginners and advanced learners alike. It can be used together with the King Sejong Institute Foundation’s signature online curriculum, and learners can also use it as a standalone course in an offline learning environment as well as online, with a variety of exercises and activities for seamless learning. Also, King Sejong Institute Practical Korean is a conversation-based textbook for improving Korean communication skills, where beginners and intermediate learners can effectively learn Korean expressions often used in daily life, focusing on listening and speaking skills. It is a revision of the existing Sejong Korean Conversation, reflecting the changed socio-cultural environment since the first edition was published, making it more timely and useful.

 

 

Developed and provided by the National Institute of Korean Language, Sejong Korean (revised in 2022) is a textbook designed to improve comprehensive communication skills for beginner and intermediate learners. Learners can complement and deepen their learning by utilizing various supplementary materials, such as the “Workbook,” “Additional Activities,” and “Vocabulary, expressions, and Grammar,” as needed, for modular Korean learning. Also, Sejong Korean Culture, a textbook that explains Korean culture based on the content of Sejong Korean, is an easier and more fun way to learn Korean culture from an intercultural perspective. There are also textbooks for advanced Korean learners. Meanwhile, King Sejong Institute Korean Reading/Writing helps you improve your Korean reading and writing skills with in-depth topics. It is aimed at intermediate to advanced learners and is organized into five topics: society, literature, science, economics, and history.

 

 

In response to the recent increase in the number of foreign agricultural and fisheries workers in Korea, Easy Korean for Agricultural/Fisheries Workers has been developed and is available. It is a beginner-level textbook that concentrates on essential Korean expressions for foreign workers in the agriculture and fisheries industries, offering specialized vocabulary and expressions. In addition, to meet the growing demand for Korean translation and interpretation as the Hallyu culture strengthens, the foundation also provides Sejong Translation and Interpretation, which helps students learn translation practices through topic-based learning.

 

 

I recommend Business Korean for learners who want to work in Korean companies. It is a beginner-level textbook that contains key Korean expressions that can be useful in Korean companies. The number of travelers visiting Korea for tourism has increased in recent years. If you are planning an exciting trip to Korea, Travel Korean is a perfect fit. Consisting of 10 chapters, Travel Korean is packed with expressions and cultural information you can use when traveling to Korea, such as transportation, accommodation, and sightseeing. Finally, there is also a textbook for learners preparing for marriage immigration to Korea. The book, King Sejong Institute Korean for Marriage-Immigrants, is designed to help foreign immigrants adjust to life in Korea, with topics that will give them a good understanding of Korean society.

 

 

Apart from the aforementioned textbooks, the King Sejong Institute Foundation also provides various educational materials for free, such as e-books or PDFs, through the Nuri Sejong Institute (the foundation’s online website). So, if you are planning to learn Korean and want to fulfill your dreams in the language, spread your wings with the King Sejong Institute Foundation!

 

 

---

Written by Lee Byung-Min (Senior Manager of Content Development Team, King Sejong Institute Foundation)