PROGRAMMES
The minor in Korean aims to give students a good command of Korean in the four skill areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing, as well as to provide them with an in-depth understanding of contemporary Korean society and culture. The minor in Korean is offered to students from the following faculties: Faculty of Arts, Faculties of Arts and Education (BA&BEd[LangEd]), Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Education (BSc[Exercise & Health]), Faculty of Engineering (BEng[CompSc]), Faculty of Science and Faculty of Social Sciences.
A minor in Korean consists of 24 credits of second and third-year courses plus the applicable first year prerequisites. The checklist below summarizes the requirements of the Korean minor:
Core Courses
Pre-requisites courses
KORE1001 Korean I.1 (6 credits)
KORE1002 Korean I.2 (6 credits)
Advanced courses
KORE2001 Korean II.1 (6 credits)
KORE2002 Korean II.2 (6 credits)
KORE3001 Korean III.1 (6 credits)
KORE3002 Korean III.2 (6 credits)
Elective Courses
KORE1021. Introduction to Korean culture and society (6 credits)
KORE2021. Korean reading course (6 credits)
KORE2023. Korean conversation workshop 1 (6 credits)KORE2024. Advanced Korean studies 1 (6 credits)
KORE2025. Advanced Korean studies 2 (6 credits)
KORE2026. Advanced studies in Korean culture and society (6 credits)
KORE2027. Creative industries in Korea in a global context (6 credits)
KORE3021. Contemporary Korean society (6 credits)
KORE3022. Korean Studies research project (6 credits)
KORE3023. Korean writing 1 (6 credits)
KORE3024. English-Korean translation 1: Practical skills (6 credits)
KORE3025. Korean for business 1 (6 credits)
KORE3026. Modern Korean literature (6 credits)
KORE3119. Overseas immersion language course – Korean (6 credits)
Not all elective courses are offered in a given academic year. Please check the Korean Programme course list for details.
Learning Outcomes
Students who have completed a BA programme in Korean should be able to:
• Pursue a life-long appreciation of the Korean language
• Participate in situational conversations in Korean relating to topics in current affairs, social, and cultural issues
• Address issues and problems related to Korean language and Korean culture in a creative way
• Use the experience of learning about the Korean language and culture to pursue independent learning
• Recognize how different cultural backgrounds may influence their interactions with others
• Demonstrate competence, sensitivity, and open-mindedness in communicating and working with Korean people and in Korean cultural environments
• Use their insight into Korean language and culture to critically evaluate the differences and commonalities between these societies’ languages and cultures, and those of their own
• Respect the contributions of people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds
• Use the Korean language to express their views and communicate effectively in both work and social settings
• Use their knowledge of Korean culture and language to act as a bridge between Koreans and people in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and other countries
First Year Courses
KORE1001. Korean I.1 (6 credits)
This introductory course is the First Part of Korean I, which is designed for complete beginners (ab initio) who are interested in learning the Korean language and learning about Korean culture. On completion of the course, students will be able to participate in simple conversations related to daily life, and will have acquired a basic knowledge of the written forms of the Korean language.
Pre-requisites: Nil
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE1002. Korean I.2 (6 credits)
This elementary Korean course continues to focus on proficiency-based Korean learning, further developing students’ overall Korean language ability established in Korean I.1 On completion of the course, students will be able to participate in simple conversations related to daily life, and will have acquired a general knowledge of the written forms of the Korean language.
Pre-requisites: KORE1001. Korean I.1. Students wishing to be admitted to KORE1002 without having previously completed KORE1001. Korean I.1 will be required to satisfy the Faculty Board through the Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures that they have attained elsewhere the required standard.
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE1021. Introduction to Korean culture and society (6 credits)
The course provides students with a broad-based description of Korean culture and society. It will include a brief historical overview on the country, examine various socio-cultural issues in traditional and modern Korea, and compare them to those of the other East Asian countries.
Pre-requisites: Nil
Assessment: 100% coursework
Second Year Courses
KORE2001. Korean II.1 (6 credits)
This course continues to focus on proficiency-based Korean learning, further developing students’ overall Korean language ability established in Korean I. 2. On completion of the course, students will have mastered basic grammar and the vocabulary needed to write short essays. Students will also be able to carry out daily conversations at a more advanced level than Korean I.1 and I.2.
Pre-requisites: KORE1002. Korean I.2 Students wishing to be admitted to KORE2001 without having previously completed KORE1002. Korean I. 2 will be required to satisfy the Faculty Board through the Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures that they have attained elsewhere the required standard.
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE2002. Korean II.2 (6 credits)
This course continues to focus on proficiency-based Korean learning, further developing students’ overall Korean language ability established in Korean II. 1. On completion of the course, students will be able to write short essays with an appropriate grammatical structure, and have acquired the essential vocabulary and expressions to participate in situational conversations on topics related to daily life, entertainment and social activities.
Prerequisites: KORE2001. Korean II.1 Students wishing to be admitted to KORE2002. Korean II. 2 without having previously completed KORE2001. Korean II.1 will be required to satisfy the Faculty Board through the Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures that they have attained elsewhere the required standard.
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE2021. Korean reading course (6 credits)
This course is offered to students who have attained an intermediate level of Korean in order to further enhance their language skills and extend their knowledge of Korean society through an analysis of Korean texts. Students will analyze and discuss various contemporary texts and documents written in different styles such as newspapers, magazines and song lyrics related to current Korean society. The teaching materials and the main medium of instruction will be Korean.
Co-requisites: KORE2002. Korean II.2
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE2023. Korean conversation workshop 1 (6 credits)
This course is a multimedia-based course that emphasizes the practice of pronunciation and conversation in various situations through activities created to develop speech reception and production skills. Students will be asked to work with audio materials and recording facilities in class. Class activities will be organized in small groups thus allowing the teacher to work closely on a one to one basis with each student.
Co-requisites: KORE2001. Korean II.1
Assessment: 100% coursework
Second and Third Year
KORE2024 Advanced Korean Studies 1: Understanding World Heritage in Korea (6 credits)
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview on World Heritage in Korea. Cultural properties, whether tangible or intangible, represent both the essence and the basis of national culture. I plan to present an overview of Korean World Heritage, focusing on certain topics which are considered to be more significant and critical. Prerequisites: KORE1002 or KORE1021. Students wishing to be admitted to KORE2223 without having enrolled in KORE1002 or KORE1021 will be required to get an approval from Korean Programme Director. |
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The courses are offered by Korean Foundation Global e-School program which combine real-time online video lectures on Korea Studies, along with offline programs (workshops and seminars), linked to the real-time video lectures. The lectures will be presented by leading professors of Ewha Womans University for students in Korea and HKU, in English. The assessment of the course will be done according to the criteria of HKU. Students with outstanding performance in the courses will be selected and offered a scholarship given by Korean Foundation for studying in Korea next summer. |
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KORE2025 Advanced Korean Studies 2: International development and Cooperation in Korea (6 credits)
This course will provide an overview of global discussions on poverty, development, and development cooperation. We include topics such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that world leaders agreed at the UN Assembly in 2000 to reduce world poverty by half until 2015; and different definitions and prescriptions used by various domestic and international organizations including government, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Different definitions and prescriptions on poverty have led to confusion and some inefficiency in our efforts to reduce poverty around the world. Development cooperation (or, previously labeled as “foreign aid”) to developing countries has played an important role in international development and poverty reduction. However, due to its complexity and divergent approaches, foreign aid has sometimes been misunderstood and criticized. This course will provide a well-balanced picture about international development cooperation with topics that range from the evolution of development theories, global discourse on poverty and its alleviation, different poverty reduction policies and programs used by international organizations, governments and NGOs, to new actors in international development cooperation. Distinguished specialists from many different countries will be invited to give special lectures. |
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This course has been selected as a Korea Foundation Global E-School course, and will be simultaneously video-cast to Hong Kong University (Hong Kong) and Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), which are leading universities in the world located in Asia. Students from Ewha, Hong Kong U. and Chulalongkorn will be able to interact during class through questions/answers and discussions. This is the first time we are trying this method in South Korea, and we hope students will gain a valuable multi-national and multi-cultural experience. Prerequisites: KORE1002 or KORE1021. Students wishing to be admitted to KORE2223 without having enrolled in KORE1002 or KORE1021 will be required to get an approval from Korean Programme Director. The courses are offered by Korean Foundation Global e-School program which combine real-time online video lectures on Korea Studies, along with offline programs (workshops and seminars), linked to the real-time video lectures. The lectures will be presented by leading professors of Ewha Womans University for students in Korea and HKU, in English. The assessment of the course will be done according to the criteria of HKU. Students with outstanding performance in the courses will be selected and offered a scholarship given by Korean Foundation for studying in Korea next summer. |
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KORE2026 Advanced Studies in Korean culture and society (6 credits)
This is a topical course that adopts multi-disciplinary perspectives to examine significant and complex issues in Korea during the 20-21st centuries. Topics include symbolic sites, activities and objects with discussion revolving around their significance and their meanings to Korea’s evolving identity. Questions about the mobilization of tradition in contemporary Korea underpin this course.
Pre-requisites: KORE1002. Korean I.2 or KORE1021. Introduction to Korean culture and society
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE2027. Creative industries in Korea in a global context (6 credits)
Students in this course examine the cultural industry sector in Korea and its interactions with the international cultural industry scene. The course is designed to give students the opportunity to examine a diverse range of media—including music, art, literature, film, advertising, blogs and tweets—in relation to the society and industrial practices that propel ideas into commercialized or widely circulating popular cultural products. The course places these cultural and commercial concerns in the changing social and political context of contemporary Korea and its interactions with the world.
Pre-requisites: KORE1002. Korean 1.2 or KORE1021. Introduction to Korean culture and society
Assessment: 100% coursework
Third Year Courses
KORE3001. Korean III.1 (6 credits)
This course continues to build on the first and second year’s work. The intention is to lead students towards an in-depth understanding of Korean language through the study of various materials provided in class. On completion of the course, students will be able to write essays with complex grammatical structures, and participate in situational conversations on social and cultural issues at an advanced level.
Pre-requisites: KORE2002. Korean II.2. Students wishing to be admitted to KORE3001 without having previously completed KORE2002. Korean II.2 will be required to satisfy the Faculty Board through the Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures that they have attained elsewhere the required standard.
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE3002. Korean III.2 (6 credits)
This course is designed for students who have completed Korean III. 1 or who have attained a comparable level of proficiency in Korean. On completion of the course, students will be able to write essays with complex grammatical structures, and participate in situational conversations relating to topics in current affairs, social and cultural issues at an advanced level of Korean.
Pre-requisites: KORE3001. Korean III.1. Students wishing to be admitted to KORE3002 without having previously completed KORE3001. Korean III.1 will be required to satisfy the Faculty Board through the Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures that they have attained elsewhere the required standard.
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE3021. Contemporary Korean society (6 credits)
This course is designed to provide students with knowledge and insights on the historical development in South Korea since the twentieth century in respect of social change, economic development and political progress by examining social and cultural issues rising up to South Korean society today. Course materials will include authentic texts selected from newspapers, literature and magazines as well as movies and documentary films. The teaching materials and the main medium of instruction will be Korean.
Pre-requisites: KORE2002. Korean II.2
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE3023. Korean writing 1 (6 credits)
The aim of this course is to develop students’ reading and writing skills and being able to distinguish and analyze how they are written. Students will be taught how to use and work with the target language in order to achieve a specific objective in their writing. Course materials will be selected according to the progress made by students in the core course (KORE3001) in order to further consolidate the students’ reception and production skills.
Pre-requisites: KORE2002. Korean II.2
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE3024. English-Korean translation 1: Practical skills (6 credits)
This course is an introduction to translating texts from English to Korean using a variety of texts written in different styles. It will provide students with intermediate level translation skills, a further understanding of Korean grammar and additional information on contemporary Korean topics. Special attention will be given to the particular problems or common errors arising from differences in grammar and other influences from the students’ mother tongue. Students will practice additional structures and texts gradually. This is a practical rather than a theoretical course for translation. Students will be expected to do practical work in class as well as at home.
Pre-requisites: KORE3001. Korean III.1
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE3025. Korean for business 1 (6 credits)
This course is designed for students with advanced level of Korean who want to prepare their career at a Korean-speaking company or institution by dealing with issues related to business activities, global economy and trade. A variety of topics and situations will be analyzed, such as the structure of a firm and the way it operates, job application, interviews, business correspondence and etiquette, transactions and contracts etc. Also guests will be invited to give students a deeper understanding of the differences between the working cultures of Korean and Chinese speakers. Classes will be conducted in Korean.
Pre-requisites: KORE3001. Korean III.1
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE3026. Modern Korean literature (6 credits)
This course offers an overview of modern Korean literature from the early 1900s to present. In this course, students will examine Korean literature and its social, cultural and historical background of these works. Many of famous literary works of Korea of this period have had a significance appeal on national identity, dealing related issues on modernity, independence, resistance against Japanese rule, and national division, rapid industrialization and authoritarianism. In class, students will be provided the knowledge and skills to read, analyze and assess critically the forms and themes of modern Korean literature. The teaching materials and the main medium of instruction will be Korean.
Pre-requisites: KORE3001. Korean III.1
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE3022. Korean Studies research project (6 credits)
This course is required of all students intending to major in Korean Studies Students in this course pursue independent research and produce a research paper under the supervision of a teacher in Korean Studies. This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore in depth a topic of interest to them in relation to Korea’s development and position in the world. It can either adopt a single disciplinary methodology or a multidisciplinary problem-oriented perspective. Students undertaking the course will negotiate the topic in conjunction with the program coordinator to determine its feasibility and ensure academic rigor.
Pre-requisites: KORE2223 or KORE2224 or KORE2225
Assessment: 100% coursework
KORE3119. Overseas immersion language course – Korean (6 credits)
This course provides an opportunity to study Korean and to experience linguistic and cultural immersion in a partner institution located in Korea. The course usually takes place in the summer months (e.g., June, July and/or August) and the duration of the stay may vary from two weeks to one month, but must include at least 60 hours of formal class tuition. Students typically take part in this course after the completion of their second year of language studies at HKU. The course is designed to build on and to reinforce the language competence acquired during the previous years of study as well as to prepare the participants for more advanced work in the final years of the programme.
Pre-requisites: KORE2002. Korean II.2. Students wishing to be admitted to KORE3119 without having previously completed KORE2002. Korean II.2 will be required to satisfy the Faculty Board through the Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures that they have attained elsewhere the required standard.
Assessment: In order to be granted credits for this course, participants are requested to check with the teacher in charge prior to their enrolment and departure whether the course they have chosen is suitable for the purpose and, after completing of the course, (1) to produce a formal statement of attendance and certified transcript bearing mention of the final grade(s) obtained from the host institution, (2) to provide a portfolio including i. a learning journal written in Korean relating to daily class activities and, ii. samples of assessments (written assignments, tests, examinations, projects etc.) along with evaluation results.
Enrollment to KORE3119 Overseas Immersion Language Course:
http://www.hku.hk/smlc/files/kore3119.pdf
Download Application Form:
http://www.hku.hk/smlc/files/3119appform.doc
Certificate in Korean
Courses leading to the award of the Certificate in Korean, are open to all undergraduates from all faculties.
Korean for Beginners
Duration: 100 hours, Whole year
Examination: No
Assessment: See course structure below
Description
This course is open to complete beginners who are interested in learning the Korean language and gaining a basic understanding of Korean culture. The aim is to provide students with a solid foundation in both spoken and written Korean, which will enable them to both express themselves with confidence in everyday life situations as well as undertake further studies in the Korean language and Korean culture.
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to participate in simple conversations, involving topics related to daily life, and will have acquired a basic knowledge of the written forms of the Korean language.
Students who are enrolled in beginner-level Korean are encouraged to travel to Korea at the end of their first year of study to attend a summer language and culture programme at a Korean university.
Intermediate Korean
Duration: 100 hours, Whole year
Examination: No
Assessment: See course structure below
Description
This course is offered to the students who have successfully completed Korean for Beginners. Applicants who have attained a comparable level in Korean from studies at other institutions (completed approximately 100 hours of tuition) may be admitted based upon the outcome of an interview and assessment.
The course aims to train students to reach an adequate level of proficiency in both spoken and written Korean. It is designed to broaden students’ knowledge of the Korean language and enhance students’ understanding of the differences between the written and spoken forms of the language. The course provides students with further development of their language skills in a variety of cultural and social situations. On completion of the course, students will be able to participate in situational conversations equipped with a comprehensive knowledge of essential vocabulary and expressions for communicating in Korean.
Advanced Korean
Duration: 100 hours, Whole year
Examination: Yes
Description
This course is offered to the students who have successfully completed Intermediate Korean. Applicants who have attained a comparable level in Korean from studies at other institutions (completed approximately 200 hours of tuition) may be admitted based upon the outcome of an interview and assessment.
The course aims to advance students’ communication capabilities through various language activities including presentations, simulated conversations and free discussion. The course also aims to acquaint students with the current formats, terminologies and styles found in Korean writing, in the social, cultural as well as academic contexts, so as to deepen students’ interest and broaden their understanding of contemporary Korea.
On completion of the course, students will be able to understand, analyse and summarise the key points of Korean articles, essays and extracts of advanced level Korean writing. They will also be able to carry out conversations and in-depth dialogues with Korean native speakers. On completion of the course, students will have acquired an advanced level of Korean language proficiency both in speaking and writing for various communication purposes.
Certificate Course structure
The aim of the Certificate Programme is to take students from an absolute beginner’s stage up to an advanced knowledge of both the Korean language and culture. By the end of the third level, students will have a sound command of both spoken and written Korean as well as an understanding of Korean culture and traditions.
The Certificate Programme in Korean consists of three levels and comprises three main courses of 100 hours each (Korean for Beginners/Intermediate Korean/Advanced Korean). Three optional summer courses (Beginners/Intermediate/Advanced) will also be offered.
At the end of the first or second level of study, it is recommended that students spend a period of time in Korea to practice their acquired language skills and enhance their understanding of Korean culture. The School of Modern Languages and Cultures will assist in making arrangements for these studies.
After successful completion of 200 hours of tuition (Intermediate level) and a pass in coursework, students can obtain a Statement of Attendance and Proficiency from the School of Modern Languages and Cultures. After successful completion of the 3-level programme and obtaining a pass in the Certificate Examination, students will be awarded the School of Modern Languages and Cultures Certificate in Korean. In order to qualify for admission to the Certificate Examination students must have completed about 300 hours of tuition in Korean.
Korean One-Year Exchange Programmes
Partner Institutions: Ewha Womans University (Seoul)
Korea University (Seoul) (Universitas 21 member)
Pusan National University
Seoul National University
Yonsei University (Seoul)
Korean Summer Exchange Programmes
Partner Institutions: Korea University (Seoul)
Ewha Womans University (Seoul)
Pusan National University
Seoul National University
Yonsei University
Korean Public Courses
Effective January 2008, a new course entitled “Korean for Beginners” is available to members of the public. This 120-hour course is for complete beginners who are interested in learning Korean language and gaining a good knowledge of Korean culture. The syllabus includes: Korean Alphabet, Hangeul; daily greetings and introducing people; an overview of the various forms (plain, polite, honorific, formal and informal) of spoken and written Korean, and an introduction to Korean songs and culture. For more information on course content and term times, please visit the School of Modern Languages and Cultures’ Public Course website:http://www.hku.hk/smlc/cpll/public/