Amid the growing economic and political importance of the Korean Peninsula, the York University’s Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (DLLL) and the Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies have been expanding the their course offerings and research on Korea at York University in recent years. The Canadian University began teaching the Korean language has been taught at the York University for over about 10 years ago. Currently, there are it has nine faculty members who either teach Korea-related courses and/or conduct research on Korea in the following disciplines: disciplines such as art history, history, language and linguistics, literature, political science, and sociology.

Three-year Course Offerings

The Korean Language Program at York University comprises three years of course offerings, which that can be taken by both undergraduate and graduate students. The Korean language These courses are intended to develop designed to facilitate the acquisition of communicative communication skills in standard Korean, with a focus on the balanced development of the four basic language skills ― speaking, listening, writing, and reading ― through various diverse language-learning activities. Korean language The courses also provide sociolinguistic and socio-cultural information, especially when language is intimately closely linked with culture through Korean movies, music, and a number of other cultural activities.

From beginning to advanced levels, all classes are divided into two parts: 1) lectures that include providing information and explanation of conversational patterns in grammatical and pragmatic terms, and 2) tutorials which provide an opportunity for opportunities to practice using Korean in the tasks and activities of daily life situations. The course offerings in the Korean Language Programs include three levels of language courses: Beginning (KOR1000), Intermediate (KOR2000), and Advanced (KOR3000), along with as well as two additional courses on Contemporary Korean Culture (KOR3600) and Korean Linguistics (KOR 3150), all of which are credit courses for a total of 6 credit units. Currently, 223 students are enrolled in the Korean Language Program (2012-2013). The number of students has drastically increased fourfold from the over 54 in the 2003-2004 academic year. For 2012-2013 Three professors are conducting lectures in the current academic year, there are three faculty members offering courses in the Korean Language Programs. (More information can be found is available at: http://www.yorku.ca/laps/dlll/korean/.)

Student Exchange with Korean Universities

York University conducts a student exchange programs with some of the top universities in South Korea, including Ewha Woman’s Womans University, Hanyang University, Seoul National University, Sugnkyunkwan Sungkyunkwan University, and Yonsei University. Undergraduate and graduate students studying at York are eligible to attend courses offered by Korean Language Institute courses language institutes at these exchange universities. Students can attend summer programs, ranging from during summer sessions over three weeks to three months. In addition, York students are allowed to can also earn a part of their degree credits at these universities by studying at these universities for one or both semesters of an academic year two semesters. Partial funding support and scholarship aid may be available. (More information can be found at: http://international.yorku.ca/exchange/index.htm.)

Library Resources and Korean Studies Faculty

The Korean Collection collection at York University supports meets the research and instructional needs of the Korean Studies faculty and students. It is a comparatively new collection, with vigorous growth but is growing vigorously in recent years, especially with supplemental acquisition support from the University university.

Outlook for Korean Studies at York University

The Korean Language Program is expected to further expand with growing course offerings as well as rapidly rising interest in Korean language and culture among Canadians. The following new courses will be offered in the upcoming years: Korean Language and Society (KOR3800), Understanding Korea through Films (KOR3650), Business Korean (KOR3200), and Business Culture and Intercultural Communication in Korea (KOR4200). The growing Korean Language Program and strong presence of the Korean Studies faculty, as well as the Korea Foundation’s generous support, have already laid a solid foundation for the establishment of Korean Studies major and minor degree programs, under a long-term vision for the a thriving Korean Studies program at York University.

Mihyon Jeon (Jeon Mi-hyon)
Associate Professor, York University