Korean is the official language of North and South Korea and is spoken by Korean communities around the world; altogether more than 80 million people worldwide speak Korean. Korean is distinguished by a unique indigenous alphabet developed in the fifteenth century by the sage King Sejong. Sophisticated yet easy to learn, the Korean alphabet or Hangeul is widely known as “the beautiful script”. At ANU, Korean is taught in a way that balances learning to communicate with developing student’s ability to begin to learn and appreciate some of the rich cultural resources available in Korean literature, film, culture and society. In an era of rapidly increasing connections between Korea and Australia, knowledge of Korean offers students the possibility to participate in the growing ties between these countries.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop intermediate proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing to engage in everyday conversations, including greetings, asking for directions, shopping, dining, holidays, hobbies, peer group communication, and one's own life and interests.
- Gain the ability to analyse and understand the linguistic structures of the Korean language to appropriately conduct effective written and oral communication in a variety of daily, professional, and social settings.
- Improve interactive speaking skills through participation in discussions, debates, and presentations, focusing on fluency, pronunciation, and the ability to articulate thoughts clearly and persuasively.
- Develop the ability to write clear and coherent texts, including emails, essays, and reports, appropriate for different audiences and purposes in the target language.
- Foster cross-cultural understanding by engaging with contemporary Korean usage, including online communication trends and technologies.
Other Information
Students with previous “language experience or exposure” are required to take a language proficiency assessment to ensure enrolment at the most appropriate level.
Relevant past experience includes:
- Previous study of the language (both formal and informal, for example but not limited to, at school, or, home, or through online activities, etc.)
- Being exposed to the language in childhood via a family member or friend
- Travel or living in a country where the language is spoken
- The language being spoken in your home (even if you do not speak it yourself)
Students who are not sure if they need to take a proficiency assessment should seek advice from the course or language convenor.
Students who intentionally misrepresent their language proficiency level may be investigated under the Academic Integrity Rule 2021 as having failed to comply with assessment directions and having sought unfair advantage. This may results in a penalty such as reduced grades or failure of the course.
Students are not permitted to enrol in a language course below one that they have already successfully completed, except with permission of the language and/or course convenor.
Areas of Interest
- Asian Languages
- Translation Studies
- Asian Studies
- Asia Pacific Studies
- Language Studies
- Asia-Pacific Studies
- Linguistics