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Korean

Korean Language Program for Adults

WELCOME!

KCI offers a variety of Korean language classes — from basic grammar to advanced conversation — for those who want to learn about Korea and its language and culture.

KCI is one of 180 affiliates worldwide of the King Sejong Institute (KSI), an institution under the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism and the International Korean Language Foundation, established to support and promote Korean language education and Korean culture around the world.

Conveniently scheduled once a week in the evenings, the classes are perfect for working adults as well as students seeking to further their academic, professional, or personal goals. Private tutoring is also available on a flexible schedule to meet the student’s needs. All instructors possess or qualify for advanced degrees in education and Teaching Korean as a Foreign Language (TKFL).

UPDATE

With the outbreak of COVID-19 in the San Francisco Bay Area, we are continuing to offer ONLINE Korean Language classes for the 2021 S/S semester. Here are some things to know before you register:

  • Classes with less than 5 students will be canceled and the students will be notified accordingly. The maximum number of students per class will be 8-9 students, depending on the level of the class.
  • Classes will be held LIVE. This is not a recorded lecture. Students are expected to attend classes on their designated time and day.
  • We HIGHLY recommend students join the online class using a laptop or desktop computer, in order to facilitate interaction and participation in class.
Schedules & Registration

Course Descriptions

Intro to Korean Language

Formally known as the Korean Alphabet course. This course is designed to introduce the Korean alphabet, Hangul, for students without any or very little knowledge of the Korean language. The first 11 weeks will focus on reading and writing Hangul along with learning pronunciation rules and basic conversational expressions. The last 2 weeks will go over the basics of Korean language sentence structure as well as Korean numbering systems for the preparation of the Beginning 1 course. Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to read Korean alphabets, words and Sino & Native- Korean numbers. 

Textbook: Korean Made Easy, Starter

*Curbside Pick-Up Available.

Buying Option 1 (2-5 business day shipping)  | Buying Option 2 (~3 week shipping)

Buying Option 3 (Need to create an account)

Beginning 1

This course is designed for students who can read and write the Korean alphabet. Students will acquire knowledge of basic grammar and expressions with related vocabulary. Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to exchange greetings with each other, ask simple questions to others, describe locations, and use formal & informal polite present sentences.

This class is for students who completed Intro to Korean Language(한글) class at our school.
If you studied Korean Alphabet(한글) by yourself or at other places, please contact a coordinator and take a placement exam.

Textbook: 세종한국어 회화 1

*Curbside Pick-Up Available.

Buying Option 1 (2-5 business days shipping) | Buying Option 2 (~3 weeks shipping) | Online Textbook (Need to make an account with Sejong Hakdang)

Beginning 2

This course is for students who start to explore a higher level of language structure and to expand vocabulary. Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to exchange conversations related to topics of daily environments such as hobby, food, and transportation. In addition, students will be able to combine into short sentences what they know and what they hear in class.

This class is for students already finished Beginning 1 at our school. If you’re a new student interested in taking this course, please contact the program coordinator to schedule a placement exam.

Textbook: 세종한국어 회화 1

*Curbside Pick-Up Available.

Buying Option 1 (2-5 business days shipping) | Buying Option 2 (~3 weeks shipping) | Online Textbook (Need to make an account with Sejong Hakdang)

Beginning 3

This course provides students with opportunities to improve their communicative competence in Korean and to gain confidence in using their speaking and listening skills. In this class, students will engage in spontaneous dialogues with little difficulty and extension of knowledge of grammar and vocabulary will be emphasized.

This class is for students already finished Beginning 2 at our school. If you’re a new student interested in taking this course, please contact the program coordinator to schedule a placement exam.

Textbook : 세종한국어 회화 2

*Curbside Pick-Up Available.

Buying Option 1 (2-5 business days shipping) | Buying Option 2 (~3 weeks shipping) | Online Textbook (Need to make an account with Sejong Hakdang)

 

Beginning 4

This class is for students already finished Beginning 3 at our school. If you’re a new student interested in taking this course, please contact the program coordinator to schedule a placement exam.

Textbook: 세종한국어 회화 2

*Curbside Pick-Up Available

Buying Option 1 (2-5 business days shipping) | Buying Option 2 (~3 weeks shipping) | Online Textbook (Need to make an account with Sejong Hakdang)

Intermediate 1

This course is designed to help students review grammar rules and vocabulary that were covered in Beginning 1 through Beginning 4 course. This course focuses more on reading comprehension and writing skills. If you’re a new student interested in taking this course, please contact the program coordinator to schedule a placement exam.

Textbook: 세종한국어 회화 3

*Limited quantities available for curbside pick-up. Please contact Hyunji (hyunji@koreancentersf.org) to check the availability.

Buying Option 1 (2-5 business days shipping) | Buying Option 2 | Buying Option 3 (Need to make an account with BandiBooks)

 

Intermediate 2

This course is intended for students who have completed Intermediate 1. Intermediate 2 will cover the last half of the 세종한국어 회화 3. Students will dive into more advanced grammar structures. If you’re a new student interested in taking this course, please contact the program coordinator to schedule a placement exam.

Textbook: 세종한국어 회화 3

*Limited quantities available for curbside pick-up. Please contact Hyunji (hyunji@koreancentersf.org) to check the availability.

Buying Option 1 (2-5 business days shipping) | Buying Option 2 | Buying Option 3 (Need to make an account with BandiBooks)

 

Intermediate 3

This course is intended for students who have completed Intermediate 2. If you’re a new student interested in taking this course, please contact the program coordinator to schedule a placement exam.

Textbook: 서울대 한국어 2B Student Book & Workbook (need to purchase both books)

*Curbside pick-up not available.

서울대 한국어 2B Student Book | 서울대 한국어 2B Workbook

 

Intermediate 4

This course is intended for students who have completed Intermediate 3. If you’re a new student interested in taking this course, please contact the program coordinator to schedule a placement exam.

Textbook: 서울대 한국어 2B Student Book & Workbook (need to purchase both books)

*Curbside pick-up not available.

서울대 한국어 2B Student Book | 서울대 한국어 2B Workbook

Advanced Korean - CLOSED

This course provides a comprehensive approach to Korean communication and contemporary culture. The four language skills–speaking, listening, reading, and writing–are connected by a common learning objective in each lesson, enabling students to practice, extend, and apply their knowledge and skills. Authentic dialogues in this course help students grasp important Korean grammar structures and vocabulary. In each lesson, students are encouraged to reinforce what they have learned through a variety of both controlled and free conversation activities.

 

Textbook: 서강대 한국어 4A Student Book & Workbook

*Not available for curbside pick-up.