KLI, A New gateway to meeting a bigger world

 

-Incubating International Students’ Dreams

 

 

 

The Korean Language Institute (KLI), Korea’s first institute devoted to teaching the Korean language, is celebrating its fifty-seventh anniversary this year. From its inception, the institute has led the way in developing new educational curricula, instructional methods, and teaching materials. In addition to its regular programs, the KLI offers University Korean Program for those who wish to study in a Korean university, Evening Program for working adults, intensive courses for Chinese students, 3-Week Program for shortterm visitors to the country, and a 5-week Summer Special Program geared toward international university students.

 

 

Since March, the KLI has operated the Korean Language Training Fellowship, which, supported by the Korean Foundation, offers scholarships to international students majoring in Korean Studies. Furthermore, the KLI runs a Korean language course for American university graduates who work in Korea as English instructors through the English Teaching Assistantship program, which is operated by the Fulbright Korean-American Educational Commission. At the same time, the KLI now offers Korean language courses online; its most recent Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), “Learn to Speak Korean 1” has attracted more than 9,000 visitors since its launch on July 2. Going forward, the institute is developing more advanced online courses, and it plans to develop a MOOC curriculum that includes Korean songs.

 

On July 10, the KLI was featured on television in KBS’s “Documentary 3days” Filmed over three days in late June, the documentary captures the experiences of KLI students learning the Korean language and experiencing Korean culture through activities such as a traditional mask dance and cooking.

 

The KLI also organizes an essay contest for international students; the next edition of the contest will take place October 7 in the Amphitheater on the Sinchon Campus. Internationally, the institute is sponsoring contests in China, Japan, and the U.S. in September and October. There are also plans to hold cultural activities and job fairs in collaboration with local companies.

 

In all, nearly 2,500 international students from sixty nations enrolled in courses at the KLI this past summer.