Why Study Korean?
The global explosion of the Korean culture industry, including K-pop, K-drama, variety shows, films, and webtoons, makes Korean one of the most interesting languages to learn today. Did you know that there are more than 78 million speakers of Korean in the world, including large groups in China, Japan, Russia, the United States, and Canada? This places Korean as the fourteenth most widely used language in the world, and second among Asian languages in the entire U.S. In addition, South Korea is an important economic partner to the U.S., home to a fast-paced youth culture that is driving the country's digital industrial revolution. At the same time, Korea remains a region of vital American geo-political interest, with the continuing threat posed by North Korea. All of these contemporary reasons, combined with Korea's long and distinguished tradition of prizing life of letters, makes Korean an exciting and versatile language, and your next foreign tongue. In the U-M Korean Language Program, you will have the chance to not only learn the language, but to learn about South Korea’s culture and life.
Korean Language Courses
Korean Language Courses
ASIANLAN 135: First Year Korean I
ASIANLAN 136: First Year Korean II
ASIANLAN 138: Intensive First Year Korean
ASIANLAN 235: Second Year Korean I
ASIANLAN 236: Second Year Korean II (Completion of this course with a grade of C- or better meets the LSA Language Requirement)
ASIANLAN 238: Intensive Second Year Korean (Completion of this course with a grade of C- or better meets the LSA Language Requirement)
ASIANLAN 335: Third Year Korean I
ASIANLAN 336: Third Year Korean II
ASIANLAN 435: Advanced Reading and Writing in Korean
ASIANLAN 436: Advanced Spoken Korean
ASIANLAN 437: Business Korean
ASIANLAN 438: Media Korean
ASIANLAN 479: Teaching Korean in the Community
Korean Language Program Activities
Language Tables
Hosted by KLP faculty and student staff, language tables help students deepen their experience of the Korean language, culture, and society in a participatory setting. The events include a game night, a singing contest, and an impromptu skit.
Seoul National University Exchange
KLP students engage in online exchanges with students at Seoul National University throughout the year.
Global Course Connections in Seoul, South Korea
In the Spring term, KLP students have the opportunity to take their Korean language learning to a practical setting through the three-week Global Course Connections program led by KLP faculty.
Nam Essay Contest
The contest honors the memory of Elder Sang Yong Nam, a benefactor whose generosity and personal dedication helped create momentum for the establishment of the Korean Language Program at the University of Michigan in the early 1990s. Students write an essay on a given topic and the best essays are recognized with scholarship awards of up to $200 at the annual celebration in April.
Korean Language Awards
The best student performances in each class are recognized at the annual celebration in April. Awardees receive a book prize.
Midwest Speech Contest & Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK)
With generous support by the Nam Center for Korean Studies, KLP students are fully funded to take part in the Midwest Korean Speech Contest and take the TOPIK exam administered by the Korean government.
Korean Language Funding Opportunities
- The Summer in Korea Scholarship, funded by the U-M Nam Center for Korean Studies, provides two annual awards to support travel to Korea to attend Yonsei International Summer School.
- The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship provides tuition and stipend to students studying designated foreign languages in combination with area studies or international aspects of professional studies.
- Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS): Scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students for overseas summer language programs
- Boren Awards for International Study: Undergraduate and graduate scholarships and fellowships
- The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), funded by the Korean government, covers various types of support programs for advanced studies in undergraduate and graduate programs at higher educational institutions in South Korea.
- Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia
- The Teach and Learn in Korea (TaLK) Scholarship
Resources for Students of Korean
Language Learning and Studying Abroad
- U-M Asia Library Korean Language Learning Collection
- Lead with Korean
- Hangeul Learning Center
- Nuri-Sejong Hakdang
- Quick Korean by the Cyber University of Korea (recommended channels: YouTube, The Korea Times)
- Talk To Me In Korean
- OptiLingo Korean Resources
- Naver Dictionary
- Teaching English in Korea (EPIK and TaLK)
- U.S. Department of State Study Abroad Resources
- U.S. Department of State Exchange Program Resources
- CIA World Factbook: South Korea
Current News about Korea
- The Korea Herald
- The Korea Times
- Korea.net (Official Website of the Republic of Korea)
- BBC - South Korea
- Al Jazeera - South Korea
Current and Pop Culture