“I hope learning Korean will enrich the lives
of our learners.” A Conversation with Teacher Yang Yun-seon,
Participant of the 2025 KSI Workshop
in North America

Yang Yun-seon, a teacher who has been teaching Korean for seven years at the KSI Center, U.S.A., participated in the 2025 KSI Workshop in North America held from June 11 to 13. The workshop provided a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the roles and future direction of KSIs in the North American region. In this interview, she shares her impressions of the workshop, her thoughts on the value of Korean language education gained through working with learners from diverse cultural backgrounds, and her personal beliefs and goals as a teacher.

Hello, Teacher Yang Yun-seon! It’s a pleasure to meet you. To start, could you please introduce yourself briefly to the readers of Monthly Knock Knock and tell us about the KSI you’re currently involved with?
 

Hello! My name is Yang Yun-seon, and I teach Korean at the KSI Center, U.S.A. Located in Los Angeles, the KSI Center, U.S.A. was established in 2018 as a regional center supporting KSIs across North America. Currently, five local teachers conduct classes at the center.

At the KSI Center, U.S.A., our learners come from a wide range of ages and backgrounds—from college students who are huge fans of K-pop and take classes with their mothers, to retirees who study Korean as a hobby. Thanks to its location near Hollywood and the largest Koreatown in the U.S.A., we also see many students who work in the film and drama industries, as well as learners from the Korean diaspora. In addition, many students are motivated to study Korean in order to better understand Korean dramas and K-pop.
 
 

How long have you been teaching Korean at the KSI Center, U.S.A.? What led you to start teaching Korean locally, and how has that experience influenced you as a teacher?
 

I’ve been teaching Korean at the KSI Center, U.S.A. since it first opened in 2018—so it's been nearly seven years now. I majored in Korean at university, and after immigrating to the U.S.A., I naturally found myself teaching the language. I started out teaching Korean to teenagers at weekend schools and academies, and now I teach at both the KSI Center, U.S.A. and San Diego State University.

Most of the learners at the KSI Center, U.S.A. study Korean because they genuinely enjoy the language and love Korean culture, which creates a fun and engaging classroom atmosphere. As I work to be a good guide for these eager learners—who light up with curiosity during class—I find myself growing alongside them. The time I spend with my students is a positive source of motivation in my life.
 
 

You participated in the 2025 KSI Workshop in North America, held from June 11 to 13. Was there a particular moment during the workshop that stood out to you the most?
 

The 2025 KSI Workshop in North America was brief but incredibly enriching. In particular, the special lectures on the second day gave me a chance to reflect on the content and objectives of my classes as a Korean language teacher. The lecture on “K-Content and Korean Language Education” offered a fresh perspective on how to approach content, while the session on “The Role and Direction of KSIs in North America” prompted me to consider how to design lessons that accommodate a diverse range of learners.

But what left the strongest impression on me were the presentations each KSI had prepared, sharing their operational status and classroom practices. Until now, there had been few opportunities to learn about how other KSIs—especially those located far away—run their classes. Through this workshop, I was able to gain insights into their achievements, outstanding teaching examples, and challenges. It allowed me to reflect both on the unique characteristics of the North American context and on the future direction of KSIs as a whole. I also vividly remember how teachers from other states were so impressed by the Korean food they got to enjoy at every meal in Los Angeles.
 
 

This year’s workshop included a “Korean Culture Teaching Methods and Practicum” program specifically for Korean language teachers. Were there any new teaching methods or classroom ideas you learned during the workshop that you’d like to share?
 

The “Korean Culture Teaching Methods and Practicum” program was conducted as a hands-on class using traditional Korean bojagi (wrapping cloths). During the practicum, teachers exchanged ideas on how this activity could be applied in classrooms across the U.S.A. and Canada. It was particularly useful for planning lessons geared toward American learners who are interested in gift wrapping.

In addition, during the lecture on “The Role and Direction of KSIs in North America,” I learned about backward design, a teaching method that begins by focusing on what learners will ultimately do, and then working backwards to plan the instruction. I found this learner-centered approach—especially its alignment with local language standards in the U.S.A.—to be a valuable model that could be applied in our classrooms.
 
 

Finally, could you share the goals you hope to achieve at the KSI Center, U.S.A.? We’d also love to hear about your personal goals as a Korean language teacher.
 

I believe that learning a new language is not just about acquiring vocabulary and grammar—it’s about encountering a new culture and expanding one’s worldview. I hope that the learners I meet at KSI will experience a richer, more meaningful life as they learn Korean and engage with Korean culture. I want to serve as a small bridge on that journey. I also aspire to be a teacher who grows alongside my students.hat journey. I also aspire to be a teacher who grows alongside my students.