KSIF Newsletter
No.70
April, 2019
KSI News
KSI Jakarta, Indonesia
We Learn Korean to Meet EXO!
Though BTS is popular around the world, it not so for the beginner’s classes of 1A-1 and 1A-2 in KSI Jakarta, Indonesia. Here, the popularity of EXO is sky-rocketing. Eight out of 29 students in both classes are members of the EXO fan club, and more than half of the students are also general fans. They register for the class for the first time early this year in order to visit Korea and meet Chan-yeol and Baek-hyun of EXO. After the first class in February, they learned Korean alphabet for 6 hours and made their first name tag in Korean on March 2nd. The students, who have just started learning Korean language, introduced themselves with their Korean name tags and showed their eagerness to study Korean. Soo-jin Yoon, instructor who is in charge of beginner’s class 1A-1 and 1A-2, said, “In Indonesia, there are many people learning Korean because they like K-pop. I dream of my students having a conversation in Korean with members of EXO.”
▲ Photo of students in beginner’s class 1A-2 holding their name tags in Korean
▲ Photo of students in beginner’s class 1A-1 holding their name tags in Korean
KSI Can Tho, Vietnam
Vietnamese Public Officials Fallen in Love with Korean
At KSI Can Tho, Vietnam offers Korean language classes for civil servants. Starting from 8am on weekends, there are 4 classes: beginner’s class 1A-2, 1B, 2A and 2B. These courses began since KSI Can Tho was established in 2015, a total of 21 people including administrative officials, police officers, and public school teachers from 13 provinces in the Mekong Delta are attending the classes in this semester. Most of the students learn Korean as they require Korean skills for their work, or they like Korean culture. Hye-jung Lee, instructor of the course for public officials, said, “Students work during the weekdays and attend classes on weekends, but many of them are eagerly participating in the classes.” In addition to courses for the civil servants, KSI Can Tho plans expand its special curriculum for specific students and purposes and offer Korean language education tailored to local demands.
▲ On March 17th Hye-jung Lee (5th from right in front row), instructor of beginner’s class 1 A-2(Sejong 1) pose with her students.
▲ On March 17th Nguyen Thi Minh Tran, public official from Hau Giang Province, practices Korean alphabet.
KSI Ulaanbaatar 2, Mongolia
“We Study Korean After Work,”
Zeal of Office Workers’ Class
KSI Ulaanbaatar 2, Mongolia started its Korean language lessons for the first semester of 2019 from February 18th. Just for the first semester, about 290 students registered and the institute has opened 13 classes. Especially, beginner’s class 2A-1 which is held from 7 to 9pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays is the most popular course among the learners who are working and studying at the same time. 27 students include doctors, lawyers, accountants, and teachers. Their motivation to study Korean varies; in order to read Korean cosmetics manuals or to respond well to Korean customers. Especially, Uranchimeg, who is a doctor at Mongolian Agape Christian Hospital, is studying Korean to communicate with Korean doctors who visit the hospital every year to exchange medical information. Hyunju Kim, instructor of beginner’s class 2A-1 said, “I’m impressed by the students who are learning Korean in the evening after their work.” She also added, “I hope to repay them with passionate and quality classes.”
▲ Photo of students in beginner’s class 2-1 holding ‘Sejong Korean’ 3 textbooks
▲ Students of beginner’s class 2-1 show off their own fan made in Korean culture class
