Welcome to First Step Korean!

Introduction to the Korean Language

• Welcome to the lecture on Korean language.

• Professor in charge of Korean education as a foreign language at Yonsei University.

• Aim to provide an engaging introduction to the Korean language.

Overview of Korean Language

• Native Speakers: 77 million native speakers and 5.6 million heritage speakers.

• Ranking: 13th most commonly used language among over 3,000 languages globally.

• Unique Alphabet: Korean has its own alphabet (Hangul) created by King Sejong.

• Historical Context: Unlike other languages without dedicated scripts, Hangul was established for the literacy of common people, not just the educated elites.

Comparisons with Other Languages

• Learning Ease: Learning Hangul is easier compared to Japanese or Chinese writing systems.

• Grammar Similarity: Korean grammar structure is similar to Japanese, making it accessible for Japanese learners.

• Vocabulary Composition:

  • 35% native Korean words

  • 60% Sino-Korean words

  • 5% loanwords (mostly from English; example: "computer")

Unique Characteristics of Korean Language

• Syntax:

  • Sentence structure differs from English.

  • Korean follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order.

  • Example: "Jane studies Korean" translates to "Jane Korean studies."

• Flexibility in Word Order:

  • As long as the verb/adjective is at the end, other components can be rearranged.

  • Example: "Bob and Jane at school Korean study" is grammatically correct.

• Situation-Oriented Language:

  • Subjects can often be omitted in context.

  • Example: "Are you going home?" can be simplified to "Going home?"

• Honorifics and Speech Levels:

  • Different speech levels of respect are observed.

  • Example: Greetings vary based on the relationship (father-son vs. friend vs. colleague).

Course Structure

• Modules:

  • 5 individual modules, each composed of 4 units.

  • 4th unit in each module serves as a review.

• Topics Covered:

  • Korean alphabet, greetings, family, daily life, time and dates, etc.

• Unit Composition:

  • Learning objectives defined for each unit.

  • Listening exercises followed by practice and pronunciation.

  • Vocabulary and sentence structure explanations, with practice mixing in learned words.

  • Quizzes to assess knowledge after each unit.

• Goal: Cultivate interest in Korea and the Korean language throughout the course.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to engage with the Korean language and culture.

• Wish for a positive and rewarding learning experience.