What does it mean in the modern world of global migration and exchange to claim an ethnic identity for oneself or the culture that one feels embedded in? This course focuses on the phenomenon of transcultural modernity—the elusive condition that is transcultural in two senses: globally intercultural and in an ever-evolving state of transformation. Within this framework, the course will survey the intertangled journey of Koreans and Diaspora Koreans in literary and on-screen representations. Among the subjects to be explored include: modernization in the context of the Korean War and Cold-War decolonization; cultural migration within and across borders; evolving gender identities in the clash of traditions; bonds of intimacy in a world of global capitalism. Literary works will include: Younghill Kang’s East Goes West (excerpts); the short stories “Shower” (Hwang Sun-Won) and “Mother’s Hitching Post” (Park Wanseo); Susan Choi’s The Foreign Student; Park Min-gyu’s Pavane for a Dead Princess, Han Kang’s The Vegetarian, and Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H Mart. Films and Dramas will include: Madame Freedom, Flower in Hell, Whale Hunting, Past Lives, and selected episodes of Squid Game and Beef.

All works will be in English or in translation. No knowledge of Korean is required.

An introductory course on standard conversational Korean for students who have little or no knowledge of Korean. The course will provide basic skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a focus on spoken language proficiency. The course will emphasize the development of communication skills in given situations and tasks, and provide an introduction to sociocultural interests and daily life in Korea. Four 75-minute classes with regular individual meetings.

An introductory course on standard conversational Korean for students who have little or no knowledge of Korean. The course will provide basic skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a focus on spoken language proficiency. The course will emphasize the development of communication skills in given situations and tasks, and provide an introduction to sociocultural interests and daily life in Korea. Four 75-minute classes with regular individual meetings.

A continuation of KOR 101-KOR 102. The first semester will emphasize further development of listening and speaking skills with more complex language structures as well as proficiency in reading and writing. The second semester will emphasize reading and writing skills. Four 75-minute classes with regular individual meetings.

A continuation of KOR 101-KOR 102. The first semester will emphasize further development of listening and speaking skills with more complex language structures as well as proficiency in reading and writing. The second semester will emphasize reading and writing skills. Four 75-minute classes with regular individual meetings.

This course aims to provide a fundamental understanding of Korean culture, society, and the Korean people by focusing on the Korean language. The development of language occurs in dynamic relation to culture and community. Topics include the origin and history of the Korean language, the writing system (Hangeul-Korean alphabet), different dialects (including North Korean dialects), cross-linguistic analysis, intercultural communication, language use in pop culture, language variation across generations, neologism (new word formation) and slang, etc. The historical trajectory of Korean will be examined in relation to relevant sociopolitical and cultural trends. We will also explore diverse issues in contemporary Korean and popular culture using articles, films, dramas, etc. This course is expected to develop cross-cultural perspectives on the Korean language and its rich cultural heritage.

This course aims to provide a fundamental understanding of Korean culture, society, and the Korean people by focusing on the Korean language. The development of language occurs in dynamic relation to culture and community. Topics include the origin and history of the Korean language, the writing system (Hangeul-Korean alphabet), different dialects (including North Korean dialects), cross-linguistic analysis, intercultural communication, language use in pop culture, language variation across generations, neologism (new word formation) and slang, etc. The historical trajectory of Korean will be examined in relation to relevant sociopolitical and cultural trends. We will also explore diverse issues in contemporary Korean and popular culture using articles, films, dramas, etc. This course is expected to develop cross-cultural perspectives on the Korean language and its rich cultural heritage.

Additionally, this course includes participation in an International Lab, which will take place in Seoul in May 2025. The course features two major projects designed to deepen students' understanding of and engagement with Korean culture, society, and language, utilizing immersive experiences planned during the Seoul trip.

This third-year Korean course is designed for students to develop an advanced level of language proficiency by focusing on communication and discussion skills, and cross-cultural understanding, and critical and creative thinking ability. Students will improve their linguistic competence through student-led discussions, presentations, debates, and various individual projects. The integrated activities and applications are designed to expand advanced level vocabulary including formal expressions and Hanja, grammar, and cultural knowledge. Media resources and readings using TV drama, movies, broadcasted news and blogs will provide enriched information on contemporary Korean society and lifestyle. 

This course is a continuation of KOR 231. More emphasis will be placed on enhancing students' reading and writing fluency. Students will read various authentic materials including newspaper articles, formal essays, short stories, and business letters. Class activities and assignments will help students learn how to write in formal and academic settings. These include writing analytical papers, critical reviews, resumes, job applications, business correspondence, etc. Under the guidance of the instructor each student will pres­ent and write a critical review as a final project. Through this course, students will be able to expand their linguistic capacity to an advanced level. The class will be conducted entirely in Korean.

Advances in computer technology have revolutionized the ways linguists can approach their data. By accessing large digital bodies of text (corpora) and searching for phenomena of interest, we can uncover complexities in naturally-occurring data and explore broader issues utilizing linguistic patterns and frequency information. This course presents a practical introduction to corpus linguistics, an extremely versatile methodology of language analysis using computers.

Some of the fundamental questions to explore include; what is a corpus, and what corpora exist? How are corpora constructed and linguistic annotation added? What tools are available for search, annotation, and analysis?  Students will also learn how corpora are used in diverse areas such as sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, child language acquisition, and language change as well as language learning and teaching and develop their own research ideas. Students who register for KOR 246 will be expected to do their coursework using Korean language texts. 

Postwar modernization and industrialization have reshaped Korean, Asian, and global societies. Despite remarkable economic growth and social change, gender inequality persists across many cultural and linguistic contexts. This course examines the relationship between language, gender, and power, focusing on Korea and East Asia while placing these issues in broader Asian and global perspectives. Through the analysis of language use in myths, films, advertisements, and popular culture, students explore how language reflects and constructs gender, identity, and social hierarchy. The course highlights the challenges faced by women and gendered subjects in Asia and beyond.

This course aims at achieving advanced level fluency in reading and writing Korean through the study of various texts and multimedia. Course "texts" include contemporary works of Korean literature, current newspaper articles, broadcast news, and clips of television shows and films. The course will develop sophisticated interpretive and presentational skills in formal contexts while enhancing the student's level of literary appreciation and intellectual analysis. The focus is on mastery of a wide range of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions, individual writing projects, classroom discussion, and presentations on assigned topics.