Inter-University Center for Korean Language Studies at SKKU Advanced Academic Korean (IUC)
Applications Due: Jan. 31 (Spring), May 31 (Summer), Jul. 31 (Fall)
Program Period / Duration: 8 Weeks (Spring / Fall), 6 Weeks (Summer)
The Inter-University Center for Korean Language Studies at SKKU (hereafter the IUC or Center) was established as an advanced Korean language training institution for academic researchers, graduate students, and prospective researchers in Korean Studies as well as related professionals.
The campus for the Center is located within the SKKU humanities and social sciences campus (Seoul), and is jointly operated by SKKU and the executive committee of the Inter-university Consortium. A core group of North American, Latin American and European Korean programs participate as member universities of the IUC at SKKU, with current co-chairs from UCLA and the University of British Columbia. Harvard University, University of Michigan and University of Southern California are currently committed to membership, and University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, Georgetown University, Australian National University, Leiden University, SOAS and University of Sheffield are in the process of negotiating membership. The mission of the Center is to provide intensive high-level Korean language training(including instruction in sinographs, high-level sinographic vocabulary and hanmun, depending on learners’ needs) essential for excellent academic performance in Korean Studies, and to promote the learners’ ability to present research papers, access primary sources, and translate between Korean and their own languages. The Center also aims to contribute to active communication and networking among Korean Studies professionals and institutions at home and abroad.
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Eligibility: Graduate students, researchers, and professionals with high proficiency in English, and whose Korean language proficiency is TOPIK level four or higher, or who have completed four years of post-secondary Korean language courses overseas.
Purpose:
- To improve the academic Korean language ability of a small number of students (less than 8 per class).
- To improve reading comprehension of original sources and research materials related to each participant’s areas of study.
- To raise students’ communication abilities in Korean and facilitate academic exchange with Korean scholars.
- To improve translation skills between academic Korean and English.
Areas of Emphasis:
Improving Reading Comprehension
- Improving grammar understanding through systematic learning of advanced Korean grammar.
- Improving advanced vocabulary through: intensive learning of frequently used vocabulary in area of specialization, learning of academic journal structure and vocabulary in selected specialty journals (in areas such as literature, linguistics, history, Asian philosophy, sociology, politics and economics); learning of signographs (한자); learning of Literary Sinitic/ Hanmun (optional).
Improving Speaking and Listening Ability
- Training through oral presentations on field-specific themes through CBI (Content-Based Instruction).
- Buddy program with SKKU Humanities graduate students and students of SKKU’s Academy of East Asian Studies.
- Special lectures on current trends in Korean Studies.
Improving Writing Ability
- Improving writing ability through weekly writing assignments to be presented in class
- Presentation of a short research essay in the 7th week and development of a short research essay to be presented in the final week of class
Korea-America Student Conference (KASC)
Applications Due: January - February
Program Period / Duration: June - July / 3 Weeks
The Korea-America Student Conference (KASC) brings together Korean and American university students from a variety of academic disciplines to live, travel, and conduct original peer-reviewed research together. Over the course of this academically intensive and culturally immersive program, delegates will build lifelong friendships, develop cross-cultural communication skills, and connect with leading professionals in the field of U.S.-ROK relations, all while gaining a firsthand understanding of this ever-evolving and multifaceted alliance.
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Eligibility:
All full-time undergraduate and graduate students studying in the United States and/or Republic of Korea are eligible to apply.
KASC welcomes applications from students of all academic majors to foster a deeper, interdisciplinary exchange. As the official language of the conference is English, no prior experience in Korean language or Korean Studies is required.
Why KASC:
KASC continues to distinguish itself from other study abroad or exchange programs in that it is entirely student-run and student-led in nature. The Executive Committee, elected by their peers at the end of the preceding Conference, determines the Conference theme, roundtable topics, and programming in addition to overseeing the day-to-day logistics of Conference planning and execution.
This aspect of KASC allows delegates to delve into the topics that are of interest to them and empowers them to discuss the pressing issues they recognize they will one day be tasked with as the next generation of U.S.-Asia Leaders.
Delegates will not only develop strong cross-cultural communication skills through their interactions their peers. Over the course of the Conference, participants will be presented with numerous opportunities to network with leading officials, academics and, distinguished professionals in the public and private sectors as well as prominent business leaders, and key figures in the field of U.S.-ROK relations more broadly.
By balancing opportunities for personal, intellectual, and professional growth, KASC encourages delegates to realize their ability to spark meaningful change on the world stage and within their local communities.
Academic Interchange:
An indispensable component of all KASC gatherings are the Roundtables, or RTs. During the Conference, delegates conduct original, peer-reviewed research in tightly-knit academic cohorts. Each RT is made up of an equal number of Korean and American delegates to ensure a balanced exchange of cultural perspectives. Through these intensive discussions on sensitive subjects, participants gain a more nuanced understanding of their international counterparts and actively develop real world policy solutions in the context of the U.S.-ROK relationship.
Sample RT Topics:
- Diplomacy and Security
- Art, History, and Narratives
- Identity, Mental Health, and Relationships
- Tourism and Culture
- Sustainable Development
- Income Inequality
Funding:
The Center for Korean Studies has scholarship funding available to undergraduate students that can be applied to the cost of this program. For more information, visit Fellowships & Grants.
