In AY 2017, Global Languages initiated a four-year pilot of Korean language in response to student demand. Korean language courses are designed to promote the critical thinking skills, communicative and interpersonal abilities, and cross-cultural understanding as well as linguistic proficiency through various resources. Students completing Korean I through Korean VI will achieve a working proficiency level in the four skills of reading, speaking, comprehension, and writing.
Our Korean curriculum uses innovative pedagogical methods integrating language and culture at all levels. Students engage in learning activities that enable them to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition to the program of language study, Global Languages offers several courses in East Asian Studies (taught in English) that take up Korean culture, history and society.
Students can use their Korean subject credits toward a HASS concentration in “Other Languages” or “Asian and Asian Diaspora Studies.”
The surge of interest in Korean at MIT is a phenomenon seen on campuses across the US — a combined result of the global “wave” of Korean popular culture, the growth of career opportunities, South Korea’s reputation for innovation in science and technology, and the dynamism of inter-Asian linkages in the region. The division of North and South Korea is also one of the major unresolved international issues of our time.
All 21G subjects in IAP and Spring 2021 will be offered remotely, with synchronous class meetings in Zoom.
IAP 2021
21G.901 Korean I
Spring 2021
21G.902 Korean II
21G.904 Korean IV
21G.S06 Special Subject: Korean VI
This course enables students to understand current social trends in Korea and to develop cross-cultural insights by comparing Korean society with the students’ own societies. Students deal more extensively with a variety of topics, such as Korean proverbs, traditional and contemporary lifestyles of Korean people, contemporary pop culture, and other related topics, in order to gain greater knowledge of Korean culture and a deeper awareness of the role that culture and social behavior play in effective communication. Furthermore, students develop a high level of fluency and accuracy in their linguistic/pragmatic competence and performance.
21G.094 Cinema in Japan and Korea
Looking ahead
Fall 2021
21G.901 Korean I
21G.903 Korean III
21G.S02 Special Subject: Korean V
21G.095 Cultures of Popular Music in East Asia: Japan, Korea, China
A note regarding the enrollment policy of the Global Languages section: Enrollment limited to 16 for pedagogical reasons. Preference will be given to pre-registered students, including pre-registered undergraduates who were cut from the same class the previous semester due to the enrollment cap. Please note that you have to attend the first day of class to maintain your preference level. In case of over-enrollment, preference will be given in the following order: declared majors, declared minors, declared concentrators, first-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students.
Current Brochure
