Course overview
View or print a Korean language brochure (PDF 17 MB)
Stage 5 (Years 9 & 10)
The stage 5 course (Years 9 and 10) caters for all proficiency levels, including Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels. Eligibility rules apply for students continuing on to the Stage 6 Continuers or in Context courses.
Korean 200-hour course (2-year course delivered over Years 9 & 10)
This course is designed for students who wish to study Korean through Years 9 and 10 as an elective subject. The course is delivered online via Canvas, and students engage in a variety of diverse activities and interactive tasks. These self-directed learning practices are aimed at fostering an environment in which students can work at a pace best suited to their individual learning needs to develop their Korean language skills. Weekly, students will showcase their skills by submitting online written tasks for correction.
The course includes regular weekly speaking lessons delivered on-line. During these sessions, students will develop their communication skills and can ask their Korean teacher any course-related questions. This is a valuable opportunity for them to seek further assistance and support from their teacher.
Each term, face-to-face lesson days are held at NSW School of Languages (NSL) so that students can meet their classmates and engage in practical language learning activities with a range of vibrant cultural activities.
Korean 100-hour course (1 year course for Year 10 students)
The 100-hour course is for Year 10 students who have not previously studied Korean. Students who complete the 100-hour course remain eligible for the Stage 6 Beginners course, dependant on meeting other criteria. This course is excellent preparation for the Stage 6 Beginners course.
Stage 6 (Years 11 & 12)
Korean Beginners
This course is designed for students with very little or no prior knowledge of the Korean language. In this course, students gain a wide exposure to Korean language, culture, and way of life through a program complemented by e-learning delivery and a rich array of audio and visual material. Students will be engaged with approximately 8 carefully designed modules each term, providing a solid foundation in the Korean language. The modules are set for self-directed study in Preliminary and HSC Korean Beginners courses, containing diverse learning materials and engaging activities. Students are expected to submit work weekly, including handwritten submissions for ongoing feedback from their teachers. Weekly speaking lessons with the teacher are also a compulsory part of this course, ensuring continuous growth in verbal communication in Korean.
Each term, a face-to-face lesson day is held at NSL in Petersham, offering a vibrant learning environment for students to connect, interact, and experience rich Korean culture alongside their peers and teachers.
Korean Continuers
The Preliminary and HSC Korean Continuers' courses are designed for students with some prior knowledge, typically having studied the language for 200–400 hours at the commencement of Stage 6. More information on eligibility can be found on the NESA website. This course is delivered via the Canvas learning platform. This newly designed course covers a range of syllabus topics and language features via interactive self-correcting activities, whole-group digital interactions and discussions, and the production of creative texts, aiming to foster students' ability to consolidate their Korean language skills and to develop examination technique. Students participate in weekly on-screen lessons with their teacher to enhance their conversational skills and to receive additional feedback and support.
Once per term, students enhance their online learning experience with an immersive face-to-face lesson day, fostering opportunities to meet classmates and participate in practical language learning activities enriched with a diverse range of vibrant cultural experiences.
Korean in Context
Stage 6 Korean in Context learners are students who have been brought up using the Korean language outside the classroom, and who have a connection to Korean culture. Learning in the Korean in Context courses will enable students to strengthen their personal connections to their heritage and will enhance the development of their bilingual and bicultural identities.
The Stage 6 course provides students with the opportunity to develop their communication skills, knowledge, and understanding of the Korean language, culture, and identity through six prescribed modules and related texts. In Year 12, students engage in a Personal Investigation module which allows them to explore an area of interest related to one of the issues.
The courses are available via Canvas, with a variety of stimuli to explore the study of the issues. There are weekly speaking lessons with their teacher to develop their understanding and receive feedback and support. Study days are held at NSL at various times throughout the year, providing students with first-hand experiences of Korean cultures and language learning activities.
Course materials
Textbooks
All learning materials are provided by NSL via Canvas.
Dictionaries
All students should have a comprehensive language dictionary. We recommend the purchasing of one of the following dictionaries:
- Si-sa Elite: English-Korean & Korean-English Dictionary (Paperback)
- Metro: Dong-A's Metro English-Korean, Korean-English Dictionary
- English-Korean & Korean-English One-to-one Dictionary
- Minjung’s Essence Korean-English Dictionary
Syllabuses (from NESA)
Go to the NESA syllabus downloads page for more information on the syllabus.