Plenary Talks
Emerging Topography of KFL Research and Practices
The remarkable growth of interest in the Korean language over the past three decades necessitates a critical review to help practitioners to navigate in KFL education. Teaching Korean as a Foreign Language: Theories and Practices (2021) is one such attempt. The following areas are identified as deserving special attention: (1) KFL acquisition, (2) Pedagogical approaches, (3) Language in use, (4) Culture, (5) Korean as a heritage language (KHL), (6) Literacies, (7) Assessment, and (8) Program building. In this talk I define one of the most pronounced developments as a shift of focus from a top-down, teacher-oriented view to a learner-based one in research and practices. Turning away from the deficiency-oriented views of language learners, recent studies focus on critical issues of language maintenance, identity, cultural literacy, and intercultural competence. In addition, standards-based teaching and proficiency-based assessment are critically evaluated. Results reveal topological characteristics of KFL research and suggest directions for the future.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Young-mee Yu Cho is Professor of the Korean Language in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. While regularly supervising the four-level Korean program that offers a Korean Major, Minor, and M.A. in Asian Studies, she initiated the K-12 New Jersey Korean Teacher Certification in 2008 and developed “The Korean English Translation/Interpreting Certificate Program” (Fall 2020) and “Certificate of Academic Korean for Heritage Speakers (AKHS) (Fall 2022). She co-authored the first four volumes of the definitive Korean language textbook series, Integrated Korean (2000-2019) and a new textbook series for heritage learners, Integrated Korean: Accelerated 1 & Accelerated 2 (2020-21). As the 5th President of the American Association of Teachers of Korean (AATK) (2006-2009), she spearheaded the publication of the National Standards for Korean Language Learning (2012). Her interest in curriculum development and instructional strategies resulted in the College Korean Curriculum Inspired by National Standards for Korean (CKC) as a special edited issue of the journal, The Korean Language in America (2015). Besides her engagement as a Korean language educator, she continues to do research on Korean phonology, morphology and pragmatics.
Hallyu, AI and VR – how can technology-empowered teaching make language learning enjoyable, sustainable and effective?
This talk will set out how Hallyu (K-wave) contents, supported by AI and VR, can make a language learning environment enjoyable, affordable and sustainable. It will address the efficacy of these technologies in teaching Korean pragmatics. First, I will suggest how Hallyu has reshaped Korean language education. I will then show how innovative technology and social media are profoundly changing the way Korean can be taught and learned.
AI-empowered technology can improve learners with interpersonal, interactional dynamics that are rich in Korean– yet hard to teach using traditional textbooks in a classroom. I will demonstrate how a pragmatically-sensitive AI translator can help learners with translation practices. Finally, I will explore the efficacy of VR technology in alleviating foreign language anxiety and enhancing foreign language enjoyment for learners of Korean.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jieun Kiaer is Professor of Korean Linguistics at the University of Oxford. She publishes widely on Korean Language and Linguistics – mostly from the socio-pragmatic perspective. She also works on the impact of Hallyu (K-wave) in Korean and English linguistics.