First Step Korean by Yonsei University (Coursera)
This is the most highly-rated and sought-after Korean language course available on Coursera. It has been developed by Yonsei University, Seoul and is delivered by Seung Hae Kang, Associate Professor in charge of Korean Education as a Foreign Language at the Graduate School of Education at Yonsei University. It is an elementary level course, so you don’t need any prior knowledge of Korean to enrol.
The course introduces learners to the basic principles of Korean, including the writing system and vocabulary for common occurrences. It covers speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills.
The course is structured as five individual modules, with each module comprising of 4 different units. The fourth unit in every module is a review session to go over all the things learned in the previous three units. Each unit covers dialogues, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, exercises and role-plays. At the end of each unit, is a quiz to test the abilities of the learner and also review the content.
The modules cover the following topics:
- The Korean Alphabet
- Greetings and Introducing
- Family
- Time & Date
- Daily Life
The course content is free to audit, but if you enrol for paid version, you get access to student forum, where you can discuss anything, ask questions and connect with other people trying to learn Korean language.
Not only does the course educate you in how to read and write Korean but you will also get brief Korean history lectures. It provides a solid foundation in preparation for further study of Korean.
Key Highlights
- Learn the Korean alphabet or Korean writing system called ‘Hangeul’
- Understand the principles of how each Korean letter was invented
- Learn to introduce yourself and greet a person in Korean
- Learn the days of the week in Korean
- Learn Korean vocabulary surrounding daily lives topics
- Listen to Korean conversations, in context, directly from native speakers
- Flexibility to start anytime and go at your own pace
Duration : Approx. 18 hours
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