Oxford's Korean studies program has signed memorandums of understanding with South Korea's Pyeongtaek University and Indonesia's Pancasila University to develop and share Korean language curricula, Professor Jieun Kiaer said Wednesday.
The initiative responds to growing demand for Korean language instruction, driven largely by the global popularity of K-pop and Korean dramas.
In Britain, the number of elementary and secondary schools offering Korean as an extracurricular subject jumped from 45 in 2022 to 68 in 2023, despite Korean not being included in General Certificate of Secondary Education foreign language examinations.
Oxford's language center also began offering Korean courses this semester.
Professor Kiaer has authored a Korean language textbook, and its audio materials will be produced in multiple languages, including French, German, Japanese, and Indonesian.
Under the partnership, Pyeongtaek University will use Oxford's materials to teach Korean to international students and workers in South Korea. The university also plans to launch a program by 2025 to train English-speaking Korean language teachers, addressing a global shortage of qualified instructors.
Pancasila University in Jakarta is preparing to establish a Korean language department using Oxford's curriculum. Several secondary schools in Jakarta are also set to begin Korean language courses next year using Oxford's materials.
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