If you want to attend a university in Korea or just simply learn Korean, you need to read this article! This is a comprehensive review of top language schools in Korea. These are compiled from various sources on the internet, and this review contains the opinions of people who have actually attended these universities. In this article, I will discuss the overview, the benefits, and the reviews of top Korean language courses available in these universities.
Overview of Korean Language Programs
So, let’s just take a look at a typical language program in Korea. Most courses are divided into six levels, and one level is a ten-week course. If a student starts at level 1, it would take them one and a half years to complete the language program. Students can be placed at any level depending on their current level by taking a placement test.
Students who have completed the language course can sufficiently study at a Korean university. Although there might be a little difficulty, of course, most of the language barrier will be gone. Students would need further practice to perfect Korean, a solid foundation can be formed by attending these language courses.
One thing to note is that people of all ages (18-70 years old) attend these Korean language schools. So, don’t worry if you are too old or too young to go. Also, don’t worry if your test scores or grades are “too low.” They basically accept everybody that applies. So, if you want to learn Korean, this is a good way.
Tip Before Applying
If you want to save thousands of dollars before going to language school, study in advance! Everyone takes a placement test. If you do well on them, you can get into higher levels. From the reviews, level one is so basic that with only a few weeks of studying, you can test into level 2 or even level 3! If you are diligent, you can test into even higher levels. So, save some time and money by studying Korean before applying!
Check Also: Available Programs for International Students
Reviews of Korean Language Schools, Tuition, and Admissions Information
Here, I will give you a comprehensive review of each of these schools. However, I will just link to the admissions information because that can be found on the university website. I hope that that will make it more convenient for you since you don’t have to search for it yourself.
Sogang University Korean Language Education Center
- Tuition– 1,770,000 KRW per semester (level)
- Admissions
- Scholarships Page
- Since 1990, Sogang University has been offering language courses to students who want to learn Korean. There are over 3,500 students who attend Sogang Language School each year. According to the reviews that I’ve read on the internet, this school seems to be the best in Korea. It focuses heavily on the conversation, and the classes are small. One reviewer said that he enjoyed the atmosphere and the small class size. I highly recommend this university if you want to learn conversational Korean more than academic Korean such as grammar and reading (not that Sogang doesn’t teach these well).
Yonsei University Korean Language Institute
- Tuition– $1,730,000 KRW per semester
- Admissions
- Scholarships Page
- KLA has been one of the most respected language schools in Korea. There are over 1,600 students who study at this institute. Like Sogang University, Yonsei University has six levels, and after the sixth level, students are proficient in Korean. Reviews state that Yonsei University focuses heavily on reading and grammar. So, if you are looking to research or write a lot of papers, Yonsei Language Institute is for you. Also, it is famous for having large amounts of homework, so if you are the studious type, go study at Yonsei.
Ewha Womans University Korean Language Program
- Tuition– 1,720,000 KRW per semester
- Admissions
- This university is a reputable program founded as a second language school in Korea. Don’t let the name fool you! Although the degree programs at this university are female only, male students can register for its Korean language program. Also, if you register for this program, there’s probably not a single person in your class that speaks the same language as you do. They make sure that the only language that students have in common is Korean. It will be a great opportunity for you to meet friends from other countries and learn more about their culture as well as learning Korean!
Reviews
Here are the main sources that I used when writing this article:
To see what other students have to say about their experiences about language school, go to different forums where students share their experiences. I highly recommend Reddit and Quora to get an unbiased opinion. By reading different perspectives, you will know the pros and cons of each language program. That way, you will choose what is best for you. Also, Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!