KOR 380

Summer 2013 / Sung

KOR 380: Korean Proficiency through TV Dramas

Hybrid Online Course
Instructor:
Office:
Class:

Jason Bumyong Sung

bysung@hawaii.edu
Moore 374
956-4198
In-class meetings: 10:30 11:45am, Moore Hall 225
Online sessions: http://kor.kleartextbook.com

Online teacher: Joungmok Lee

Office:
Moore 366

joungmok@hawaii.edu
956-9522

1. COURSE OBJECTIVE
This hybrid online course is designed to elevate Korean language proficiency through
Korean TV dramas. Through the contextually rich texts of the dramas, and through frequent
discussions sessions, this course will also offer an opportunity to increase students
awareness about Korean culture, a crucial element in advancing their proficiency. Adapting
interactive multimedia programs and elaborate online instructional designs, including
various modes of language learning (listening, listening, writing and reading), this course
will assist and motivate students to obtain the two main objectives mentioned above:
increasing Korean language proficiency and gaining valuable cultural awareness.
2. COURSE CONTENT
A. Course contents and instruction
My Lovely Samsoon ( ), one of the most popular Korean TV dramas, has
a total of 16 episodes (each approximately 60 minutes). Out of these 16 episodes, you are
responsible to watch 7 episodes throughout the program (other episodes will be briefly
summarized in class on as online assignment). This course is composed of three main types
of class activities: lecture on cultural issues and relevant linguistic materials presented in
each episode; students presentation and group discussion; and online practice and
assignments.

Lecture: Some cultural and linguistic topics embedded in each episode of the TV
drama will be introduced and discussed using the corresponding scripts and some
video excerpts (you will be assigned to watch the complete relevant episode before
coming to class). Handouts will be provided for each episode, giving an outline of
what is to be discussed.

Online Assignment and Exercises

Online activities and assignments are important parts of the course. These activities
and assignments are expected to be completed daily. Online exercises will include
vocabulary homework, various speaking & listening exercises, episode quizzes,
summary recordings/writings and many others.

KOR 380

Summer 2013 / Sung

1) Speaking and Listening exercises: Numerous contexts from the drama are
chosen for oral practices. Contexts including job interview, arranged marriage
meetings, describing personalities of self and others, casual small talks and
conversing with socially higher members including mothers-in-law, employers and
senior members are used. Students are expected to use appropriate conversational
styles to complete these exercises. Occasionally, episode summary must be
submitted orally. If this is the case, the summary will be recorded and uploaded on
the web. The recording should not last longer than 4 minutes.
2) Summary and other online activities. After viewing the assigned episode, each
of you will summarize the episode with fifteen or more sentences based on the
comprehension questions provided to help you follow the storyline of each excerpt.
Other online activities such as vocabulary homework and summary quizzes will
vary based on each episode.

Students presentation and discussion: Each group of two students gives an oral
presentation about the episode and the presentation will include: analyzing and
interpreting the culturally salient features that appeared in the episode. All students
must have a consultation session with the TA before presentation and all
presentation will be video recorded for assessment purpose.

B. Grading
Grading will be distributed as follows:
Class participation & attendance (TA)
15% (0 -3pts. Scale)
Online assignments
45%
1 Oral presentation
20%
1 Final interview
20%
______________________________________________
100%

As noted above, class participation and attendance is 15% of the grade. This is due
to many in-class discussion and performance. A daily grade ranging from 0 to 3
points will be given based on your participation in small group discussion,
quality of in-class performance or presentation and attendance.

For the final interview, you will be graded upon how well you use materials that
were covered in class. More detailed information will be given in class.

C. NO make-up assignments are allowed. However, students with very legitimate excuses,
such as a death in family, hospitalization, and military training, will be given a chance to

KOR 380

Summer 2013 / Sung

make-up missed assignments only if the situation is discussed with the instructors in
advance. Starting from the second absence during the program, points will be deducted.
Unexcused tardiness will be counted as absence.

3. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
1. Narrate and describe in paragraph length discourse and writing.
2. Handle appropriately the linguistic challenges presented by complications or
unexpected turn of events that occur within the context of a routine situation or
communicative task with which they are otherwise familiar.
3. Analyze and interpret culturally salient features that appear in Korean dramas.
4. Develop cross-cultural insights by comparing the use of linguistic and non-linguistic
features captured from Korean dramas with that of students own heritage.

KOR 380

Summer 2013 / Sung

4. TOPICS & CLASS SCHEDULE (tentative)

1st Week May 20 24
Mon(Session 1) Tue
Orientation
Ep. 1
Present. Demo

Wed(Session 2)
Speech level
& forms

2nd Week May 27 May 31

Mon
Tue (Session 4)
Ep. 2
Present. 2
On-line
Blind date

Wed
Ep. 4
On-line

3rd Week June 3-7

Mon (Session 6) Tue
Present. 4
Seniority
On-line

Wed (Session 7)
Interrogative
Suffixes

4th Week June 10 14

Mon
Tue (Session 9)
Ep. 9
Present. 5
On-line
Personality
5th Week June 17 21
Mon (Session 11) Tue
Present. 6
On-line
Address terms
Address terms
6th Week June 24 28
Mon
Tue (Session 14)
Ep. 16
Discourse
On-line
Marker

Wed
On-line

Thur.
On-line

Thur (Session 5)
Present. 3
Wedding Ceremony
Quotation &
Discussion

Fri
Ep. 6
On-line

Thur

Fri (Session 8)
Culture Event

On-line

Thur (Session 10)

Personality
description

Wed (Session 12)

KOR 380
Drama Analysis
Social Issues
Wed
On-line

Fri (Session 3)
KOR 380
Present. 1:
Getting a job

Thur
On-line

Fri
Ep. 12& 13
On-line

Fri (Session 13)

Final Exam
(Oral
Interview)

Thur (Session 15)

Luncheon

Fri