Selecting the right resources for our students is a task that requires careful consideration and a deep understanding of both Korean language itself and the needs of the students. Our mission is to provide the best language learning experience, choosing Korean learning books for our students was no easy feat. In this blog, we will explain why it took us so much time to handpick the best Korean learning books to ensure our students have the most effective and enriching learning experience.
A Wealth of Choices
The world of Korean language learning materials is vast and diverse. There is an abundance of textbooks, workbooks available. Each book has its unique approach, content, and focus, making the selection process intricate. We wanted to ensure that the books we chose aligned with our teaching philosophy and catered to our students’ varying needs and preferences.
With the explosion of popularity of all things Korean and interest in the country itself, there is a huge selection of new Korean textbooks written by some of the very best teachers out there. However, many books are just reprints of older textbooks that let you learn very traditional Korean. That means they wouldn’t be the best choice because they may be out-of-date or overly formal. The Korean language is wrapped up in the culture, so the best Korean textbooks help you learn the cultural nuances of the language, along with the language itself. For example, there are about half a dozen different ways to say “thank you” in Korean. It’s important to know which one is best to use so you sound polite and not offensive. The right book we have chosen will help you with that.
Tailoring to Different Proficiency Levels
Students come to us at various proficiency levels and different learning style, pace, from absolute beginners to advanced speakers. To cater to this wide range of learners, we needed to select books that could effectively address the needs of each group. This required us to evaluate a multitude of books, assessing their suitability for different proficiency levels. We needed to assess how each book presented lessons, introduced grammar concepts, and encouraged practical application. Our priority was to choose books that offered a structured and comprehensive learning experience, aligning with our teaching approach.
Pick from Native Korean Teachers
Our Korean Learning Manager at Dear Asia London is expert in teaching Korean. Most of them grew up in Korea with education background and years of teaching experiences, their valuable insights and recommendations played a significant role in our book selection process. They provided us with an in-depth understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of various books, enabling us to make informed decisions.
Above all, we prioritize the quality of education we provide to our students. It took us time to thoroughly assess the quality of each book, ensuring that they met our high standards for accuracy, clarity, and effectiveness.
Staying Updated
Language evolves, and so do language learning resources. We couldn’t rush our book selection process because we wanted to stay updated with the latest teaching methods and materials. We continuously evaluated new books as they became available, ensuring that our students had access to the most current and effective resources.
Cultural Relevance
Language and culture are inherently intertwined. Understanding Korean culture is essential for effective communication. Therefore, we considered books that not only focused on language but also incorporated cultural insights. These insights help our students connect with the language on a deeper level.
The best book for our student – Sejong Korean Series (new edition):
Finally, we have made the decision! The Sejong Korean books will be the best book for our students. It is published by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the National Institute of Korean Language, first in 2011, to strengthen the groundwork of Korean language education. They have decided to update the textbook, the primary research started in 2019, and after three years of work, the new Sejong Korean was finally published in 2022.
Sejong Korean aims to enable students to improve their communication skills in Korean by motivating their interest in learning the Korean language based on cross-cultural communication. Thus, the content of this book reflects the current social situations in Korea, and the new format and design introduce the latest teaching methods.
Here are some good content and materials from the book:
- Student book — contains the core content required for each level
- Vocabulary and Grammar Book: Books that include grammar explanations and the vocabulary of each level translated into English
- Extension activity book — provides a variety of communication activities that require in-depth expansion of language knowledge. An additional workbook for students with activities related to speaking and listening comprehension.
- Supplementary — workbooks, teacher’s guides, vocabulary and grammar books, and class PPTs along with textbooks that students can use for their needs
- Various illustrations and visual materials — motivate a learner’s interest in learning Korean
- Vivid Korean cultural content — Korean movies, Korean drama, Korean food, Korean fashion, etc.
Selecting the best Korean learning books for our students was a meticulous and time-consuming process, driven by our commitment to providing a top-tier language learning experience. We understand that the right resources can make a significant difference in a student’s journey to fluency. Therefore, we invested the time and effort to choose books that align with our teaching philosophy, cater to different proficiency levels, incorporate cultural relevance, and meet our quality standards.
As a result, our students can be confident that the Korean learning books we’ve chosen are the best tools to support their language learning journey. We’re excited to continue guiding our students through the fascinating world of Korean language and culture, armed with the most effective and enriching resources available.
