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Business Korean


Course Description

Students will be able to speak, comprehend, read, and write business Korean and will also be able to understand Korean business culture through classroom activities, field trips, and homework assignments based on authentic material.


Athena Title

Business Korean


Pre or Corequisite

KREN 3002


Semester Course Offered

Offered fall


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

Students will be able to speak, comprehend, read, and write business Korean and will also be able to understand Korean business culture through classroom activities, field trips, and homework assignments based on authentic material. Students will be evaluated according to their proficiency in business Korean and mastery of intercultural communication in all four language skills.


Topical Outline

Weekly activities will be organized around a specific theme suggested by the textbook. Each lesson includes: 1. Linguistic element; 2.Business related topic; 3. Culture related topic; and 4. Weekly composition. Week 1: L: Korean speech levels (Honorifics) B: Brief summary of Korean history and politics C: Land and cities of Korea W: Letter of self introduction Week 2: L: Formal greetings and small talk B: Business organizations C: Korean holidays and traditions W: Importance of maintaining a cultural tradition Week 3: L: Asking/understanding directions B: Travel tips (how to use a taxi) C: Korean geography/means of transportation/road signs W: Driving direction to your place from ATL airport Week 4: L: Telephone conversation B: Making an appointment/reservation C: Interpersonal communication in Korean W: Write a personal letter to a Korean business partner Week 5: L: Abbreviations, Business terminology B: E-mail, fax, other types of correspondence C: Korean popular culture W: E-mail to a Korean friend (Get the response) Week 6: L: Compliment/criticism B: Social engagement C: Drinking culture W: Gather information about "Choo Sok" from the Internet and summarize it Week 7: L: Units of measures/numbers B: Money and banking in Korea C: Shopping tips W: Produce advertisements and TV commercials Week 8: L: Negotiation skills B: When yes means no, and no means yes C: Korean modesty W: A letter soliciting donations for abused children (typed) Week 9: L: Expressing disagreement/withholding comment B: Export/import related documents (L/C, agreement letter) C: Metaphors/Proverbs W: Episodes related with idiomatic expressions Week 10: L: Essential Chinese characters B: Age awareness/seniority C: Government information W: Read a Korean news article on the Internet and summarize it Week 11: L: Making a suggestion/proposal B: Meeting related topics: agenda, minutes, report C: Korean modesty W: A letter of apology for rescheduling a meeting (typed) Week 12: L: Refusing a request in a polite manner B: Korean office culture C: Attitude toward money matters W: A letter declining someone’s offer Week 13: L: Explanations/Excuses B: Interview skills C: How to dress in Korea W: Job application letter (typed) Week 14: L: Useful expressions for presentation B: Report and presentation skills C: Individual vs. group identity W: Draft of final presentation Week 15: Review and Final Presentation


General Education Core

CORE IV: World Languages and Global Culture

Syllabus