Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes are the expectations for each level of study. They can give students an understanding of what they will learn throughout their studies in Korean. They are based on the ACTFL-devised categories of abilities. Below are the corresponding levels and their outcomes.
First Year Korean
Entry: Beginner
Exit: Novice mid/high
Interpersonal Abilities: Engage in conversation with appropriate level of politeness using polite (-e/a yo form) as well as deferential (-supnita form) speech levels and apply the appropriate forms. Ask and answer with great elaboration, such as describing feelings, colors, illnesses, hobbies, and tastes. Carry out simulated conversations using more complex sentence structures using basic subordinate clauses in simple past and non-past tenses.
Interpretive Abilities: Read and restate main information in authentic texts such as short letters, blog entries, or simple ads. Identify main ideas and details of longer conversations and narratives on familiar topics such as family, school, hobbies, etc. Understand differences in usage between honorific and humble expressions. Increase understanding of cultural aspects including non-verbal gestures and traditional customs.
Presentational Abilities: Write a series of simple sentences on topics of interest and expand the sentence structures beyond a simple sentence structure using basic clausal connectives, long negation forms, and noun modifying forms. Present structured and rehearsed skits or individual narratives in past and non-past tenses about self, friends, and family members (approximately 3-4 minutes or 15-20 sentences in length).
Second Year Korean
Entry: Novice High
Exit: Intermediate low/mid
Interpersonal Abilities: Perform all speech levels (deferential, polite, intimate and plain) according to the interpersonal relationship and social context. Describe and exchange information on cultural and social issues, such as marriage customs and traditional holiday customs
Interpretive Abilities: Summarize main ideas and supporting details of longer oral and written texts, using loosely connected sentences. Understand the implication of Korean culture and social conventions through learning proverbs and idiomatic expressions. Intensify awareness of nuances of discourse modalities (Korean sentence-enders and auxiliary verbs) and discourse markers.
Presentational Abilities: Describe and narrate in paragraphs and compose paragraphs about their interests. Write descriptive compositions or reports (approximately 200 words in length) regarding a wider range of topics for their final presentation. Demonstrate the incorporation of various clausal connectives and transitional words to make the sentences more complex.
Third Year Korean
Entry: Intermediate low/mid
Exit: Intermediate high/ Advanced low
Interpersonal Abilities: Understand the majority of face-to-face speech in standard dialect at normal rate. Describe and exchange information on cultural or social issues
Interpretive Abilities: Comprehend and interpret main ideas and most supporting details of factual narrations descriptions, including broadcast news, announcements, instructions, and newspaper/ magazine articles. Comprehend abstract topics in a familiar context. Deal with complications in such situations as may be encountered in the target culture.
Presentational Abilities: Express their opinions and ideas by using some advanced-low level vocabulary and formal expressions. Give rehearsed oral presentations for the final project based on their composition (approximately 200-250 words in length).
Fourth Year Korean
Entry: Intermediate high/ Advanced low
Exit: Advanced low/ Advanced Mid
Interpersonal Abilities: Demonstrate the ability to narrate and describe in the major time frames of past, present, and future by providing a full account, with good control of aspect. Show increased levels of confidence and expand on text genres and modes and on the topics and themes covered in the third year.
Interpretive Abilities: Comprehend the main idea and supporting details of authentic narrative and descriptive texts accurately. Recognize and identify the function of a number of advanced idiomatic expressions and collocations used within academic texts. Comprehend texts of any length as well as complex factual material, such as reports.
Presentational Abilities: Write straightforward summaries on topics of general interest. Exhibit a variety of cohesive devices in texts up to several paragraphs in length. Express thoughts clearly and support by elaboration. Present more elaborate opinions and begin to persuade on familiar topics.