UH DOD / KOR 380

Summer 2014

KOR 380: Korean Proficiency through TV Dramas

Hybrid Online Course
Instructor:
Office:
Class:

Seunghye Yu
Moore 374
Moore 152

seunghye@hawaii.edu
956-4198
Class time: 10:30 11:45 + online

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.
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

UH DOD / KOR 380

Summer 2014

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

UH DOD / KOR 380

Summer 2014

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.

UH DOD / KOR 380

Summer 2014

4. TOPICS & CLASS SCHEDULE (tentative)

1st Week May 19 23
Mon: Session 1
Tue
Orientation
On-line
Present. Demo
Ep. 1

Wed: Session 2
Speech level
& forms

Thur
On-line

Fri: Session 3
Presentation #1:
Getting a job

2nd Week May 26 30

Mon
Tue: Session 4
On-line
Presentation #2:
Ep. 2
Blind date

Wed
On-line
Ep. 4

Thur: Session 5
Presentation #3:
Wedding
Ceremony

Fri
On-line
Ep. 6

3rd Week June 2 6

Mon: Session 6
Tue
Presentation #4: On-line
Seniority

Wed: Session 7
Interrogative
Suffixes

Thur
On-line

Fri: Session 8
Culture Event

Wed
On-line

Thur: Session 10
Personality
description

Fri
On-line
Ep. 13

Wed: Session 12
Drama Analysis
Social Issues

Thur
On-line

Fri: Session 13
Final Exam
(Oral interview)

Wed
On-line

Thur: Session 15
Luncheon

Fri

4th Week June 9 13

Mon
Tue: Session 9
Ep. 9
Presentation #5:
On-line
Personality
5th Week June 16 20
Mon: Session 11 Tue
Presentation #6: On-line
Address terms
6th Week June 23 27
Mon
Tue: Session 14
On-line
Discourse
Ep. 16
Marker