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Carleton University Korean Language Program Capacity Enhancement Project
The School of Linguistics and Language Studies (SLaLS) at Carleton University, located in Canada’s capital, Ottawa, offers courses in various languages including Korean. Because Korean is just one of the various languages provided by the SLaLS, rather than being part of an East Asian Studies department, departmental support for the Korean language program is extremely limited.
However, thanks to the AKS Korea Studies Grant for Educational and Cultural Programs, Carleton University has been able to plan diverse extracurricular activities beginning in 2023 and continuing into 2024. The first grant-funded event was the 3rd Annual Korean Speech Contest, held on March 1, 2024. The 2024 contest was larger than the previous year, with 27 Korean language students participating. The contest’s three award winners, Anjali Patel (beginner level), Rachel Share (intermediate level), and Afshan Shaikh (advanced level), went on to participate in the Annual Toronto Korean Speech Contest on March 23, 2024, receiving first, second, and second places in their respective categories. In the year prior, 18 students participated in the Korean Speech Contest, among whom the intermediate level award winner went on to receive first place at the Annual Toronto Korean Speech Contest. This continued success in 2024, following 2023, was largely made possibly by the support of AKS. To facilitate greater student participation, a noraebang event was also held along with the speech contest. Many students participated in the event and had a fun time singing Korean songs.
However, thanks to the AKS Korea Studies Grant for Educational and Cultural Programs, Carleton University has been able to plan diverse extracurricular activities beginning in 2023 and continuing into 2024. The first grant-funded event was the 3rd Annual Korean Speech Contest, held on March 1, 2024. The 2024 contest was larger than the previous year, with 27 Korean language students participating. The contest’s three award winners, Anjali Patel (beginner level), Rachel Share (intermediate level), and Afshan Shaikh (advanced level), went on to participate in the Annual Toronto Korean Speech Contest on March 23, 2024, receiving first, second, and second places in their respective categories. In the year prior, 18 students participated in the Korean Speech Contest, among whom the intermediate level award winner went on to receive first place at the Annual Toronto Korean Speech Contest. This continued success in 2024, following 2023, was largely made possibly by the support of AKS. To facilitate greater student participation, a noraebang event was also held along with the speech contest. Many students participated in the event and had a fun time singing Korean songs.
The second event held through the AKS grant was a guest lecture by Dr. Sunho Ko (York University) held on October 4, 2024, on the topic: “Feeding the People: Collective Dining, Science, and Gendered Labour in Postwar North Korea.” Fifty students attended the lecture, which was followed by a Q&A session and Korean snacks.
Our final AKS-supported event was a guest performance by OTTAPE, a pungmul troupe based out of Ottawa, held on November 8, 2024. Some 11 troupe members visited Carleton University with their samulnori instruments in hand, providing not only a demonstrative performance but also a workshop in which students could learn a few traditional rhythms. The students enjoyed their time learning the exciting traditional Korean rhythms and also showed great interest in the Korean food that was provided after the workshop.
Over the past two years, particularly since the emergence of AI-related technology, interest in Korean language classes and general student interest has waned slightly, and there has also been a decrease in the number of Korean language program registrants. Although it is important to find ways to advantageously utilize such technological tools that inevitably emerge as a result of technological advancement, there has been no time in which it has been more important to provide students with the intangible experiences that technology cannot provide. To this end, the Korean Language Program is working to offer not only high-quality language education but also diverse educational and cultural programs that can supplement the regular language curriculum. Outside support, like the AKS grant, is desperately needed to make this happen. I would like to once again express my gratitude for the support and involvement of AKS.
