KF뉴스레터-[KF Mailbox] Korean Language Blooming in Gulf Desert

[KF Mailbox] Korean Language Blooming in Gulf Desert

People > Korean Language Blooming in Gulf Desert

Korean Language Blooming in Gulf Desert

Kang Yeon-hyun
KF Visiting Professor
United Arab Emirates University

I currently teach classes in the Minor in Korean Language program at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). The university is located in Al Ain, an inland city in Abu Dhabi, one of the seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates (UAE). UAEU is the only Gulf university that operates a credit program for Korean language education. Native Emiratis, who account for about only 10 percent of the country’s population, form the majority of the school’s student body, and 80 percent of UAEU students are female. In the UAE, the number of women interested in Korean language and culture is quite high. Thus, the Korean program at UAEU occupies an important position in public diplomacy connecting Korea and the UAE.

Of the eight courses currently available in the program, I teach the intermediate and advanced language courses. Despite their names, these are rather introductory in nature, since the Minor in Korean Language program has a limited number of teaching hours. My students, however, are very enthusiastic about their Korean language studies, having all completed the two courses for beginners and confirmed their minor.. Of course, some students feel awkward about in-person classes and are not confident in speaking Korean because they got used to remote classes during the COVID-19 pandemic; but it is the students themselves who want to overcome this more than anyone else. While some students ask me to throw questions at each of them so that everyone is given the opportunity to speak aloud, others consult me on how to best improve their speaking skills. It is easy to sense each student‘s enthusiasm for Korean language learning, and I try my best to meet their needs by conducting after-class speaking drills and other activities.

All facilities and systems here are truly impressive in that they are managed almost perfectly. Despite the country’s desert climate, the exterior of buildings show no hint of dust, and all trees and shrubs are well maintained and flourishing. Any grievances related to equipment or teaching materials are addressed immediately. The UAE has developed rapidly—as is obvious in the educational surroundings—overcoming the difficult natural environment, with the efforts of the past continuing to aid its unhindered strides into the future. All class materials and grades are managed in an online portal, so I learnt how to master this portal and use it as effectively as possible for my classes.

However, I have experienced some difficulties, too. The UAEU campus is divided into two sections—one for male students and the other for female students, with the Korean language program offered on the latter. Therefore, as a male myself, there are things I have to keep in mind when teaching. For instance, any after-class meetings with students should be made official by getting permission from my department prior to the gathering, and on field trips, male teachers cannot lead female students alone. These practices may in part reflect Islamic culture but they are also neccessary procedures mandated by the school guidelines for student safety. Therefore, rather than complain about any inconveniences, I constantly check to see if there is anything I may have overlooked due to lack of experience and exert every effort to cooperate with the school.

The Minor in Korean Language program at UAEU is significant in that it provides regular classes to students in the UAE who have limited opportunities to study the Korean language. Regretfully, I will be leaving the school at the end of the current semester, but in the remaining days I will try my best to help students upgrade their Korean language skills as well as build the foundation to continue learning Korean on their own, even after graduation.

Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to the coordinator at the Minor in Korean Language program and the head of the Languages and Literature Department who have wholeheartedly supported me and my activities. I hope the KF and UAEU will continue to jointly promote Korean language education in the UAE.