Korean Archives - Language Learning Resource Centre

Speech Contest Showcases Korean Language Learners

Mike Barker — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:03:35 +0000

Speech Contest Showcases Korean Language Learners

March 2, 2026

Time to read: 4 minutes

�Ӱ�ԭ��’s annual Korean Speech Contest took place Friday, February 27 in 435 St. Patrick’s Building featuring speeches from students at both Beginner and Intermediate levels, with prize winners earning monetary prizes as well as the opportunity to represent �Ӱ�ԭ�� in the Toronto contest the following week.

At the Beginner level, speeches commonly explored students’ reasons for studying Korean.

Unsurprisingly, love of K-Dramas was a popular rationale. Benita, for instance, is a huge fan of Strong Girl Bong-soon (힘쎈여자 도봉순) featuring “rom-com queen” Park Bo Young, while Zahra discovered her love for Korean watching Jumong (주몽), dubbed in Persian, when she was only four. Zahra too is a big K-Pop fan and you can catch her (and five other singers in Korean) on the Linguavision stage, March 31.

E-sports too was cited as a reason for learning Korean, with Karim being drawn to the language because of his love of the arcade game, Tekken. While the game is Japanese, according to Karim, many of the best players in the world are Korean.

�Ӱ�ԭ�� had only one participant in the Intermediate level this year, Shiny, whose speech focussed on dating culture and differences between Canada and Korea. Everyone knows about Valentine’s Day (February 14), but did you know about that falls on April 14?

Three �Ӱ�ԭ�� Korean instructors, HyounJeong Yoo, Soyoung Kang, and Seunghee Chung, were on-hand to serve as judges for the event.

Congratulations to this year’s prize winners:

1st prize: Zahra Mashhadi ($400)
2nd prize: Shiny Antima-Nlemvo ($300)
3rd prize: Lauren Bingham ($200)

All three will head to Toronto next weekend for the featuring competitors from schools across Canada as well as one in upstate New York. Prizes also include a travel subsidy for transportation.

Kimbap meals were on-hand after the event and students, faculty, and staff mixed and mingled, everyone wearing a tee shirt designed by �Ӱ�ԭ�� student, Chiamaka Ezekwem, as part of last October’s Hangeul Day celebrations.

Many thanks to our dynamic Korean teaching team for all their hard work preparing, organizing, and running the evening and to the School of Linguistics & Language Studies for their continued support. And, of course, thanks to all our Korean students, both those who stepped out of their comfort zone in order to compete and those who attended the event in support of their classmates.

The post Speech Contest Showcases Korean Language Learners appeared first on Language Learning Resource Centre.

BTS as a Case Study: What K-Pop Teaches Us �Ӱ�ԭ�� Korean Language and Society

Mike Barker — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:09:45 +0000

BTS as a Case Study: What K-Pop Teaches Us �Ӱ�ԭ�� Korean Language and Society

March 2, 2026

Time to read: 1 minutes

Korean

Korean News

News

The post BTS as a Case Study: What K-Pop Teaches Us �Ӱ�ԭ�� Korean Language and Society appeared first on Language Learning Resource Centre.

Courses offered in Korean Culture and Japanese Language & Culture

Payal Chadha — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:18:32 +0000

Courses offered in Korean Culture and Japanese Language & Culture

March 2, 2026

Time to read: 1 minutes

Korean

Korean News

News

This Fall/Winter, we are offering two “Special Topics” courses with a focus on language and culture. These courses are taught in English and have no pre-requisites.

Fall 2025 – Korean Culture (LANG 2010 A)

From the global phenomenon of K-pop to a history that saw the peaceful impeachment of two presidents, and from one of the poorest countries in the world to the rise of global giants like Samsung and Hyundai – Korea is a land of fascinating contrasts and rapid transformations. Taught in English, this course offers an immersive introduction to Korea’s dynamic society, unique cultural identity, and Hangeul, its unique writing system invented by one person. Through engaging video clips, insightful articles, and authentic materials, students will explore captivating aspects of Korean etiquette, social customs, and vibrant pop culture. No prior knowledge of Korean is required.

Winter 2026 – Japanese Language and Cultural Contexts (LANG 2010 A)

An interdisciplinary course exploring the language within its social and cultural settings. Students will develop basic proficiency while examining how language shapes identity, communication, and traditions.

The post Courses offered in Korean Culture and Japanese Language & Culture appeared first on Language Learning Resource Centre.