earticle

영어

With the advancement of Korea's reputation in the global economy, the learners of Korean as a foreign language has been increasing by leaps and bounds. This study aims (1) to provide the diachronic and synchronic perspective of teaching/learning Korean as a foreign language, (2) to compare and contrast teaching Korean as the first language (K1) and teaching Korean as a foreign language (KF), and (3) to present effective ways of teaching KF. Teaching KF needs to be distinguished from teaching K1: they have different kinds of learners with different study goals. Yet they also have a common ground, namely the Korean language, and it becomes worthwhile to look into a proper relation between them. Korean is being learned in diverse countries with various motivations: we need to develop teaching materials and curriculum customized for different situations and motivations. The following methods are taken to be effective in this study: First, learns' cognitive process are inevitably affected by their first language. So teaching KF can benefit a lot from comparing and contrasting the learners' first language and Korean. Second, it is suggested that Korean language needs to be taught along with the Korean culture: learning a foreign language is more than learning its linguistic structures. A good language learner should know how to communicate in a culturally appropriate manner. Third, it is important to advertise the excellency of Korean alphabet, Hangul. Hangul is easy to learn and use, as many scholars have witnessed. International popularity of Hangul can boost learners' motivation, the key to a successful learning.