The present study aims to design a Business Korean course based on workplace practices, focusing on the Department of Korean Studies at the University of Wroclaw in Poland, and to examine its practicality and areas for improvement through trial lectur...
The present study aims to design a Business Korean course based on workplace practices, focusing on the Department of Korean Studies at the University of Wroclaw in Poland, and to examine its practicality and areas for improvement through trial lectures.
Traditional Business Korean education has focused heavily on expressions, vocabulary, and grammar, showing limitations in enhancing learners’ ability to perform in actual workplace contexts. To address this, the present study adopts the theory of Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) and proposes a practice-integrated course model. In this model, learners first understand the context of workplace practices, acquire commonly used expressions and vocabulary, and then perform tasks that closely simulate real business situations.
Through a review of prior studies and field research in Poland, the study identified the current status of Korean language and Korean Studies education in Polish universities, along with a growing demand for Business Korean. In response to these findings, the study selected eight core workplace practices that commonly occur in business settings and designed a 15-week syllabus accordingly. To evaluate the course’s practicality, trial lectures were conducted at the University of Wroclaw, another university in Poland, and a Korean company operating locally. Learner responses were collected and analyzed through surveys.
The results showed that learners found the course helpful in understanding workplace practices and preparing for employment, and many expressed interest in taking it as a regular course in the future. The trial lectures also revealed several areas for improvement, such as the importance of vocabulary learning, development of materials based on real cases, and understanding of cultural differences.
This study demonstrates that Business Korean education should go beyond the transmission of linguistic knowledge and be designed to foster actual workplace competence. It highlights the potential for developing practical and effective courses centered on the context of workplace practices.
Keywords: Business Korean, Workplace Practices, Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL), Course Design, Korean Language Education in Poland