Engaging Students in Korean Language and Culture

East-West's Korean Startalk program was a 5 week language enrichment program in the summer. Students were set in an immersion language classroom in which Korean was the primary language. Throughout the summer Korean language and culture was explored through Korean food, music, dance, art, and martial arts. Students took weekly trips to explore the NYC Korean community in Manhattan and Queens and to practice language skills in real life situations. The summer culminated in a giant celebration in which students' accomplishments were celebrated.

Ms. Choi teaching Korean language and culture Ms. Choi teaching Korean language and culture

 

Trip to Korean H-Mart Trip to Korean H-Mart

 

Reading labels at H-Mart Reading labels at H-Mart

 

East-West Culinary Instructors, from l to r: Mr. Kleiman, Mrs. Choi, Mrs. K. Kim, Ms. P. Kim, Ms. An East-West Culinary Instructors, from l to r: Mr. Kleiman, Mrs. Choi, Mrs. K. Kim, Ms. P. Kim, Ms. An

 

Kimbap demonstration by Mrs. Kim Kimbap demonstration by Mrs. Kim

 

Middle Schools learn how to make bimbimbap Middle Schools learn how to make bimbimbap

 

High School Students and Ms.An making Kimchi High School Students and Ms.An making Kimchi

 

Student learning Taekwondo Student learning Taekwondo

 

Students' art work Students' art work

 

Korean dance class with Ms. Karen from the Korea Society of New York Korean dance class with Ms. Karen from the Korea Society of New York

 

Dining korean style Dining Korean style

 

Mr. Kleiman getting interviewed by TKC TV Mr. Kleiman getting interviewed by TKC TV

 

On August 12, 2015, The Korean Channel TV News Desk visited East-West.  Click here to view the news coverage. Mrs. Kim, East-West's Korean Teacher shared her experience of the program,

I would like to thank you for your support with the Startalk Korean Program. Gamsahamnida( thank you) for providing me this great opportunity. I was able to learn and grow more as a Korean teacher. I had the chance to write the entire curriculum on my own and to learn guiding the new teachers. It was really fun to work with the students. The students were able to hold basic conversations and introduce themselves in Korean. It was very rewarding to see the students grow. They all looked very confused in the beginning of the program when the instructions were mostly given in Korean, however, they got more comfortable. It was a huge deal to see them excited to come to the program everyday. Some of the students came from a far distance, such as Pennsylvania and Long Island. The students really put a great Startalk show and it was great to see how much they learned in a short period of time! I would like to give A for the teamwork of the program staff and another A for students work. It wasn't easy, but it was definitely rewarding!

For more photos from the summer program, click here.