KOR 380

Spring, 2014

KOR 380: Korean Proficiency through TV Dramas

Hybrid Online Course WI

(In-class meetings on Tuesdays + online session)
Instructor:

Seunghye Yu

E-mail: seunghye@hawaii.edu
Office: Moore Hall 374 (808) 956-4198
Hours: Mondays 12:30 pm 1:30 pm
Tuesdays 2:00 pm 3:00 pm or by appointment

Class:

Moore 224

Tuesday:
Thursday:

3:00pm - 4:15pm
online session

1. COURSE OBJECTIVE
This hybrid online course is designed for those students who are trying to elevate their Korean
language proficiency level from Advanced Intermediate to Low Advanced by challenging
themselves to understand Korean TV dramas. Through the contextually rich texts of the dramas,
and through frequent discussions and feedback sessions, this course will also offer an opportunity to
increase students awareness about Korean culture, a crucial element in advancing their proficiency
to the Low Advanced level. Adapting interactive multimedia programs and elaborate online
instructional designs, including four modes of language learning (speaking, listening, reading, and
writing), this course will assist and motivate students to obtain the two main objectives mentioned
above: increasing Korean language proficiency and gaining valuable cultural awareness.

2. COURSE CONTENT
A. Course contents and instruction
My Lovely Samsoon ( ), one of the most popular Korean TV dramas, has a
total of 16 episodes (each approximately 60 minutes), and you will be responsible for watching one
or two episodes per week. This course is composed of three main types of class activities: lecture on
cultural issues and linguistic structures presented in each episode; students weekly presentation and
group discussion; and weekly online practice and assignments.

Lecture: Some cultural and linguistic topics embedded in each episode of the TV drama
will be introduced and discussed using the corresponding scripts and some video excerpts
(you will be assigned to watch the complete relevant episode before coming to class).
Handouts will be provided for each episode, giving an outline of what is to be discussed.

Vocabulary Quiz: There will be about 9 vocabulary quizzes throughout the semester.
Students should use these words for the oral presentations, the midterm and the final.

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Spring, 2014

Online Exercises: Weekly online activities and assignments are important part of the
course. These activities and assignments are expected to be completed by the end of the
following week which the corresponding episode is covered. Online exercises will include
vocabulary homework, various speaking & listening exercises, episode quizzes, summary
writings and many others.
1) Speaking and Listening exercises: Numerous contexts from the drama are chosen for
oral practices. Contexts including job interview, making complain, arranged marriage
meetings, casual small talks and conversing with socially higher members including
mothers-in-law, employers and senior members are used. Students are expected to use
appropriate conversational styles to complete these exercises. Occasionally, weekly
episode summary must be submitted orally. If this is the case, the summary will be
recorded and uploaded on the web. The recording should not last longer than 4 minutes.
2) Summary writing and other online activities: After viewing the assigned episode,
each of you will complete the weekly assignments of summarizing parts of the episode
with seven or more sentences based on the comprehension questions provided to help
you follow the storyline of each excerpt. Other online activities such as vocabulary
homework and summary quizzes will vary based on each episode.

B. Online Section
All 16 episodes are available online. You can have access to these materials from the course
website. You will learn how to use the site on the first day of class. You need a headset with
microphone to do your weekly online assignment.
Course website: kor.kleartextbook.com

C. Grading
Grading will be distributed as follows:
Class participation & attendance
Vocabulary Quiz
Online assignments (W)

Group debate (W)

Midterm
Final project
Reaction paper (W)
Presentation

5% (0 -3pts. Scale)
10%
35%

10%
15%
10%
10%

Script (W)
5%
___________________________________________
100%

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Spring, 2014

D. Midterm
For the midterm, you will be asked to finish online activities similar to those you have practiced
online regularly. There will be no script for the exam and it will take place in the PC lab.

E. Group debate

After we finish debate classes (9th & 10th week), you will have to have a group debate outside of
class on the topic introduced during class. The whole discussion must be videotaped. Detailed
information will be provided in class.

F. Final project
The final project is two folds. You will first write a reaction paper (single-spaced one page
minimum) regarding social issues portrayed in My Lovely Samsoon. Then, in pairs, you will
choose one or two social issues to present and will lead simple discussions. The grade will be given
based on how well you deliver your point of view and appropriately answer questions asked by
classmates. Detailed information will be provided in class.

3. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
1. Narrate and describe in all major time frames (past, present and future) in paragraph length
discourse and writing.
2. Handle appropriately the linguistic challenges presented by complications or unexpected
turn of events that occur within the context of a routine situation or communicative task
with which they are otherwise familiar.
3. Analyze and interpret culturally salient features that appear in Korean dramas.
4. Develop cross-cultural insights by comparing the use of linguistic and non-linguistic
features captured from Korean dramas with that of students own heritage.

4. CLASS RULES

Class attendance and participation: Since this is a hybrid online course, one that
combines face-to-face classroom learning with online learning, it is important that students
must come to class prepared and use the classroom environment as a place for clarification
and discussion. All students are expected to arrive on time, attend class regularly, and
participate actively in class discussions. After the second absence during the entire semester,
you will have BIG points off for each day you missed. Unexcused tardiness may be counted
as absence.
Make-up policies: NO MAKEUP assignments are allowed. However, students with very
legitimate excuses, such as a death in family, hospitalization, and military training, will be
given a chance to make-up missed assignments only if the situation is discussed with the
instructors in advance. No full points will be given for make-ups. If you plan to be out of

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Spring, 2014

town, you may make a request to take the quiz or turn in homework earlier if the instructor
is able to make arrangements outside of class.
Miscellaneous: For hybrid courses, communication and interaction with the instructor is
important in both online and offline. Dont be afraid to ask any questions you may have
either via e-mail or in-person. Also, your suggestions are welcome at any time. Please
notify the instructor of any suggestions. Every effort will be made to accommodate your
needs. I am willing to provide extra help. Feel free to take advantage of the office hours. J

5. STUDENT CONDUCT
Please be familiar with the expected student conduct. Also, it is ultimately each students
responsibility to understand the rules regarding plagiarism and cheating at UH, and to learn how to
avoid such violations. At UH, common punishments for such violations include failing the
assignment, failing the course, suspension from the university, or even expulsion.
Cheating: The following definition of cheating comes from the UH-Manoa Conduct Code.
The term "cheating" includes, but is not limited to: (1) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes,
tests, or examinations; (2) use of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers,
preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; (3) the acquisition, without
permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the UH faculty, staff or student (4)
engaging in any behavior specifically prohibited by a faculty member in the course syllabus or class
discussion.

Plagiarism: The following definition of plagiarism comes from the UH-Manoa Conduct Code.
Plagiarism includes but is not limited to submitting, in fulfillment of an academic requirement, any work that
has been copied in whole or in part from another individual's work without attributing that borrowed portion
to the individual; neglecting to identify as a quotation another's idea and particular phrasing that was not
assimilated into the student's language and style or paraphrasing a passage so that the reader is misled as to
the source; submitting the same written or oral or artistic material in more than one course without obtaining
authorization from the instructors involved; or "drylabbing," which includes obtaining and using
experimental data and laboratory write-ups from other sections of a course or from previous terms.

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Spring, 2014

6. TOPICS & CLASS SCHEDULE

Tuesday: In-class

Week

Introduction: PC lab

Thursday: Online
(All assignment are due
on Sunday Midnight)
HW: Week 1

Assignments

1/14-1/16

2
1/20-1/22

3
1/27-1/29

4
2/4-2/6

5
2/11-2/13

6
2/18-2/20

7
2/25-2/27

VQ #1
Episode 1/ Job interview

HW: Week 2

VQ #2
Episode 2/ Blind dates

HW: Week 3

VQ #4 (PC lab)
Episode 4/ Marriage in Korean culture

HW: Week 4

VQ #6
Episode 6/ Physical appearance

HW: Week 5

VQ #9
Episode 9/ Personality

HW: Week 6

VQ #13
Episode 13/ Seniority (age issues)

HW: Week 7

Midterm

HW: Week 8

Debate #1 (Rooftop Prince)

the old vs. modern Korea

HW: Week 9

Debate #2 (Secret Garden)

women vs. men

Videotaping

Reaction paper

3/4-3/6

9
3/11-3/13

10
3/18-3/20

Project script draft #1

Spring Break

11
4/1-4/3

12
4/8- 4/10

13
4/15-4/17

14

VQ #14
Episode 14/ Titles vs. names

HW: Week 11

VQ #15
Episode 15/ Slang

HW: Week 12

VQ #16
Episode 16/ What makes Koreans

HW: Week 13

Debate group
video file
& Individual script
Project script final

Final Review

4/22-4/24

15

Final Presentation 1

4/29-5/1

16

Final Presentation 2:
In-class

Final Presentation 3

5/6
*

Tuesday, January 21, last day to change sections and drop courses without a W on your record. After January 21,
written approval of both instructor and College/School Student Academic Services Dean required.
** Wednesday, January 22, last day to register, add classes, or change grading option.
*** Friday, March 14, last day for restricted withdrawals. After March 8, no withdrawals are permitted, except under
unusual circumstances beyond your control.