For those who work full-time and still want to study Korean in a classroom, some private hagwon also offer Korean classes with more flexible schedules. The prices per classroom hour are generally the same as the university programs, but since the hours are less, the overall cost of the course is more manageable. Additionally, since most students are working full-time, the classroom environment tends to be more laidback and not so high pressure.
Ganada offers a few different schedules. Their regular program is different from most because there are no classes on Wednesdays, which gives students a quick breather in the middle of the week, for those who might find it overwhelming to be in class every day but want more class time than a twice a week course.
Suyoon Ko, an American, took beginning level courses at Ewha and Sogang before starting at Ganada. She told Expat Living that the slightly less intense schedule was the perfect balance for her.
"Having Wednesdays off is a great help. Plus, classes are a one month commitment. Therefore, if you have to take time off, it`s easier to jump back into classes, rather than having to wait for the next semester like at a university."
She did mention one weak point, when compared to her other experiences. "However, Ganada does not emphasize speaking in class, so you don`t get as much speaking practice as at Sogang. There`s not much listening practice either. ... Despite all of that, it`s affordable, close to my house, and I do learn."
For those who are looking for the chance to learn Korean without as much stress and who leave nearby, Ganada may be the perfect solution. Ganada is located near Hongik University Station in Seoul.
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YBM might be best known for its English academy courses, but it also offers an impressive schedule of Korean language courses for those who need more options to accommodate their work schedules. The hours listed above simply list how many hours the course is per day or week, since there are typically multiple options for each kind of course. It`s best to check their website for accurate information on time schedules from month to month.
One Canadian English teacher, MacArthur Millin, studied at the program for 13 one month sessions (from levels 102-302) and was satisfied with the progress that he made through the courses there, considering he was working fulltime simultaneously.
"For starting out as it is a good way to get started without a big commitment." He added that while he didn`t yet consider his language level advanced, the courses still had a positive effect on his stay in Korea. "People are much more open to you if they see you are making an effort to learn their language and culture. Even though I have a hard time to communicate effectively at my level, it certainly helped while I was traveling outside of Seoul."
The Seoul Global Center, its affiliated Global Village Centers, and various other NGO`s offer free Korean classes, with only book fees paid to register.
The SGC and GVC Korean language courses usually fill up quickly within a few days after the application period begins, due to the word of mouth reputation of its instructors. In fact, all of the teachers and the course materials are from another university Korean language program so you might say that the SGC courses are a free, more flexible version of the university programs. The course is a good bet for those who are interested in university quality instruction and materials, but who don`t have either the means or the schedule to accommodate studying at one of the aforementioned programs. For more information visit the SGC newly revamped website at http://global.seoul.go.kr or the GVC websites, whose links are available on the same page.
In the end, finding a program that works for you is an individual process and in any given program, you`ll find people who love it or hate it. Most students will try a few different programs before they find the one that`s right for them. Listen to the experiences of other students (both former and current), but take it with a grain of salt - one student`s preferences is most likely much different than yours.
For more information about the programs in this article or for other information about living, working, and studying in Seoul, visit the Seoul Global Center`s revamped website http://globalseoul.go.kr or unofficial blog www.seoulcityblog.com


To comment, e-mail mattlamers@heraldcorp.com; to contact the author, e-mail shannon.sgc@gmail.com - Ed.

By Shannon Heit