Program Overview

The CLS Korean Program in Busan, Korea, is hosted by Pusan National University (PNU). Busan is known as the educational, cultural, and economic center of Southeast Korea and is famous for its delicious seafood, popular hiking trails, traditional markets, and strong art and film community. PNU was Korea’s first national university and is home to 13 colleges offering 103 majors to its students.

Throughout the intensive eight-week program students learn Korean both inside and outside of the classroom. During the 15 hours of formal weekly classroom instruction students focus on improving their command of the four major skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Over the course of the summer, students cover the equivalent of one year of Korean instruction at the college level. Through co-curricular activities and excursions, students in Busan learn about Korean language and culture by exploring significant sites in and near Busan. Some of these activities teach students about aspects of traditional music and martial arts, while others explore sites of cultural and historical significance in Korea.

Students experience campus life by living in PNU dormitories with a local Korean-speaking roommate. Students can walk to class from the dormitories and typically eat most of their meals in PNU’s cafeteria, although shopping for snacks and treats in local markets provides both a change of pace and an opportunity to practice growing language skills. Laundry facilities are available in the dormitory common space.

Through the language partner program, students are paired with another student at PNU for extra informal language practice. Students meet with their language partners individually each week and spend time mastering tasks of daily living such as shopping, navigating public transportation, and ordering food. Students can take advantage of the language partner program to explore their own interests and hobbies in the community such as attending sports games, singing at norebang, and joining Taekwondo sessions. The unique network CLS students build through their relationships with Korean language partners and roommates gives participants a close look at their host city through the eyes of their peers and equips them with the skills they need to independently navigate daily life in South Korea.