발이 넓다 (He/she has got big feet!)

Someone with good and many connections. Also, we call the person as "Madangbal" (마당발). It means a foot as big as a front yard at home. Madang is the front yard of a traditional Korean house. If a homemaker has "big hand"(큰 손), she is generous in her cooking and spending for others. Also, this "big hand"(큰 손) means for someone who control the biz largely such as property and stocks in the market. There was a lady whose name was Jang Yong Ja, was greatly involved in those markets to move the numbers up and down in 1980's.

예문: 영자씨는 정말 아는 사람도 많아요~ 어떤 문제가 생겨도 영자씨한테 부탁하면 해결이 되지요. 역시 "마당 발"이야...

장영자씨는 강남의 "큰 손"으로 유명했지요.

우리 어머니는 손님을 초대하면 음식을 많이 준비하세요 왜냐하면 어머니는 준비한 음식이 모자를까봐 늘 더 많이 준비하세요. "큰 손"이라니까요..!

The first Korean language course at NEX (Catalog) 2004

 

The first Korean language course was introduced in NEX catalog 2004.
Korean course AD in JAS member's magazine.

Newspapers 2

Newspapers

 

Newspapers & Magazine

19 September 2008

Newspapers & Magazine

 

Ms Yang Mi Kyung@NUS Extension

Ms. Ebony Bae, KLP Co-ordinator, and Mr. Brian Koh (extreme right),

NUS Enterprise Senior Manager, talking to Ms. Yang Mi Kyung (extreme left)

02 November 2006

Ms Yang Mi Kyung@NUS Extension

The following excerpts are taken from NEX.

"GlobalActress Yang Mi Kyung visit on NUS Extention's Korean Language Programme

- By Vignash Naidu, NUS Enterprise; Photo courtesy of Mr. Maurice Lim

The visit by the Korean Actress and ambassador to Singapore on 17 August 2006 was a remarkable event. Ms. Yang Mi Kyung, the supporting actress for the drama serial - Da Chang Jin (大长今), The Jewel in the Palace, graced upon the National University of Singapore Extension's (NEX) and interacted with the students and teachers in the Korean Learning Programme (KLP) class. "

Get the full version here. 

Opening Korean Language in Singapore-Historical Moments

29 October 2008

Introduction to KLP in NUS Extension & NUS opened Korean in 2008.

Introduction to Korean Language Programme (KLP) in NUS Extension

NUS Extension was opened in 1960 as the Extramural Studies Department of the National University of Singapore. Now, NUS Extension has 3 major centers of learning, namely, Center for Enterprise Leadership, Center for Professional and Management Development, and Center for Lifelong Learning.
The Center for Enterprise Leadership offers selected courses and programs for top and senior management. The subjects include Leadership and Influence, Business Ethics, Strategic Management and China Business. The Center for Professional and Management Development offers a range of courses and programs for professionals and business executives. And the Center for Lifelong Learning offers Korean language courses, amongst many other courses, and in which NUS lecturers and non-NUS lecturers hold classes. NUS Extension has over 300 various types of long-term and short-term courses and the diploma courses in its 3 centers, so it is operated quite differently from most private institutes that are commonly known in Korea.

In October 2003, a proposal and plan were put up. After the initial internal inquiry, unlike the English and Chinese language courses which have faculties in NUS itself, the decision to open a Korean language course at NUS Extension itself was made in October 2003. And since its beginnings in early 2004, the Korean language course is one of the fastest growing courses in NUS Extension. (Initiated in Oct 2003, 480 in 2004, 580 in 2005, 1,000 in 2006, 1,500 in 2007)

Firstly, teaching method will be based on the Korean university textbook used by the Korean universities, and surveys will be conducted every year to understand students’ requirements. From the 2nd semester, overseas studies opportunities will be sourced out through universities in Korea and the Ministry of Education. These overseas short-term or long-term stints will help improve students’ ability and also upgrade the standard of the programme. Overseas studies scholarships can be provided to stress the importance of and give opportunities to immerse in the Korean culture, students will then be motivated to further their studies. In the following year, the school should aim to be the local KLPT (Korean Language Proficiency Test) test center. This will encourage students to pursue their Korea studies, and not only learn it as a hobby.

Secondly, access to Korean will promote greater understanding of the language. The Korean Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Ryu Kwang-sok, made a donation of approx 500 books(worth of US$7,000) to NUS Extension and two Korean university text books are currently available at NUS Central Library. It is important to have these books for research purposes and to understand the culture better, nonetheless, it is difficult to acquire Korean books and proper textbooks in Singapore, so it will great resource for the learners to search right information.

Thirdly, the department will hold Korean culture classes. TV dramas can be used to help improve listening and understanding skills; books and other visual aids can be incorporated in special classes for students to understand deep-rooted traditional Korean culture, apart from what is commonly known form popular culture. Those cultural pictures are donated specially and NUS Extension uses for Korean Cultural course.

The first Singaporean teacher to teach in NUS Extension is presently taking a master’s degree course in Korean language after receiving a scholarship from Korea Foundation.

If you ask me why? Then I might say....... "I consider myself as a teacher first and I have a passion for teaching. I think teaching is not just a process of transferring knowledge but inspiring student to develop the love for learning. I feel a strong need to open Korean program in Singapore. Surely I know it will create a variety of opportunities in many ways. I began teaching Korean at NEX (NUS Extension) only because of my passion for teaching at first. As the program begin to gain popularity, I began to see the possibility of opening Korean Language in universities. I don’t really know what drives me to do this, but I guess that it is because of my love for Korea and pride in Korean language as a Korean citizen and teacher. The language of a country represents the country itself and its culture, and is a powerful tool for communication and understanding each other. I hope this will open a gateway for academic research complementing and contributing to both countries’ social diversity and economic development".

NUS to launch Korean as a foreign language department in August 2008.
National University of Singapore has decided to launch a Korean language in August 08. NUS has many corresponding conditions to help meet Korea Foundation’s goal to globalize the Korean language, and thus KF (Korean Foundation) will provide full support as per below response.
KF said“The Foundation's screening committee recognized the significance of your university's initiative to launch a Korean language program in response to the increasing demand for Korean language learning evidenced by the NUS Extension, and in order to equip NUS students with Korean language proficiency for opportunities to participate in exchange programs between NUS and several Korean universities as part of global education.”
As a reference, many universities are interested in opening a Korean language department. But in spite of its strict examination, KF’s prompt response signals the strong will of the Korean government to introduce the Korean language to world-renowned universities.

Launching a Korean language programme at the world-renowned NUS holds more meaning than a mere set-up of a Korean language program or department in any university.

Firstly, there are, and will be, many bilateral ties between Korea and Singapore in economics, trade, tourism, education and culture. Many talents who will contribute in these fields are expected to be grown from this programme in this established university.

Secondly, specialized academic research can be accomplished. Currently, the understanding of the Korean language is based largely on culture contents due to the “Korean Wave”. By having specialized teachers and lecturers to teach in the Korean language programme, a more proper education system can be established. Under NUS’s expertise and systematic approach, research done by the students can narrow the academic gap between the two countries.

Thirdly, this is an opportunity for long-term study and development of the Korean language. As of now, undoubtedly, the popularity of the Korean language is due to the “Korean Wave”. However, if the phenomenon dies down, the learning interest will lessen accordingly. But establishing a program in NUS is for the long run, and not temporary.


NUS has done various research and inquiry before establishing this program. Much expertise has been employed to prepare for the launch in August 2008, as officially announced. NUS curriculum will take into account on NUS Extension’s successful Korean Language Program case and students’ feedback in NUS campus. Thus compared to the set-up of other languages’ program, the Korean language faculty should be more well-assured for its launch.

YTN News 2005

News feature in a local Korean news network, YTN.

Note: This is not a good representation of my normal lessons. I don't usually show the flash cards so fast. I was a bit nervous with the presence of the YTNews crew and it's a pity that the news did not air the students' activities. 

말에 뼈가 있다 (His words have bones)

Sometimes, although you learn Korean langauge for sometime, when you watch dramas, you may hear the sentences right but you may see different reactions from the parties. His/her comments harbor hidden meaning or criticism. You may know as this as "His word brstle with thorns."

한국 사람들이 비꼴때...

예문: 다음 대통령은 정치를 잘 아는 정치인 중에서 선택하는 것이 옳은 일이다.

Do not fight! 싸우지마!

싸우다: to fight.

언제 국수 먹지?

In olden days, many couples could not afford to have grand weddings due to poverty.

In a wedding, a bowl of noodle soup is given to each guests after the wedding ceremony and that was very common. When people ask “When can I have a bowl of noodle soup?” (언제 국수 먹지요?) means "when are you going to marry?" indirectly.
When I was twenties, my carrier was important so I did not think of marriage too much although my friends were married on time (early 20's ~ mid 20's). After my mid 20's, hearing this question like "언제 국수 먹지?" became a pressure. So, you may have to be careful to use... it can be fun for someone but it can be a stressful question for someone.

When I was young, I used to eat this noodle soup when I went to old type of markets with my mother... I still like the taste and I still make this for my family sometimes at home.

김망재선생 언제 국수를 먹지요? (언제 결혼해요? 중매를 해 준 사람으로서 당연히 궁금한데... )

Places to Eat in KOREA!

Source from: Korean Times

가가호호 (家家戶戶)

한자의 뜻: 집(家) 지게문(戶)
뜻: 집집마다

예:인구 조사가 시작되자, 조사요원들이 家家戶戶 방문하여 그 집 식구의 숫자를 파악하고 다닙니다.
인구: population