Korean Language Education in the Era of Generative AI

Why do people teach and learn world languages? Previous research indicates that the primary goal of world language education is to enhance learners’ linguistic and cultural competence. Equally, it is widely recognized that language learning fosters the development of critical skills—such as coping with uncertainty, practicing empathy, and exercising flexibility—which are essential for thriving in today’s interconnected world. However, the rapid emergence of Generative AI technologies has profoundly affected the value and practice of language education. While these tools offer advantages, including increasing efficiency and giving greater agency to teachers and learners, concerns have been raised regarding their potential to hinder learners’ development of the above-mentioned linguistic and non-linguistic skills. This practice-oriented presentation begins with a case study—supported by survey data—focused on formulating AI policies in the Korean language classroom, to facilitate the design of practices that minimize misuse while maximizing educational value. In addition, it explores instructional strategies for the potential use of AI tools in vocabulary and writing instruction to foster students’ learner autonomy and metacognitive skills by engaging them in planning, monitoring, and evaluating their own learning processes. Through these discussions, we aim to examine how Generative AI can be responsibly and effectively incorporated into the Korean language classroom while adhering to the foundational values of language education.

Haewon Cho is the Director of the Korean Language Program and a Senior Lecturer in Foreign Languages at the University of Pennsylvania. Her teaching and research focus on Korean language pedagogy, inclusive teaching practices, technology-enhanced instruction, and language for specific purposes. She has co-authored a variety of Korean language instructional materials, including textbook series (Epic Korean, You Speak Korean, and Topics in Korean Language and Culture), grammar references (Korean Grammar: The Complete Guide, Basic Korean), and self-study books (Korean Hangul for Beginners). She is currently working on a Business Korean textbook designed for North American learners, using a task-based learning approach.

Hyobin Won is a Korean Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania. Her teaching and research focus on Korean language pedagogy, heritage language education, critical language education, and conversation analysis. She recently served as the Lead Developer for the Korean Placement and Proficiency Test Redesign at the University of Pennsylvania (2024), where she integrated task-based and data-driven approaches to assessment.

Hyesun Jang is a Lecturer in the Korean Language Program at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a co-author of Learn Korean with BTS and a contributor to the You Speak Korean OER used at Penn. Her teaching and research focus on advanced-level curriculum design, and technology-enhanced instruction.