Seoul

SOUTH KOREA

Explore Seoul through different eyes and get to know every corner of this incredible city as you study Korean! Learning Korean in Seoul is a truly unique way to experience Korean culture first-hand, diving straight into new traditions and sights, in full Korean immersion. At ESL, our Korean courses in Seoul have become extremely popular, with students travelling from around the world to experience this dynamic, rapidly changing city up close.

COURSES

STANDARD COURSE

10 x 90 min.

INTENSIVE COMBINED COURSE

20 x 90 min = 10 general + 10 specific skills.

Lexis

Our Korean language school occupies the 11th floor of a newly built tower of glass and steel in the centre of Seoul. 10 spacious and air-conditioned classrooms, a multimedia room, kitchen and student lounge make this a modern and comfortable environment for learning Korean. The location is hard to beat, with the famous Gangnam district on your doorstep. A wealth of cafés, restaurants, bars and shops define this hip area of the South Korean capital, which really gets going after sunset.

KEY POINTS

–Fascinating language and culture to explore. –City with a mix of age-old culture and vibrant modernity. –Modern school with first-class academic facilities. –Various accommodation options for all tastes and budgets.

Host family

During your stay in Seoul, you will be welcomed into a South Korean family’s home, staying in a single bedroom and sharing the communal areas with your hosts. This is a unique opportunity to experience local life and practise Korean in daily situations. You will be immersed in their culture and have the chance to taste delicious Korean specialties. Some families live in the centre of Seoul, while others live in nearby districts close to the centre. The public transport network is excellent but it may take you up to an hour to reach the school.

Mini studio (from 18 years)

Find out more on our website.

Residence (from 18 years)

Find out more on our website.

ACCOMMODATION

Included in the course:

• Level and needs assessment. • Use of study centre. • Job Club. • Learning progress monitoring. • Diploma or certificate.

Course start dates and duration:

1 to 48-week programmes, every Monday of the year.

At a glance

Seoul, a city of technology and traditions

From fashion to food and architecture to art, Seoul has become a haven for those looking to make their mark. It’s packed with trendsetting residents who have helped create a future-proof city that still honours its distinctive past: Seoul’s ever-growing skyline may point to a city that’s only looking to the future, but the city is awash with cultural gems that detail the city’s enchanting past! Similarly, this is also a city in which modern-day values by no means threaten its deep-seated Korean traditions. Seoul mashes up palaces, temples, cutting-edge design and mountain trails, all to a nonstop K-Pop beat. And as a 24-hour city, Seoul can provide whatever you want, whenever you want it!

Are you a match?

Technology + Beauty + Crowds Boasting the world’s fastest average internet connection speed, a mammoth Digital Media City, and some of the tech industry’s largest companies, Seoul is a hi-tech wonderland! Looks are also huge – although the beauty approach differs to the Western world’s, plastic surgery is ever-present in Seoul. And yes, with 25 million people living within the city’s limits, it is definitely packed but it’s actually rather intuitive and orderly! Would you fit in?

MUST-KNOWS

Food is at the very centre of everything in Seoul and Bibimbap is the ultimate comfort dish! Basically, it’s a one-bowl wonder of steamed rice, sautéed vegetables and a fried egg, all mixed up together. It’s served cold in the summer, hot in the winter, but always with a side serving of gochujang – a thick, shiny, deep red chilli paste – to add perkiness!

Chuseokis one of South Korea’s most important holidays. Although it originally celebrated the autumn harvest, it is today one of the few times of the year that Koreans take time off work to visit their hometowns, share a seasonal feast with their families, and honour their ancestors through various ceremonies. Although you’ll find many businesses close up shop, there are plenty of places in Seoul in which tourists and locals alike can enjoy fun events and traditional games, all the while learning about the country’s folkloreand Chuseok traditions!

The “K” in K-pop might stand for “Korean,” but the heart of K-pop music is very much in South Korea’s capital city! Check out NCT 127’s, a band with a name derived from Seoul itself, with 127 being the longitudinal coordinate of the city. “City 127” is a laidback track from the group, walking us through a romance that feels especially vibrant at night, in “this city that has been with us every moment.”

For some of the best views across Seoul, head up to the 13th floor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Seosomun Building 1 and settle down for a coffee at the Jeongdong Observatory. Once home to government offices, this floor is now open to the public and is a spot which not many tourists hear about, so it’s not often crowded - plus it’s free to visit!