‘한국어 배우면 돈 된다’…’월세 150’ 서울살이 하는 외국인들
1Introduction
2Vocabulary
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 외국인 | oegugin | foreigner | 외국인 학생들이 한국어를 배우러 왔어요.Foreign students came to learn Korean. |
| 유학생 | yuhaksaeng | international student | 미국에서 온 유학생이 한국 문화에 관심이 많아요.The international student from America is very interested in Korean culture. |
| 언어교육원 | eoneo gyoyugwon | language education center | 대학교 언어교육원에서 한국어를 가르쳐요.They teach Korean at the university language education center. |
| 개강하다 | gaegangha-da | to begin a semester | 다음 주에 새 학기가 개강해요.The new semester begins next week. |
| 증가하다 | jeunggaha-da | to increase | 한국어를 배우는 학생 수가 증가했어요.The number of students learning Korean has increased. |
| 어학연수 | eohak yeonsu | language study abroad | 한국에서 어학연수를 하고 싶어요.I want to do language study abroad in Korea. |
| 월세 | wolse | monthly rent | 서울의 월세가 비싸서 걱정이에요.I’m worried because monthly rent in Seoul is expensive. |
| 거주하다 | geojuha-da | to reside | 기숙사에 거주하는 학생들이 많아요.Many students reside in dormitories. |
| 교류 | gyoryu | exchange, interaction | 한국 학생들과 교류할 기회가 많아요.There are many opportunities to interact with Korean students. |
| 진로 | jinro | career path | 한국어 공부가 미래 진로에 도움이 될 거예요.Studying Korean will help with future career paths. |
| 체험 | cheheom | experience | 한국 문화를 직접 체험하고 싶어요.I want to experience Korean culture directly. |
| 출신 | chulsin | origin, from | 미국 출신 학생이 한국어를 잘해요.The student from America speaks Korean well. |
3Reading Text
최근 몇 년 동안 한국어를 배우러 오는 외국인 학생들의 수가 크게 늘어나고 있습니다.
In recent years, the number of foreign students coming to learn Korean has increased significantly.
특히 미국과 유럽에서 온 젊은 학생들이 한국의 대학교 언어교육원에서 공부하고 있어요.
In particular, young students from America and Europe are studying at Korean university language education centers.
이들은 한국어 실력을 향상시키면서 동시에 한국 문화를 직접 체험하고 있습니다.
They are improving their Korean language skills while directly experiencing Korean culture at the same time.
많은 학생들이 한국어 공부가 미래 취업에 도움이 될 것이라고 생각해요.
Many students believe that studying Korean will help them with future employment opportunities.
서울에서 생활하는 외국인 학생들은 높은 월세 때문에 어려움을 겪기도 하지만, 그래도 한국에서의 경험을 소중하게 여기고 있어요.
Foreign students living in Seoul sometimes face difficulties due to high monthly rent, but they still value their experiences in Korea.
대학교 근처에는 외국인 학생들이 주로 거주하는 기숙사와 아파트들이 생겨나고 있습니다.
Near universities, dormitories and apartments where foreign students mainly reside are appearing.
한국 학생들과 외국인 학생들 사이의 교류도 활발해지고 있어서, 서로의 언어와 문화를 배우는 기회가 많아졌어요.
Exchanges between Korean students and foreign students are also becoming more active, creating more opportunities to learn each other’s languages and cultures.
이러한 추세는 앞으로도 계속될 것으로 예상됩니다.
This trend is expected to continue in the future.
4Comprehension Questions
What are the main reasons foreign students are coming to Korea to study Korean?
Which regions do most of the international students come from according to the text?
What challenges do foreign students face when living in Seoul?
How has the interaction between Korean and international students changed?
What does the text suggest about the future of this trend?
5Cultural Notes
The surge in international students learning Korean reflects the global rise of Korean culture, often called the “Korean Wave” or Hallyu. This phenomenon encompasses K-pop, K-dramas, Korean cuisine, and Korean beauty products, which have created worldwide interest in Korean language and culture. The concept of “gap year” mentioned in the original source has also become more accepted in Korean educational culture, allowing students to explore career paths through immersive experiences.
Original Article