SEOUL— To most Koreans, Andong, a medium-sized city in Kyongsang-pukto, represents traditional Korean customs and values. Situated in a snug and crisp environment, Andong has long been known as the home of “yangban,” the noble class of the Choson period, who are notorious for their diehard preservation of Confucian values.
The Silla, Koryo and Choson Kingdoms left behind in the city many historical sites worth visiting to view the Confucian and Buddhist legacy such as temples, pagodas, homes of noblemen and Confucian schools.
Now, Andong has more to add to its list of attractions. True to the city’s reputation as an educational city, Andong National University provides a competitive language course for both locals and foreigners.
ANULC (Andong National University Language Center) offers language courses in English, Japanese and Chinese. The center is especially proud of its STEP (Structured Total English Program), and eight-level program designed to provide systematic English instruction for ANU students and the general public as well.
With a staff of 2l native instructors, the center evaluates students through interviews and class participation to decide what level they should be in and whether they are ready to go on to the next level.
But what ANULC really takes pride in is the CLEP (Cultural and Language Exchange Program), which offers a chance for foreign students to learn not only the Korean language but also Korean tradition and culture, especially those pertaining to Andong.
Andong has many reasons to attract foreigners. It boasts more national treasures than any other city in the nation, with 239 items designated as either tangible or intangible cultural properties. There are also numerous artists and performers who preserve long-kept traditions in their works.
One of the most renowned cultural heritages of Andong is Hahoe Pyolshingut Talnori. Designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 69, this mask dance satirizes the lifestyle of yangban, many of whom maintained their lavish lifestyles at the expense of ordinary people.
Even Queen Elizabeth came to Hahoe, the home of the mask dance when she visited Korea in April last year.
Chung Jong-soo, administrative head of ANULC and team leader of CLEP, said, “There are other Korean language courses at schools in Seoul, but we are the first to introduce a program that invites foreigners to learn the Korean language and experience Korean tradition and culture, while at the same time allowing Korean students to learn foreign languages and understand foreign cultures.”
Korean and foreign students practice with each other in combined language classes and siminars, often playing the role of teachers to their counterparts.
For cultural acitivities, foreign students visit several historical sites such as Hahoe Billage, Dosan Sowon (Confucian Academy), Andong Folk Museum and Pusok-sa Temple.
They also learn taekwondo, samulnori (ensemble of four traditional percussion instruments), mask dances and various Korean folk songs.
Furthermore, they have chances to visit Korean homes to better understand Korean lifestyle and tradition, and to attend cultural lectures on such topics such as Confucianism, social strata, traditional clothing and architecture.
Lee Yoo-jin, a Korean American student at Stanford University who took part in the fourth CLEP course in summer this year, said that the program gave him an opportunity to get in touch with his Korean self for the first time.
“Every day I experienced something new that my ancestors had been doing for hundreds of years. In addition, I learned about other aspects of Korean culture through my daily interaction with Korean friends,” he said.
ANULC is mapping out a wide range of new programs to expand its activities. It is set to open “Visit ‘n’ Know Korea”— a program that enables foreigners to learn the Korean language and experience Korean culture in cooperation with the city of Andong and Korea Natioinal Tourism Organization. Starting November, the center will provide a Korean language course to Chinese and Japanese students.
For more information, visit their website://lc.andong.ac.kr/eng.