Intensive Korean I

The main textbook for our course is the “University Korean” Series by Yonsei University.
Each level has four volumes, on the first Beginner‘s level these are:

• 연세 대학한국어 어휘 문법 초급Ⅰ  Yonsei Academic Korean Beginning 1.
  ISBN 978-89-6850-154-8
• 대학 생활을 위한 한국어 말하기 초급Ⅰ  Korean Speaking for University Life. Beginning 1.
  ISBN 9 78-89-6850-132-6
• 대학 생활을 위한 한국어 듣기 초급Ⅰ  Korean Listening for University Life. Beginning 1.
  ISBN 978-89-6850-133-3
• 대학 생활을 위한 한국어 쓰기 초급Ⅰ  Korean Writing for University Life. Beginning 1.
  ISBN 978-89-6850-134-0

In addition you will be using the following books for additional practice and reference at home:

• 외국인을 위한 한국어 문장쓰기의 모든 것 All about Writing Korean Sentences
  ISBN 9791158486044
• Korean Grammar in Use – Beginning. ISBN: 978-89-5995-198-7

I strongly recommend the English version for the Grammar, there is also a German one, but the translation is worse and we will of course be completely operating in English.

You need to have all six books when the language course begins in Week 2 of the lecture period (in 2026 this begins on October 19). You need to have the first three volumes in a form that can be used in the classroom without delays caused by you looking for the exact position. This means that electronic forms are acceptable as long as the page is similarly easy to read as when you use a book. Very small screens such as smartphone screens are not acceptable as they slow down the exercises which is unfair on both you and exercise partners or other students. The other three (Yonsei Writing, All About Writing and the Darakwon Grammar) will be mainly used at home and the form you have them in does not matter.

Many students prefer books to electronic versions, though. So your lecturer organises considerably cheaper group orders from Korea for all books used during the course. The cost for the four Yonsei volumes is currently around 100 Euro, for all six volumes (including the grammar) a bit below 140 Euro. The books will be used until the middle of the second semester. The precise cost is subject to variation in exchange rate and transport costs but it is not going to be massively more, probably less. If you want to participate in the group order, please write an E-mail with the title “Textbook Group Order” to stefan.knoob@uni-due.de.
You will then get details for a down payment. Deadline for the E-mail is 28 September 2026, but latecomers are encouraged to enquire nevertheless. Alternatively you can also purchase the textbooks as Ebooks and we can meet up for me to guide you through the process. The cost is then about 60 % of the physical books but you need a credit card AND you can only access them via the E-Book store’s app.

Best regards, your Korean lecturer