CAN K-POP TEACH LANGUAGE?

We all have heard of K-POP music—fun, upbeat, dance music--that many (maybe yourself included) have fallen in love with.  But have you ever thought of K-POP as educational?  A-KEEP and our teachers have!  

At Pike Road High School and Floyd Magnet Middle School, Ms. Jemma Lee, used music from the K-POP group BTS to introduce learners to “Arirang”, a well-known and loved example of Korean folk music.  Another BTS song was used to teach learners elements of Korean traditional music such as Chuimsae (ad-lib) and Jangdan (rhythm).  Students had the opportunity to compare traditional Korean music with modern K-POP and were asked to reflect and think of similarities in American music.  As you can imagine, students loved this interactive learning experience.  But who isn’t more motivated to learn with relevant, real-world materials, right?  That’s why one of A-KEEP’s language education principles is to use age-appropriate, authentic materials whenever possible with their learners.  This approach also develops learners’ understanding of the practices and perspectives of another culture while comparing to their own culture.   

Ms. Jemma Lee, PRHS’ Korean teacher, along with all of A-KEEP’s other language teachers have accomplished a lot in this brief semester—from beginner concepts of numbers and dates at the elementary level to comparing music and family structure in the accredited high school classes.  It is fun to see students’ excitement in learning as well as to watch the teachers’ excitement as students gain new language ability and understanding.  A-KEEP is very thankful to their language teachers who do the hard work required to offer Montgomery County students the opportunity to understand and gain appreciation for a critical language and culture. 

If you are interested in joining our teaching team or know someone who is or if you have a student who would like to experience K-POP in their language learning, please contact us about next semesters learning and teaching opportunities at koreanedu@akeep.org  

By Sharon Hobbie