A-KEEP’s Korean Language Summer Camp "Catch the K-Wave" has started!

This month, July 5th, we began our Summer Camp "Catch the K-Wave" at Pike Road Intermediate School. The 29 students, including 4 virtual students, ranging from 6th -12th grade, are here to learn a new language and culture. The purpose of this camp is to teach the Korean language and culture through K-pop music, K-dramas, K-games, and K-foods. Each week, they will actively engage in learning new phrases and apply them to real-life scenarios. Inside the classroom, students learned through fun activities, such as the Baskin Robbins 31 number game. Rather than an earnest lecture, the activity-style teaching will help students to memorize new words. better.  

At mid-day, students have a chance to buy Korean snacks, K-pop-related items, and stationery at our K-Store. The purpose of the K-Store is to support the students’ use of practical Korean phrases and counting Korean money, commonly referred to as won (₩). Each Friday, students get the chance to have a taste of Korean food for lunch prepared by a local Korean restaurant. During the project time, the students learn K-pop dance with K-pop instructor Jayla Bradford and participate in Korean art class as instructed by our interns Logann Shorter and Sunny Kim along with our three teaching assistants, visiting from Korea Youjin Jwa, Aerin Kim, and Yejin Yang. Art class supports improving their creativity through artistic experience by decorating Korean traditional items, such as face masks and Korean drums. Students are excited to learn a new language and culture!  

This year we began an accredited program at Pike Road High School.  Accreditation is an official acknowledgment of the Korean language as a foreign language credit for college requirements and an opportunity to introduce another culture and language to public schools. To learn more about our Korean programs please visit: www.akeep.org 

The funds for this program are provided by STARTALK -NSA grant and subsidized by the Korean Ministry of Education and the Atlanta Korean Education Center.

By Uiseon Sunny Kim