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Certified Instruction

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Officially Designated. Internationally Respected. Locally Rooted.

At Korean American Center, certification is at the core of how we teach Korean. As the first accredited Korean language teaching institution in the United States, we set the national standard for excellence in Korean language education.

Our designation as both an official King Sejong Institute, recognized by the South Korean government, and a WASC-accredited program, ensures that our Korean language classes meet the highest benchmarks for academic quality, teacher training, and cultural integrity.

Certified Teachers. Real Expertise.

Our instructors are more than fluent speakers – they are certified Korean language educators trained specifically to teach Korean as a foreign language. Each teacher at Korean American Center holds either:

  • A Korean Language Teacher Certificate (한국어교원 자격증) issued by the Government of South Korea, and/or
  • A California teaching credential with specialization in Korean language instruction.

This dual-track certification approach ensures that students receive professional, effective instruction rooted in both Korean cultural knowledge and instructional best practices.

Our instructors understand how to support learners of all backgrounds – whether you’re seeking academic credit, reconnecting with your cultural roots, or learning Korean for the very first time.

Understanding Korean Teacher Certification Levels

South Korea’s national certification system is administered by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and is required for teaching at official institutions like King Sejong Institutes and Korean universities. Teachers earn one of three levels based on their experience and education:

Level 1 (1급) – Advanced

Graduate-level coursework and extensive teaching experience. Often held by academic or senior instructional leaders.

Level 2 (2급) – Professional Standard

Standard credential for teaching at King Sejong Institutes. Requires university training, teaching practicum, and passing the national Korean Language Teaching Competency Test.

Level 3 (3급) – Foundational

A fully recognized credential reflecting strong foundational training and instructional readiness—ideal for early-career educators working toward higher certification levels.

Curriculum Backed by Global Standards

Korean American Center’s instruction is built on internationally recognized language education frameworks, including:

  • The ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Language Learning (used across U.S. schools).
  • Korea’s Standard Korean Language Curriculum, developed by the National Institute of the Korean Language (NIKL).

These standards ensure that every student develops not only language proficiency, but also deep cultural fluency and confidence in real-world communication.

Learn more about our ACTFL alignment and curriculum approach.

What Sets KAC Apart

Korean American Center’s instruction is built on internationally recognized language education frameworks, including:

  • First accredited Korean language teaching institution in the U.S.
  • Official King Sejong Institute and WASC-accredited program.
  • Certified instructors with credentials from South Korea and/or the State of California.
  • Curriculum aligned with ACTFL and NIKL standards.
  • Designed for both heritage and non-heritage learners.
  • Trusted, nationally recognized Korean language school.

Ready to Start Your Korean Journey with Confidence?

Enroll today (link to /learn-korean/ or specific hub) and learn from certified, community-rooted Korean language educators at the first accredited Korean language teaching institution in the U.S.

Learn Korean the Right Way — With Certified Experts You Can Trust (original version)

We Are a King Sejong Institute

Officially Designated. Internationally Respected. Locally Rooted.

Korean American Center is proud to be an official King Sejong Institute, designated by the South Korean government. As one of only a select few in the United States, we bring the highest standards of Korean language and cultural education to Orange County, California.

But what truly sets us apart is not just our name—it’s our people.
We are a trusted, community-based organization with instructors who are professionally certified, deeply committed to bridging Korean and American cultural understanding, and invested in our community.

🏅 Learn from Certified, Native Korean Instructors—Rooted in Our Community

At KAC, all of our teachers are native Korean speakers who hold either:

  • An official Korean Language Teacher Certificate (한국어교원 자격증) issued by the Government of South Korea, or
  • A valid California teaching credential with expertise in Korean language instruction.

Unlike many other programs that rely on offshore or uncertified tutors, every one of our instructors is based in Orange County, CA, with a real stake in our students’ growth and success. They are not just language experts—they are community members who understand how to help students navigate both Korean and American cultural contexts with confidence and respect.

🧑‍🏫 Understanding Korean Teacher Certification Levels — And Why It Matters

At Korean American Center – King Sejong Institute, our instructors meet the highest professional standards in Korean language education, holding a combination of:

  • Korean Language Teacher Certificates (한국어교원 자격증) issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea, and/or
  • A valid California teaching credential with expertise in Korean language instruction.

The Korean Language Teacher Certificate is a nationally recognized credential required to teach at official institutions like King Sejong Institutes and Korean universities. Earning this certification involves:

  • Completing a government-approved training program.
  • University coursework in linguistics, pedagogy, and Korean culture.
  • Supervised practicum.
  • Passing the Korean Language Teaching Competency Test (한국어교육능력검정시험).

When choosing a language program, knowing your teacher’s qualifications is key.

South Korea’s teacher certification system includes three levels, each reflecting a high standard of training and qualification:

  • Level 1 (1급)– The most advanced credential, awarded to experienced educators with additional graduate study and verified teaching hours. Often held by instructors in senior or academic leadership roles.
  • Level 2 (2급) – The standard professional qualification required to teach at King Sejong Institutes and Korean universities. Involves intensive training, practical teaching, and national testing.
  • Level 3 (3급) – A fully recognized government certification that reflects completion of core coursework and foundational teaching competencies. It is a respected credential for early-career professionals or those building toward higher certification levels.

In a field where many programs rely on fluent speakers without formal training, KAC prioritizes certified, professional educators. Whether through South Korea’s national system or California’s, our instructors are qualified, experienced, and deeply committed to helping students learn Korean effectively and meaningfully.

📚 Our Curriculum: Aligned With National and International Standards

We don’t just meet expectations—we exceed them.

Our curriculum is:

  • Aligned with ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Language Learning, used across U.S. school systems
  • Based on the Standard Korean Language Curriculum developed by the National Institute of the Korean Language (NIKL)—Korea’s official language authority

This ensures that every lesson is grounded in evidence-based methodology and designed to build real-world proficiency, cultural fluency, and measurable progress, putting students on a clear path to real-world communication and long-term success.

❗ Why This Should Matter to You

In many other Korean programs—even those charging similar tuition—you may find:

Our curriculum is:

  • Fluent speakers with no formal teaching background.
  • Offshore instructors unfamiliar with U.S. learners.
  • Self-taught tutors or casual volunteers.
  • Instructors without credentials or a structured curriculum.
  • Outsourced or disconnected instruction.

But fluency isn’t the same as teaching expertise. If you’re serious about gaining real skills—whether for school, work, or personal enrichment—you deserve instruction from a certified, professional educator who knows how to teach Korean effectively to non-native speakers.

At KAC, that’s exactly what you get:
Professionally certified, community-rooted instructors who are experts in bridging language, culture, and education.

🔑 The KAC Difference

  • 100% native Korean-speaking instructors trained to teach Korean as a foreign language.
  • Certified by the South Korean government or licensed by the State of California.
  • All teachers are based in Orange County, CA.
  • Deeply rooted in our community.
  • Experts at bridging Korean and American cultural understanding.
  • Curriculum aligned with ACTFL and NIKL standards.
  • An official King Sejong Institute, recognized globally.

🎓 Global Excellence, Local Commitment

We deliver the prestige of a government-designated King Sejong Institute with the personalized care of a local, mission-driven nonprofit. Whether you’re preparing for the TOPIK exam, reconnecting with heritage, or learning Korean for the first time, we offer the most qualified instructors and highest instructional standards in Southern California (in the United States)

Ready to Start Your Korean Journey with Confidence?

Enroll today and learn from Southern California’s most qualified, community-rooted Korean language educators.

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American Korean Institute

Learn Korean. Experience Culture. Connect Community.From our roots in Orange County to learners everywhere, our accredited Korean language and culture programs bring expert teaching and cultural connection online and in person.

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