High School Korean Classes for Credit

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WASC Accredited
King Sejong Institute

High school Korean for credit — even if your school doesn’t offer it

A live, accredited Korean course pathway for high school students nationwide, designed to build measurable Korean proficiency. Taught by certified Korean instructors, aligned to ACTFL standards, and supported by official transcripts for school credit or placement review.

📅 Registration for Fall 2026 cohort is now closed. New cohorts will begin in January 2027. Please add yourself to our high school interst list and we will notify you as soon as registration opens.
Live Online Nationwide
or in-person (Irvine,CA)
High school students learning Korean in a live online class with the Korean American Center
🎓
Official transcript
Issued via Parchment
Accredited & recognized
✓WASC Accredited
✓King Sejong Institute
✓ACTFL-Aligned Curriculum
✓Certified Instructors
✓Official Transcripts

Proficiency is the goal.
Credit is the pathway.

KAC’s high school Korean courses are designed to help students build real communication skills, not just complete seat time. Through live instruction, speaking practice, cultural projects, assessments, and feedback, students work toward measurable Korean proficiency while earning transcript-backed coursework their school can review for credit or placement.

Classes for academic credit

100% Korean-focused. Live online. Accredited and transcript-backed.

Don’t let your school’s course list be the reason your student can’t study Korean. As the only WASC-accredited Korean language institute in the United States, KAC provides official transcripts and documentation your school can review for credit or placement consideration.

Before you enroll

KAC provides the accredited coursework, attendance records, grades, syllabus, and official transcript through Parchment. Your student’s school or district makes the final decision about credit. We recommend reviewing the counselor & parent packet with your school before enrolling.

2026–2027 dates

Registration will open soon for Korean 1, Korean 2, Korean 3 Honors, and Korean 4 Honors. New cohorts begin every 8 to 10 weeks.

Schedule options

Live online classes with multiple time options available to fit your schedule.

A Complete Academic Course

Approximately 150 hours of live instruction and academic support, structured coursework, assessments, teacher feedback, and an official transcript documenting a full year (1.0 credit) of study.

Levels & credit

A clear proficiency pathway, Korean 1 through 4

Each level is a full academic year worth 1.0 credit, with approximately 150 instructional hours through live classes, lab, assignments, and instructor-led activities. Korean 3 and Korean 4 are honors levels. Every course is designed around ACTFL proficiency goals, so students move from basic communication to more independent reading, writing, listening, and speaking as they progress from Korean 1 through Korean 4. Your student’s school decides how the credit is accepted or applied. Official transcripts are issued through Parchment.

1 Korean 1 No Experience Required 1.0 credit
Course Information
Textbooks
Korean Made Easy: Starter, 2nd Edition (Darakwon, 2025); King Sejong Institute Practical Korean 1 (King Sejong Institute Foundation, 2023)
Proficiency level
Novice Low → Novice High (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines)
Credits / instructional hours
1.0 high school credit · full academic year · approx. 150 instructional hours
Prerequisites
None
Delivery platform
Live Online or In-person (Irvine, CA)
Course overview

Designed for students with little or no prior experience in Korean. Through communication-focused instruction, comprehensible input, cultural exploration, and project-based learning, students learn to read and write Hangul, exchange greetings, and ask and answer basic questions, then build toward more detailed sentence structures, polite and formal speech, sequential actions, describing experiences, expressing reasons, and discussing past and future events. By the end of the year, students can handle real-world tasks such as giving directions, scheduling appointments, and talking about personal progress.

Standard Pace: Classes start the week of January 4, 2027.

Full year (1.0 credit) · $2,398
2 Korean 2 Korean for Advanced Beginners 1.0 credit
Course Information
Textbooks
King Sejong Institute Practical Korean 1 and 2 (King Sejong Institute Foundation, 2023)
Proficiency level
Novice High → Intermediate Low (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines)
Credits / instructional hours
1.0 high school credit · full academic year · approx. 150 instructional hours
Prerequisites
Korean 1 or equivalent
Delivery platform
Live Online or In-person (Irvine, CA)
Course overview

Introduces essential Korean communication patterns and grammatical structures, moving learners from Novice High toward Intermediate Low proficiency. Students handle straightforward social situations, understand main ideas from authentic texts and audio, and initiate, sustain, and close conversations. Using culturally appropriate honorifics, they describe daily routines, intentions, travel, weather, and sequences of events through cohesive paragraphs and media projects, guided by the ACTFL 5Cs.

Full year (1.0 credit) · $2,398
3 Korean 3 Honors Korean for Intermediate Speakers 1.0 credit
Course Information
Textbooks
King Sejong Institute Practical Korean 3 (King Sejong Institute Foundation, 2023)
Proficiency level
Intermediate Low → Intermediate Mid (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines)
Credits / instructional hours
1.0 high school credit · full academic year · approx. 150 instructional hours
Prerequisites
Korean 2 or equivalent
Delivery platform
Live Online or In-person (Irvine, CA)
Course overview

An honors-level course for students who have demonstrated Novice High proficiency and are ready to move from isolated words and phrases to creating with the language. Through high-frequency thematic units and performance-based assessments aligned with national world language standards, students manage daily social dynamics: planning events, shopping, expressing personal aspirations, negotiating relationships, and understanding nuance in casual versus formal interactions.

Full year (1.0 credit) · $2,398
4 Korean 4 Honors Korean for Intermediate to Advanced Speakers 1.0 credit
Course Information
Textbooks
King Sejong Institute Practical Korean 4 (King Sejong Institute Foundation, 2023); Sejong Korean 4A (King Sejong Institute Foundation, 2022)
Proficiency level
Intermediate Mid → Intermediate High (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines)
Credits / instructional hours
1.0 high school credit · full academic year · approx. 150 instructional hours
Prerequisites
Korean 3 Honors equivalent
Delivery platform
Live Online or In-person (Irvine, CA)
Course overview

An honors-level advanced course for students ready to move from simple, predictable tasks to complex, paragraph-length communication: expressing abstract thoughts, defending opinions, analyzing authentic cultural texts, and resolving unexpected complications in spontaneous interactions. The course emphasizes the intersection of language and culture, including nuanced social etiquette, idioms, and cultural context on historical and social topics.

Full year (1.0 credit) · $2,398
Tuition

$2,398 per level for the full academic year: 1.0 credit and approximately 150 instructional hours. New cohorts begin every 8 to 10 weeks.

Credit or placement is granted at your school’s discretion. We provide the official Parchment transcript and supporting documentation for your counselor to review.

For heritage & experienced learners

Not sure which Korean level your student should take?

Most students should begin with Korean 1. Students who have completed Korean courses for academic credit at their middle or high school may continue into the appropriate next course, including Korean 3 or 4, based on their previous coursework and school records. Students whose prior Korean study was through a private or for-profit language institute must complete KAC’s placement assessment and submit the institute’s curriculum for review. Heritage learners and students with Korean experience but no formal academic coursework should either start in Korean 1A to improve reading and writing or complete the placement assessment before enrolling.

Request a placement review →
How credit courses work

A real Korean class, with a consistent weekly rhythm

Students attend scheduled live classes with a Korean instructor and classmates, not prerecorded videos or a self-paced app. Each course follows the same academic rhythm: two live classes a week, a weekly lab, ongoing assignments, and a final ACTFL-aligned project, with grades and progress documented for the official transcript.

Live on Zoom
2× a week + lab
A live online Korean class in session on Zoom with the Korean American Center
  • ✓Two live, instructor-led classes each week, on camera
  • ✓A weekly lab for guided practice and support
  • ✓A final ACTFL-aligned project each course
  • ✓Small group sections with students nationwide
Sample weekly rhythm
Live Class 12 hours
Live Class 22 hours
Weekly lab45–60 min
Independent practice/project1–2 hours
Instructor-led class and lab time:~5 hours / week
Total expected weekly commitment:~6–7 hours / week
Why families choose KAC for high school credit

KAC is different from online tutoring and generic language programs

✓

The only WASC-accredited Korean institute in the U.S.

Accreditation means educational quality, accountability, and alignment with U.S. school systems.

스

Official transcript and school documentation

KAC provides attendance records, grades, syllabus, course details, and an official transcript through Parchment for school credit or placement review.

한

Experts in Korean, not a generic language company

Designated by the South Korean government to teach Korean in the U.S. as a King Sejong Institute. KAC is fully focused on Korean language and culture, with curriculum, assessments, and teacher training built specifically for Korean learners.

🎓

ACTFL-aligned curriculum

Courses are built around nationally used proficiency standards, so students are assessed on what they can actually understand, say, read, and write in Korean, not just what grammar rules they've memorized.

문

Culture built into every level

Students learn Korean through culture, history, etiquette, media, food, and modern life, with projects that connect language to real-world use.

📱

Certified instructors, not gig tutors

Students learn from KAC-vetted, experienced U.S.-based educators trained to teach Korean as a foreign language, with ongoing professional development. KAC does not outsource to instructors overseas.

Recognized in the U.S. and in Korea

Credentials and outcomes that support your student’s future

A KAC education goes beyond a high school transcript, opening doors on both sides of the Pacific.

🏛

Backed by the Korean government

Delivered through the King Sejong Institute, established by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

📜

King Sejong Institute certificate

Recognized by Korean universities and employers, alongside your official U.S. transcript.

시

Proficiency exam pathways

Builds toward NEWL (recognized in the U.S.) and TOPIK/SKA (recognized in Korea).

🏆

CA State Seal of Biliteracy

Support toward the California State Seal of Biliteracy on the high school diploma.

📑

School credit & transcript

Documentation and an official Parchment transcript your counselor can use for credit or placement.

✈

Study-abroad opportunities

Unique study-abroad and cultural immersion experiences in Korea.

⭐ KAC is the only designated King Sejong Institute in the world that is also U.S. accredited. Our students can earn a Korea-recognized KSI certificate and a U.S.-accredited transcript. No other program can offer both.

Counselor & parent packet

Everything a counselor needs to evaluate credit: level and credit structure, attendance policy, make-up rules, transcript and Parchment details, and enrollment steps.

Download the packet (PDF) ↓

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I receive high-school credit?

Many districts grant credit or placement for accredited outside language study when a language isn’t offered at their school. We provide an official transcript through Parchment plus documentation for your counselor to review. Final approval is up to your school.

Does KAC offer the Global Seal of Biliteracy?

No. The Global Seal of Biliteracy is a privately issued certificate, not a government credential, accreditation, academic credit, or professional license. It is operated by Global Seal of Biliteracy, LLC. It was founded and sponsored by Avant Assessment, a company that sells  assessment tests. Students must qualify through their language assessment, and the seal primarily repackages the proficiency level already documented by that assessment.  It is not recognized by Korean colleges or employers. 

For this reason, KAC does not treat the Global Seal as a separate educational achievement or use it to market our Korean language programs.  We focus on what matters: whether students can actually understand, speak, read, and write Korean. The ability to use Korean is the most meaningful proof of Korean proficiency.

Students interested in California’s official State Seal of Biliteracy should contact their public high school or school district, as that is a separate state-administered recognition. 

Will my out-of-state school accept credit?

Many do when a language isn’t offered at the school. We provide the transcript and documentation your counselor needs.

Do you offer self-paced (asynchronous) or prerecorded Korean classes?

Not at this time. KAC classes are taught live because learning to communicate in Korean requires more than watching lessons and completing assignments independently. Students need regular opportunities to speak, listen, ask questions, interact with others, and receive immediate feedback on pronunciation and language use.

Recorded lessons can be helpful as a supplement, but they do not replace the active participation and consistent interaction needed to build real proficiency. Our live online classes provide the structure, accountability, and speaking practice students need to make meaningful progress. 

Do students need to take an outside proctored exam to receive course credit?

No. KAC does not outsource the decision about whether a student has successfully completed our course. We are experts in Korean language education.  We have the curriculum, qualified instructors, academic standards, and assessment systems necessary to evaluate our own students.

Students are assessed throughout the course through assignments, quizzes, oral and written performance tasks, projects, exams, participation, and demonstrated progress toward established learning outcomes. This sustained body of work provides a far more complete picture of a student’s learning than a single test administered by an outside organization.

Credit is not automatic. Students must meet class requirements, complete required coursework and assessments, and earn a passing grade. However, they do not need to pay for or travel elsewhere to take a third-party exam before KAC will recognize the work they completed with us.

We know what our students have been taught, we evaluate what they can do, and we stand behind our curriculum, our instructors, and our assessment process.

Can this help my teen with college readiness?

Absolutely. Our courses build proficiency that can support preparation for the NEWL Korean exam, whose scores may be considered for college placement or credit depending on the institution. 

What if my schedule conflicts?

Limited make-ups plus documented alternative tasks; attendance policy included in packet.

Do you serve homeschool/charter students?

Yes we do. 

Can I switch sections if my schedule changes?

We’ll do our best to accommodate changes early in the term, subject to seat availability.

My student is not Korean, will they fit in?

Yes. Our classes welcome students of every background, including complete beginners with no Korean at home.

How are the levels and credits structured?

We offer Korean 1 through Korean 4. Each level represents one full academic year and is divided into two semester courses: Part A and Part B.

Each course is worth 0.5 high school credit and includes 60–75 instructional hours through live classes and a weekly lab. Students who successfully complete both Part A and Part B earn 1.0 credit for the full level.

New cohorts may begin at different points throughout the year as space allows. Regardless of the start date, every student must complete the full course to earn credit and qualify for an official transcript.

How are transcripts issued?

Official transcripts are issued through Parchment, so you can send verified records directly to your school or district.

My student already speaks some Korean. Which level should they take?

Heritage learners and students who speak or understand some Korean but have not completed formal academic coursework may begin with Korean 1A to strengthen reading, writing, and grammar skills or complete a placement assessment before enrolling. 

Students who have completed Korean for academic credit at a middle or high school may continue into the appropriate next course, including Korean 2, 3, or 4, based on their transcripts, course records, and prior curriculum. 

Students whose previous Korean study was completed through a private or for-profit language institute must take KAC’s placement assessment and submit the institute’s curriculum or course materials for review.  

Does KAC enter into articulation agreements with schools or districts?

Yes. KAC welcomes opportunities to establish articulation agreements with schools and districts that want their students to complete Korean language coursework through KAC.  KAC is also open to discussing dedicated cohorts, institutional partnerships, and pre-negotiated program rates.  Please contact us at: [email protected]

Registration is open for the 2026–2027 academic year

Korean 1 through Korean 4 Honors is now open for registration. Review the pathway, choose a pace, and register.

Korean American Center

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

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