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High School Korean Classes for Credit

Home / KOREAN LANGUAGE PROGRAM / High School Korean Classes for Credit
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 2026–2027 academic year is now open for Korean 1A and 1 A&B combined. Remainder to classes will open in the coming days.
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 is open now for Korean 1A and the 1A&B bundle. Remaining courses open in the coming days.

Schedule options

Korean 1A can choose between Standard Pace or Accelerated Fast Track options, live online or in-person in Irvine, CA.

A Complete Academic Course

Approximately 75 hours of live instruction and academic support, structured coursework, assessments, teacher feedback, and an official transcript documenting 0.5 credit. Register for the full year (1.0 credit) -save $400.

Levels & credit

A clear proficiency pathway, Korean 1 through 4

Each course includes approximately 75 contact hours through live classes, lab, assignments, and instructor-led activities. Each 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. Each course is documented on the KAC transcript as 0.5 credit. A full A/B sequence is documented as 1.0 credit. You student's school decides on how the credit is accepted or applied. Official transcripts are issued through Parchment.

1A Korean 1A No Experience Required 0.5 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 Mid (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines)
Credits / instructional hours
0.5 high school credit · 75 contact hours
Prerequisites
None
Delivery platform
Live Online or In-person (Irvine, CA)
Course overview
This course is designed for students with little or no prior experience in the Korean language. Through communication-focused instruction, comprehensible input, cultural exploration, and project-based learning, students will develop the confidence to use Korean in meaningful contexts. By the conclusion of the course, students will be able to read and write using Hangul, exchange greetings, ask and answer basic questions, and engage in simple everyday interactions.

Standard Pace = 20 weeks with classes starting the week of September 14, 2026.

Fast Track = 14 weeks with classes starting August 18, 2026



Korean 1A only (0.5 credit)
Full year, 1A & 1B (1.0 credit) · Save $400
1B Korean 1B Korean for Beginners 0.5 credit
Course Information
Textbooks
King Sejong Institute Practical Korean 1 (King Sejong Institute Foundation, 2023)
Proficiency level
Novice Mid → Novice High (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines)
Credits / contact hours
0.5 high school credit · approx. 75 contact hours
Prerequisites
Korean 1A
Delivery platform
Live Online or In-person (Irvine, CA)
Course overview

This course expands upon the foundation established in Korean 1, Part A, focusing on more detailed sentence structures, polite and formal speech patterns, sequential actions, descriptions of experiences, planning, expressing reasons, and discussing past and future events. Students will develop stronger control of grammar, verb endings, and real-world communicative functions such as giving directions, scheduling appointments, and discussing personal progress.

Coming Soon →
2A Korean 2A Korean for Advanced Beginners 0.5 credit
Course Information
Textbooks
King Sejong Institute Practical Korean 1 (King Sejong Institute Foundation, 2023); King Sejong Institute Practical Korean 2 (King Sejong Institute Foundation, 2023)
Proficiency level
Novice High (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines)
Credits / contact hours
0.5 high school credit · approx. 75 contact hours
Prerequisites
Korean 1 A/B
Delivery platform
Live Online or In-person (Irvine, CA)
Course overview

This dynamic, beginner course introduces high school students to essential Korean communication patterns and grammatical structures. Learners will handle uncomplicated communicative tasks in straightforward social situations, understanding main ideas from authentic, predictable texts and audio while initiating, sustaining, and closing brief conversations. Utilizing foundational grammar and culturally appropriate honorifics, students will express daily routines, intentions, and polite suggestions through cohesive paragraphs and media projects.

KOREAN 2A ONLY (0.5 CREDIT)
FULL YEAR, 2A & 2B (1.0 CREDIT) · SAVE $400
2B Korean 2B Korean for Rising Intermediate Speakers 0.5 credit
Course Information
Textbooks
King Sejong Institute Practical Korean 2 (King Sejong Institute Foundation, 2023)
Proficiency level
Novice High → Intermediate Low (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines)
Credits / contact hours
0.5 high school credit · approx. 75 contact hours
Prerequisites
Korean 2A
Delivery platform
Live Online or In-person (Irvine, CA)
Course overview

This course introduces high school students to essential Korean communication patterns and grammatical structures, elevating learners from Novice-High toward Intermediate-Low proficiency. Focusing on contexts like travel, weather, and sequence of events, students master everyday social interactions with details in their spoken and written content. Guided by the ACTFL 5Cs, learners balance foundational language acquisition with deep cultural reflection to confidently navigate real-world modern and traditional Korean life.

Registration coming coon→
3A Korean 3A Korean for Low-Intermediate Speakers 0.5 credit
Course Information
Textbooks
King Sejong Institute Practical Korean 3 (King Sejong Institute Foundation, 2023)
Proficiency level
Intermediate Low (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines)
Credits / contact hours
0.5 high school credit · approx. 75 contact hours
Prerequisites
Korean 2 A/B
Delivery platform
Live Online or In-person (Irvine, CA)
Course overview

This course is designed for high school students who have successfully demonstrated a Novice-High proficiency in Korean and are ready to transition from communicating in isolated words and phrases to creating with the language. With formative and cumulative assessments where student progress will be measured using performance-based assessments aligned with national world language standards, this course systematically guides students through high-frequency thematic units that bridge linguistic knowledge with practical application.

Registration coming soon →
3B Korean 3B Korean for Mid-Intermediate Speakers 0.5 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 / contact hours
0.5 high school credit · approx. 75 contact hours
Prerequisites
Korean 3A
Delivery platform
Live Online or In-person (Irvine, CA)
Course overview

This intermediate course enhances high school students’ communicative fluency in Korean. Students transition from basic survival phrases to language required in managing daily social dynamics. The curriculum emphasizes active language production, covering real-world scenarios such as planning events, shopping, expressing personal aspirations, negotiating interpersonal relationships, and understanding nuance in casual versus formal social interactions.

Registration coming soon →
4A Korean 4A Korean for Intermediate Speakers 0.5 credit
Course Information
Textbooks
King Sejong Institute Practical Korean 4 (King Sejong Institute Foundation, 2023)
Proficiency level
Intermediate Mid (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines)
Credits / contact hours
0.5 high school credit · approx. 75 contact hours
Prerequisites
Korean 3 A/B
Delivery platform
Live Online or In-person (Irvine, CA)
Course overview

Korean 4A is designed for high school students who have successfully demonstrated an Intermediate-Low proficiency and are ready to solidify their language skills at the Intermediate-Mid level. This course transitions students from executing simple, predictable tasks to navigating more complex, paragraph-length communication. Students will move beyond basic survival language to express abstract thoughts, defend opinions, and resolve unexpected complications in everyday scenarios. The course heavily emphasizes the intersection of language and culture, ensuring students understand nuanced social etiquette, idioms, and cultural contexts vital for authentic communication.

Registration coming soon →
4B Korean 4B Korean for High-Intermediate Speakers 0.5 credit
Course Information
Textbooks
Sejong Korean 4A (King Sejong Institute Foundation, 2022)
Proficiency level
Intermediate Mid → Intermediate High (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines)
Credits / contact hours
0.5 high school credit · approx. 75 contact hours
Prerequisites
Korean 4A
Delivery platform
Live Online or In-person (Irvine, CA)
Course overview

This advanced Korean course is designed for heritage and non-heritage students ready to bridge the gap from everyday conversation to abstract, nuanced communication. Moving beyond simple paragraph-level speech, students will learn to navigate spontaneous interactions, analyze authentic cultural texts, and express complex opinions on historical and social topics, accelerating their proficiency from an Intermediate to an Advanced level. The curriculum emphasizes active language production, covering real-world scenarios such as planning events, shopping, expressing personal aspirations, negotiating interpersonal relationships, and understanding nuance in casual versus formal social interactions.

Registration coming soon →

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).

🏆

Seal of Biliteracy

Support toward the 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.

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. 

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.  

Registration is open for the 2026–2027 academic year

Korean 1A and the 1A&B bundle are open now, with remaining courses opening in the coming days. 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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