Integrating Service-Learning in Korean Language Education: Three Case Studies

This study reports three pilot implementations of Community-Based Language Learning (CBLL) in advanced Korean language education at the University of Toronto between 2023 and 2025. The cases were designed to examine the feasibility and pedagogical value of integrating community-connected experiential learning into advanced-level curricula. The first case involved a student serving as a teaching assistant (TA) in a credit-bearing high school Korean language course. The second case examined three university students who worked as TAs in an intensive summer Korean language camp for secondary school learners, where they designed instructional materials and led tutorial sessions. The third case explored a remote, project-based collaboration with the Toronto office of the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), where a student produced a professional research report on the Canadian media industry entirely in Korean. Drawing on instructor observations and student reflection surveys, this study analyzes learning outcomes, affective factors, and implementation challenges across the three cases. Findings indicate that CBLL participation fostered pedagogical language use, intercultural awareness, and professional communication skills, as well as increased learner confidence, while also revealing challenges related to student anxiety, assessment design, and coordination of reciprocal community partnerships. The results demonstrate the feasibility of CBLL in advanced Korean programs.