School of Foreign Languages and Cultures

An introduction to Mandarin for complete beginners, built on Hanyu Pinyin. Students learn the initials, finals and four tones, begin reading and writing basic characters with correct stroke order, and practise introducing themselves, talking about family, dates and numbers in simple everyday conversation.

A variant of the basic Mandarin course with extra time on pronunciation. Students work through Pinyin spelling rules, tone changes and the full set of initials and finals before moving on to first characters, numbers and simple self-introductions.

Pitched at HSK Levels 1 and 2, this course develops all four skills across fifteen lessons. Students write and type Chinese characters step by step, practise conversation with classmates, and build a vocabulary of around 400 words covering daily routines, nationalities, jobs, time, places, food and money.

Focuses on the two foundations of Mandarin: the sound system and the writing system. Students master Pinyin and tones, learn the basic strokes, stroke order and the origins of common characters, and practise entering Chinese with an input method.

For learners who have completed the elementary level. Over sixteen weeks students expand their vocabulary and grammar, read longer passages, and hold more natural conversations about work, travel, opinions and plans.

Preparation for the HSK Level 1 examination. Students cover the 150 required words, the core sentence patterns and the listening and reading question formats, while building the confidence to handle very simple everyday exchanges.

Designed for lower-intermediate learners with a 150-word foundation. Across fifteen lessons students expand their vocabulary to 300 characters, master structures such as the shi...de emphasis pattern and result complements, refine pronunciation and character writing, and prepare for the HSK Level 2 exam alongside everyday conversation and cultural insight.

A first-level Chinese language course following the Hanyu textbook series. Students learn Pinyin, tones and basic characters, and practise greetings, introductions and simple daily conversations.

A short, intensive introduction to Mandarin sounds and first words. Students concentrate on Pinyin, tones and pronunciation drills before learning simple greetings, numbers and self-introductions.

Prepares candidates for the EPS-TOPIK, the Korean language test used for the Employment Permit System. Students work through the listening and reading formats, workplace vocabulary and the safety and daily-life topics the exam draws on.

Builds reading fluency in Korean for learners who already know Hangul. Students read short texts, dialogues and simple articles, expand their vocabulary and practise understanding sentence structure in context.

An intensive six-week course for complete beginners with little or no exposure to Korean. Using a curriculum tailored by the instructor, students establish a solid foundation in Hangul, core grammar and essential daily vocabulary such as family, time and dates through live sessions and classroom assignments.

A conversation-first course organised around forty everyday dialogues: introductions, shopping, dating, work, restaurants, health and transport. Each week introduces the grammar patterns needed to speak naturally in those situations.

A systematic introduction to Korean grammar for beginners: particles, verb conjugation, tenses, honorific endings and the connectors needed to build simple sentences accurately.

Continues from basic grammar into the structures used for reasons, conditions, intentions, obligation and indirect speech, so that learners can express more complex ideas in Korean.

Prepares students for TOPIK I, the beginner level of the Test of Proficiency in Korean. The course covers the listening and reading question types, essential vocabulary and grammar for levels 1 and 2, and timed practice.

Prepares intermediate and advanced learners for TOPIK II. Students practise the listening, reading and writing sections, including essay writing, with strategies for each question type and timed mock tests.

Following the Yonsei 1-1 curriculum, this course guides learners through Hangul consonants and vowels, foundational vocabulary, numbers and grammar. Students practise self-introductions and build real-time communication confidence in interactive live sessions.

Advances students from upper elementary to early intermediate proficiency. Students discuss family, health, phone etiquette, travel, weather and hobbies, and learn honorific forms, sequential connectors, future intentions and obligation markers through role plays and short essays.

A first course in German: greetings and self-introduction, everyday vocabulary, telling the time, correct pronunciation, articles and gender, and a wide vocabulary for family and free-time activities.

The self-paced version of the basic German course, delivered on SUM's learning platform with no class size limit. Learners work through recorded lessons on greetings, daily vocabulary, time, pronunciation and articles at their own speed.

The first half of the A1 level of the Common European Framework. Students learn to introduce themselves, ask and answer simple questions about personal details, and understand familiar everyday expressions.

The second half of A1. Students extend their vocabulary and grammar to talk about daily routines, shopping, food, places and simple past events, completing the A1 level.

An introduction to French, a Romance language spoken by more than 320 million people and an official language of the United Nations. Students learn pronunciation, greetings, numbers and the first structures needed for simple conversation.

The self-paced version of basic French on SUM's learning platform, open to unlimited learners. Recorded lessons cover pronunciation, greetings, numbers and the first conversational structures.

The first half of the A1 level, delivered online at the learner's own pace. Covers introducing oneself, personal details, everyday expressions and simple questions and answers.

The first half of A1 in live classes. Students learn to introduce themselves, give personal details, understand familiar expressions and hold very simple exchanges in French.

The second half of A1. Students talk about daily life, shopping, directions and simple past events, and complete the vocabulary and grammar of the A1 level.

An introduction to Japanese for beginners: the hiragana and katakana scripts, basic pronunciation, greetings, numbers and the first sentence patterns for introducing oneself.

Builds on the basic course with more vocabulary, verb forms and particles, so learners can describe daily routines, make requests and hold short everyday conversations.

A seventeen-week preparation course for the N5 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test: the required kanji, vocabulary and grammar, plus practice with the listening and reading formats.

Combines a beginner's course with N5 exam preparation. Students start from the scripts and basic grammar and work steadily towards the vocabulary, kanji and question types of the N5 test.

A speaking-focused course for beginners that builds confidence in everyday Japanese conversation: greetings, shopping, directions, ordering food and talking about oneself, with plenty of pair practice.

Prepares candidates for the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese, used for work in Japan. Students cover the test's script and vocabulary, conversation and expression, listening and reading sections with practical workplace language.

Preparation for the N4 level of the JLPT: the expanded kanji list, vocabulary and grammar beyond N5, and strategies for the listening and reading sections.

A short, intensive practice course for learners about to sit the N4 exam: full-length mock tests, timing strategies and targeted review of weak areas.

English for the workplace: emails, reports, meetings, presentations and interviews. Students practise the vocabulary and register of professional communication and build confidence in using English at work.

Reading, writing, listening and speaking skills for study in English-medium programmes: understanding lectures and academic texts, taking notes, writing structured paragraphs and essays, and taking part in seminars.

Explores the craft of telling stories in English: character, setting, voice and structure. Students write short pieces each week, share them in workshops and learn to revise their own work.

How to write in a suitably academic manner. Students practise the elements of the writing process and the conventions of style, structure and referencing needed for essays, reports and other academic texts.

A general English course for beginners covering the four skills. Students learn everyday vocabulary, basic grammar and simple conversations about themselves, their families and daily life.

A twelve-week general English course at elementary level. Students develop grammar, vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading and writing through everyday topics and regular practice.

A twelve-week course for learners moving beyond the basics. Students build the grammar and vocabulary to talk about experiences, plans and opinions, and read and write longer texts.

An eight-week intermediate course that strengthens all four skills. Students work with authentic texts and recordings, discuss a range of topics and write with greater accuracy and range.

A speaking club rather than a lecture course. Students meet weekly to talk about chosen topics, play language games and practise fluency in a relaxed, supportive group.

English for business settings: meetings, negotiations, phone calls, presentations and written correspondence, with the vocabulary and etiquette of professional communication.

A sixteen-week course that concentrates on the two skills learners find hardest. Students work on listening to natural speech, pronunciation, fluency and confidence in extended speaking.

A six-week speaking course for beginners. Students practise greetings, introductions, asking and answering questions and short everyday conversations with a focus on confidence.

Develops reading strategies over fifteen weeks: skimming, scanning, guessing meaning from context, understanding structure and reading longer texts with better comprehension and speed.

An introductory Thai course for complete beginners. Students learn the consonants, vowels and tones, build everyday vocabulary and sentence patterns, and practise introductions, shopping, ordering food and asking for directions.

The first Thai course for beginners, using a Thai primary-school reader as the core material. Students learn the alphabet and tones, read and write simple words and sentences, and hold short everyday conversations.

An introduction to Spanish at the start of the A1 level: pronunciation, greetings, numbers, personal details and the first verb forms needed for simple conversation.

The second half of Spanish A1. Students extend their vocabulary and grammar to daily routines, likes and dislikes, shopping and simple descriptions of people and places.

A self-paced introduction to Spanish on SUM's learning platform: pronunciation, greetings, numbers and basic sentence patterns, with short recorded lessons and exercises.

Covers the fundamental knowledge of the main components of the IELTS test. Students learn basic skills and techniques for reading, listening, speaking and writing, build a foundation approach to the exam and gain the confidence to move on to advanced preparation.

Rigorous training for those planning to take the IELTS test within a few months. The course offers the advanced skills and techniques needed for higher band scores, with intensive practice and feedback from the instructors in all four components.

A hybrid course combining video lessons and live sessions to build listening, reading, writing and speaking skills for IELTS. With strategies, practice, feedback and regular mock tests, students gain exam readiness progressively over the term.

Builds academic English skills while introducing the structure, expectations and strategies of the TOEFL iBT. Reading, listening, speaking, writing, vocabulary, grammar and note-taking are integrated every week, moving from format and core skills to timed, strategy-focused practice.

For students preparing to take the TOEFL iBT, covering all four parts of the test: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Experienced instructors deliver the test structure together with content, strategies and guidelines throughout the course.

A hybrid GRE course combining recorded lectures on the learning platform with live sessions. Students learn the fundamental concepts and strategies for the analytical writing, verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections in weekly modules.

Provides an overall understanding of how the Duolingo English Test works and how to secure a strong score. Students learn the test structure, question types and strategies, with study guidelines and hands-on monitoring of their assignments and in-class activities.

Admission preparation for undergraduates applying to international universities and colleges: collecting scholarship information, writing a personal statement and admission essay, preparing for interviews, and building a network in the scholarship community.

The learning-platform version of Pre-College Preparation, combining recorded lessons with seminars. Students learn how to research scholarships, write admission essays, prepare for interviews and plan their college and major choices.

Admission preparation for postgraduates applying abroad: scholarship research, personal statements and essays, interview preparation, networking and career planning, with seminars on studying in the UK, US, Australia, Japan and Thailand.

Introduces the elements and conventions of academic writing: paragraph and essay structure, organisational patterns, varied sentence structures and appropriate vocabulary, with hands-on practice for short papers, longer essays and reports.

How to write research reports and papers at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Students learn to construct an effective proposal, choose a topic, write a literature review, cite sources in APA style, design a methodology and questionnaire, avoid plagiarism and present a final paper.