Korean Immersion Program
For those interested in taking your language learning journey to the next level, consider signing up for our Korean Immersion Program:
where you will spend 10 days in Korea engaging in an extensive language learning and cultural exchange program with native Korean speakers and a cohort of Korean learners, just like you!
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Travel
Travel to Korea to experience the organic language acquisition process (short and intensive) through Korean language and cultural immersion.
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Learn
Learn Korean the same way kids learn a new language: through playing and making friends! Alongside Korean native speakers, you will be sharing meals, playing games, watching TV shows, and hearing from guest speakers.
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Practice
Practice Korean through exploring Seoul, engaging in group discussions, and participating in guided language exchanges with Korean native speakers.
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Experience
Experience daily life in Korea through a host of activities ranging from cooking a traditional Korean meal to relaxing at a Korean spa to visiting a fortune teller! Participants will also discuss and vote on four field trips.
FAQs
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It takes place between October and November although I might add additional trips for different seasons in the future. The spots for the 2025 event got filled quickly and there is no spot available. If you want to be put on the waitlist for the 2026 trip, please email me at grow@spongemind.org
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A great deal of the daytime activities will take place at a traditional Korean house called 배렴가옥 in Bukchon Hanok Village, located in the heart of Seoul.
Evening activities will be held in various public places in Seoul, such as restaurants, cafes, party rooms, and on the street. There are also many day trips in the program.
Lodging, breakfast, and nightly group check-ins and reflections will be conducted at a nearby AirBnB house.
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There will be 10 Korean learners and 20+ Korean native speakers. The spots for the learners are first-come first-serve, and we have more native speakers than learners because they are local residents joining part-time.
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All activities and field trips will be decided through group discussions and voting. However, arrangements can also be made for individuals to still attend experiences that weren't selected by the group.
Options include:
A hiking trip in the mountain
A picnic at the Han River
Attending a concert or a professional baseball game
Visiting a historical place, a museum, or a temple
Volunteering at a farm, an animal shelter, a kindergarten, a nursing home, or an orphanage
Taking a traditional Korean instrument or dance lesson
Grocery shopping and navigating public transportation
Home dinner with a Korean family
Visit to a 찜질방 or public bathhouse
Sitting in a university class with a Korean college student
Working in a restaurant or bar
Visiting a fortuneteller
Going on a blind date
Receiving hair-styling or professional skin care services
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Simply contact me and let me know of your interest in the immersion program!
Testimonials
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"Some of my favorite memories from the program were eating together with Korean volunteers and learner participants, going to unique places with volunteers who had knowledge about that place - ie. seafood market, museum, hiking, and learning how to navigate Seoul through the streets, buses and subways... It was especially great to really get to know the Korean volunteers and spend time outside of structured activities with them. It's something that was only possible because of the way the program was structured, and I think that was a stroke of genius."
-Claire
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"We were able to share so many amazing cultural experiences and learning resources, so that even after returning home, I feel like I have a supportive community behind me. It was an incredibly well-organized program, especially for a first go, and it was obvious to me the amount of thoughtful preparation and hard work that went into the planning and execution of this event. If there were any difficulties during the program, Jonson was able to modify plans on the fly, and it was important to him that everyone was looked after, teaching us all through his actions the meaning of Korean 정"
-Terry
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"What I valued most was how people opened up about their lives, you could sense a glimpse of their hopes, passions, struggles, fears… You could feel that there are many things that we have in common but also cultural aspects that are very different. The first day I had no idea that I would be able to communicate with the Koreans at all. Somehow it worked in the end. People reached out to me after the workshop. I hope we stay in contact.”
-Ria
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"I am very glad I was part of this. I gained a lot out of it. It was hugely valuable to share a house together and talk amongst ourselves as Korean learners about what means of learning worked for us."
-Jonathan
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“I had an amazing time and met wonderful people. I loved discussing how everyone else was learning and they helped me set new goals.”
-Dian
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“Firstly, I would like to thank all the participants for the wonderful atmosphere during this exciting journey into the world of Korean culture and language! I felt very comfortable right from the start. Like part of a big family that stands behind you and offers support. We all were a great team! Before the start of the program I had many concerns: whether my weak English would be sufficient, whether I would be able to follow the conversation, but my fears proved to be unfounded, because I had the feeling that I was being listened to, and incidentally I followed Jonson's advice: smile if you don't understand or just take what you can with you... I left Korea with a warmth in my heart, for which I am very grateful to you all.”
-Tatiana
