The King Sejong Institute Foundation (KSIF) on March 21 released two Korean-language textbooks for seasonal foreign workers in agriculture and fisheries. On the left is Easy Korean for Agricultural Workers and on the right Easy Korean for Fisheries Workers. (KSIF)

By Margareth Theresia

Seasonal foreign laborers can more easily and conveniently improve their Korean-language skills needed not just for daily life, but also working in agriculture and fisheries.

The King Sejong Institute Foundation (KSIF) on March 21 released the Korean-language textbooks Easy Korean for Agricultural Workers and Easy Korean for Fisheries Workers.

Both books can help such laborers overcome difficulties due to lack of knowledge of basic expressions in Korean. Managers in agriculture and fisheries can also raise productivity and efficiency through smoother communication with their workers.

The textbooks focus on vocabulary and expressions that such staff can immediately use daily or while working at a farm or a fishery given their short stays in the country.

Also included are supplemental resources like lists of vocabulary and expressions and audio materials that allow learners to practice Korean anytime and anywhere.

The textbooks come in six languages: English, Vietnamese, Russian, Mongolian, Uzbek and Kyrgyz.

The books and the supplemental resources can be downloaded for free on King Sejong Institute's website: https://nuri.iksi.or.kr/.

"We're pleased to release learning materials that will help seasonal workers overcome the language and cultural barriers they face when entering the country and assist their settlement here," KSIF President Lee Hai-young said. "We will keep assessing demand for Korean-language education and provide a variety of related content useful for learners."

margareth@korea.kr