Program Overview

Fall at SeoulTech brings not only golden leaves across the campus but also an exceptional opportunity to improve English conversation skills without interrupting regular studies, thanks to SeoulTech’s IEP General English Conversation courses. The program is intensely practical, offering small-group conversation classes led by qualified native-speaking professors. It is designed for students preparing for study abroad programs and internships, as well as students and community members who want to build confidence in speaking English in everyday life.

For the fall semester, several convenient tracks are available: Session 3 runs from November 3 to November 25 (registration: October 15–29); and the final fall session runs from December 2 to December 23 (registration: November 15–30). All classes take place from 19:00 to 20:15, allowing students to balance the program with their regular academic schedules. The standard tuition fee is 120,000 KRW per course (105,000 KRW for the shorter October session), but the university offers several discounts: SeoulTech undergraduate students, faculty, staff, and their family members can receive discounts of 10%-20%, while multi-course and family discounts can reduce the cost by up to 30%.

Interview

To get a behind-the-scenes look at how these classes operate and why they generate so much enthusiasm among students, The SeoulTech sat down with program instructor Professor Crawford.

Q. Could you briefly introduce your teaching approach and the main goals of this class?

A. Sure! For me, the main goal of the class is to provide students with opportunities to practice casual conversation about a variety of topics. My approach is therefore student-centered. I try not to lecture too much. Also, I do not spend a lot of class time giving long explanations of things like grammar and vocabulary. If we do explore grammar or vocabulary items, I try to incorporate them into interactive activities. In short, I try to get out of the way.

Q. What has been your overall impression or the most memorable part of teaching this course?

A. For me, being part of a class where students, staff, and members of the community interact is truly fascinating. IEP classes are unique in that they often involve intergenerational communication. I think this is important because it more closely reflects the real world outside the classroom.

Q. In your opinion, what is the most important factor in improving English speaking skills?

A. I’m sorry if this is a boring answer, but I have to say it usually depends on the person. I think the common denominator for most people is—also boring—practice.

Q. What kind of students would you recommend this class to, and why?

A. I would recommend the IEP classes to anyone who wants to improve their English conversation skills. I’ve found that these classes are different from our daytime classes. The focus isn’t on achieving high scores on exams or class projects, so it’s a great opportunity to stretch a little and take risks in English.



While Professor Crawford shared an instructor’s perspective, what is it really like inside the classroom? Jaeho Lim, a reporter for The SeoulTech, shares his experience from the summer of 2026.

Reporter’s Review

Serving as a student reporter for The SeoulTech gradually boosted my confidence in English writing, but speaking English remained a completely different challenge. Realizing I needed an environment that pushed me to practice real-time conversation, I learned about the IEP courses through the Office of International Affairs’ SeoulTech campus app and the website. With a student discount for undergraduates, classes taught by native-speaking professors, placement based on level tests, and convenient evening hours, enrolling was an easy decision. Driven by my goal of improving my speaking skills, I joined the IEP course in July 2026.

On the first day, a one-on-one level test with a professor gave me an introduction to the teaching style through casual conversation and topic-based discussions. After being placed in the advanced section, I began attending classes. The diversity of my classmates turned out to be an unexpected highlight. Conversing in every session with people from various walks of life—fellow SeoulTech undergraduates, elementary school teachers, working professionals, and prospective exchange students—allowed me to share perspectives and experiences beyond mere language practice.

Each 75-minute session revolved around open discussions using handouts on different topics each day. At first, my thoughts struggled to find their way into spoken words, but the supportive atmosphere where mistakes were seen as part of the learning process helped me let go of the pressure. Once I stopped stressing over producing perfect sentences, it was easier to speak more smoothly and freely. The professor’s engaging approach of asking thought-provoking questions, combined with my classmates’ helpful participation, provided constant encouragement.

The biggest takeaway from this course was that improving English speaking skills requires actively creating opportunities to speak. Of course, the program has a few limitations. Because it is a group class, IEP offers few opportunities for one-on-one feedback. In addition, since most conversations are with other Korean students of similar proficiency, it can be difficult to know if my phrasing is entirely accurate.

Nevertheless, the IEP program was a meaningful experience that went beyond simply improving my English speaking skills—it helped me overcome my fear of speaking and sparked a fresh drive to take on new challenges. For any member of SeoulTech community looking to overcome hesitation and speak more confidently in English, I recommend giving this program a try.

*More information on page 8

Reporters

Jaeho Lim

limjaeho4119@seoultech.ac.kr

Korshunova Anna

annakor@g.seoultech.ac.kr

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• e-mail : limjaeho4119@seoultech.ac.kr

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