Taylor ISD Advances Effort to Add Korean as a Second Language

TAYLOR, Texas (TexasN) — As the Taylor Independent School District (ISD), located north of Austin, moves toward formally introducing Korean as a second foreign language, a two-day educational and cultural exchange between Korean and American students has drawn strong interest and momentum.

Ten students from Daeyeong High School in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, visited Taylor ISD on January 28–29, accompanied by Vice Principal Hee-Kyung Park and teacher Ji-Eun Kwon. The all-boys, STEM-focused high school is known for its emphasis on global education and international outreach.

During the visit, the students participated in class observations, student shadowing, and cultural exchange activities with peers at elementary and high schools across the district.

“Korean Is a Language of the Region’s Future”

Taylor ISD officials say the initiative reflects rapid economic and demographic changes in Williamson County, where multiple South Korean companies have made significant investments in recent years.

Jennifer Patschke, Chief of Human Resources and Student Supports for Taylor Independent School District, said the district sees Korean language education as a practical step in preparing students for future careers.

“With major South Korean corporations investing in our area, the regional workforce and community are changing quickly,” Patschke said. “Offering Korean language instruction is a realistic and forward-looking way to prepare our students for what their future may look like.”

She explained that the district is considering offering Korean I and II as formal high school foreign language courses, while also introducing conversational and cultural exposure programs at the elementary level.

“This visit clearly showed us the level of interest among our students,” Patschke added. “It helped move the conversation about adding Korean language courses to the next stage.”

Authentic American High School Experience

On the first day of the visit, the Daeyeong High School students were welcomed at Taylor High School, where they joined regular classes through a student “buddy” and class-shadowing program, toured Career and Technical Education (CTE) facilities, and participated in extracurricular activities.

The Korean students also performed a K-pop dance, which drew enthusiastic responses from Taylor High students. During lunch, they shared an authentic American cafeteria experience with their peers and attended a presentation highlighting the relationship between the local economy and the semiconductor industry.

On the second day, the group visited Main Street Elementary School and Legacy Early College High School, where they presented Korean culture, demonstrated Taekwondo, introduced basic Korean greetings, and took part in a robotics showcase.

Students encountering Korean language and culture for the first time showed strong curiosity and engagement, asking questions and eagerly participating in interactive sessions.

Growing Support Through Community Partnerships

The exchange was supported by the Foundation for Korean Language and Culture in the USA, Texas Chapter. Gil Ok-Bin, Texas chapter director, said the visit marked the first official exchange between the two schools.

“This program provided Korean students with firsthand exposure to the U.S. education system while allowing American students to engage directly with Korean peers,” Gil said. “It was a meaningful step toward mutual understanding and long-term educational cooperation.”

Gil added that the foundation will continue working to expand Korean language programs across Central Texas until more public schools adopt Korean as part of their formal curriculum.

Vice Principal Park of Daeyeong High School emphasized the broader educational value of the exchange.

“We hoped this visit would go beyond a simple overseas experience,” Park said. “By engaging with a different culture, our students can learn respect, empathy, and global awareness. At the same time, we hope Taylor students develop interest in Korea and the Korean language.”

She added, “We want our students to grow into global citizens who proudly serve as informal ambassadors for Korea wherever they go.”

Taylor ISD officials say discussions are underway to formally review the addition of Korean language courses, pending curriculum sequencing and school board approval. Educators on both sides expressed optimism that the exchange could serve as a model for expanding Korean language education within U.S. public schools.