The non-Korean heritage language learners at a four-year state university in the Midwest are excited to learn the Korean language and culture. All of them came to learn the language due to their interest in Korean popular culture, and they will come to their very first Korean language class with abundant knowledge in the language and culture due to their active use of various digital technologies such as videos and website from the Internet, social media and mobile applications. Due to the easy accessibility to various resources from the advanced digital technologies, many students are exposed to the language learning opportunities, yet, it is easily assumed that the non-heritage students have lesser language exposure or knowledge in the Korean language than the Korean heritage students. Through interviews with four students from the Korean language classes, we found that these students use various internet websites and mobile applications and watch videos on YouTube to learn the language. Second, some create their online affinity spaces while learning the language on their own and make transnational and international friends. Lastly, they constantly used their social media or instant messaging application to communicate with their classmates and friends and practice the language. These students shared that the Korean language class was a place for them to breathe in their busy college life because it was something that they wanted to learn and that they will always seek for more opportunities to practice and learn the language.
