Korean Job Discussion Forums

[itiswhatitis]

My Korean is fairly basic and I've taken some classes.

Has anyone ever learned Korean without going to language classes? Of course I would use a program like Rosetta Stone at home and I would be creative with creating study materials for myself. I would also meet with a Korean study partner from time to time for conversation.

I'm able to dicipline myself to study so that isn't a problem. I just wonder if attending classes is really necessary.

Thanks!!!

[AbbeFaria]

You can find the books and study on your own, sure. The only problem I had with that is there was no one to reliably ask questions to. You can use Korean friends occasionally but I never wanted to become a pain in the ass with it. Korean grammar is very tricky and having someone to go over it with you is invaluable. Plus there's the accent to sort out.

You can do it but I found it to be much slower. If you're serious then it's worth it to either find a private tutor that has experience or go to a class.

[jammo]

This question is too vague to answer. Do you have an actual study plan?
What is your level?

Maybe if you give us more info we can give some actual advice


EDIT*** Delete Rosetta Stone

[young_clinton]

Before Rosetta Stone I would use Pimsleur Comprehensive I and II which for a reasonable fee can be legally downloaded online. This depends upon the level of Korean you already know. Pimsleur is really good as an introduction to Korean grammer as well as providing some vocabulary also. Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone Level I, II, and III tend to overlap just a little bit, but Rosetta Stone is a lot more comprehensive than what Pimsleur deals with. Rosetta Stone deals with more complex grammer patterns.

Before spending the money on Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone you may want to look online first. There is a huge amount of Korean language lessons online that are free. Another thing I have been told that much of the language they use in Rosetta Stone is not necessarily spoken or used by Koreans. The Korean language in South Korea is rapidly transforming for various reasons. It's transforming so fast that North Koreans have a real hard time following what South Koreans speak. It's close to being a seperate language.

How and where to learn Korean has been discussed a huge amount of time on the Korean forums fairly recently. Due a search for it on the Korean forums and you will get lots of ideas on where to go, either universities or online, to learn Korean.

[jonpurdy]

If you are disciplined enough to study multiple times per week and brave enough to use everything you've learned all the time then it's certainly possible. Class does give you the opportunity to immediately practice what you've learned with immediate verbal feedback.

[Kepler]

It has been done. There was a guy that lived in a goshiwon for three months and studied Korean for fifteen hours a day.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=2312657

[some waygug-in]

[sirius black]

I would say yes. But it depends on what you mean by classes. You'd have to learn the alphabet somewhere. You can't pick that up from basic conversation.

But its possible to learn the spoken language without classes, same as how millions of immigrants learn english in America for the last couople hundred years without going to classes. They assimilate and make an effort.

Also, lots depends on your learning style. Some people grasp languages easily. They hear it and can discern the nuances. Others need a more formal approach, so I would say it depends on your learning style as well.

Anyway, generally speaking, the answer is yes. It would probably require a certain amount immersion, close to full immersion into the culture and people.

[schwa]

I personally know a number of foreigners who have become nearly fluent without formal classes. (I'm not one of them.) In every case, they had a Korean SO they could constantly question about the language. Without that, or a classroom equivalent, Korean is a tough hill.

[Unibrow]

I generally study for a few hours every day and see a private tutor every week. I practice with my friends too learning small words and phrases but i use the tutor to help me with grammar and stuff, i dont want to bother with that when im out drinking

[mithridates]

[Psilo]

I've been using Pimsleur's Korean I and II and it's been awesome and really fun all the way through so far. I just finished the first 30 lessons which is 15 hours worth and the complete Korean I pack, so now I'm moving onto Korean II and I can't wait. I can hold a conversation with Koreans who don't speak much english as long as they don't talk overly fast. It has taught me everything from asking directions to ordering everything at a restaurant or bar among many other things, all within 15 hours.

I recommend Pimsleur over Rosetta Stone bigtime... there isn't even a comparison, Pimsleur is what you want and what everyone should use before even having a thought about the lackluster program that is Rosetta.

[young_clinton]

[young_clinton]

[some waygug-in]