Korean Job Discussion Forums

[World Traveler]

If one were to read recruiting websites, corny travel guide books, and information written by Korean nationals, one would get the impression Korean is an extremely easy language to learn. This is not true at all. The opportunity cost for learning Korean is HUGE, so massive in fact that I would say UNLESS you are married to a Korean (or plan on doing so), the cost is simply not worth it. Learning Korean takes THOUSANDS of hours; 3-4 European languages could be learned in the amount of time it takes to learn just Korean.

What I am saying about Korean being one of the hardest (if not the hardest) languages in the world for an English speaker to learn is fact, not opinion. The Foreign Language Institute categorizes languages according to difficulty. They teach more than 70 languages total, and of these, they consider Korean to be the most difficult.

http://fsitraining.state.gov/training/Language%20Continuum.pdf

Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are in the same category for 2,200 classroom hours, but there is an asterisk next to Korean, indicating it is the most difficult in this category. Languages like Russian and Vietnamese require 1,100 hours, and languages like Spanish and Portuguese 575-600 hours. In order to learn the language in this amount of time, however, a lot of studying outside of class is required- it is a full time job...plus to be even accepted into the program, one must score high on a language aptitude test.

This dude is considered the most advanced language learner of any living person on earth:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oudgdh6tl00

All he does is study (and teach) languages all day long, and this has been the case his entire adult life. (A newspaper wrote he is fluent in 50 languages, and has studied 180.) Here is an interesting quote from him: "I have studied scores of languages, and Korean is unquestionably the most difficult one I have ever encountered."

For a larger sample size, check out this poll:

http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7587&TPN=17

The general consensus on the how-to-learn-any-language.com forums (I read that forum a lot) is Korean is the toughest language out there. If you don't believe me, make an account on there and try to contest that.

Compare the lifers living in Japan and China to the lifers in Korea. The lifers (and expats in general) in Japan and China speak the local language much better than the lifers in Korea. Why is this? A: Korean is a darn hard language to learn. What makes Korean so much harder to learn than Japanese? Pronunciation. In this video, a language learning genius names languages which are the easiest for various categories. Easiest pronunciation? Japanese (and Indonesian).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhvQ4DaPo_U

What makes Korean more difficult than Chinese? The grammar. (Did you see how in the above video Chinese grammar was named as among the easiest?) Grammar matters a lot, as it can be stressful and boring to learn.

[Adventurer]

Korean is certainly difficult, but many Asian wives pick up a substantial amount of Korean in a year. The problem is we are not as immersed in the language as they are. I spent hundreds of hours on Korean. My spelling is not very good, but my listening comprehension has improved tremendously, I can read a lot better. It has made my life easier in some ways. I can easily speak to the neighborhood grocer, dry cleaners, have students who don't have a good work knowledge of English understand me if I have to use Korean in a few cases.

Some people want to convince themselves that it's not worth it. It is a lot of work.

[World Traveler]

So for you you think the cost is worth it?

As Korean has difficult pronunciation and and is hard to hear, I think some people have a better knack for it than others. Particularly those with a French-English billingual background.

Adventurer was it you who said you know many (several) languages (or was that Privateer)?

[javis]

Even if I could get the time time and effort I've spent back, I wouldn't trade the opportunities and experiences that I've had and anticipate having in the future because of this langauge.

[World Traveler]

That's cool. I'm glad it's given you a lot.

[Squire]

Interesting topic. I'm not sure whether I find the idea that Korean is the most difficult language for us discouraging or motivating. It's definitely discouraging in the sense that the hours I've put into this would have had me at a much higher level of French or German, and it'll be pretty miserable to leave this country without feeling that I can honestly claim to speak the language at a reasonably conversational level. On the other hand, it would be cool to be able to speak the most difficult language.

For me I study almost entirely at school when I'm not teaching, and I can't imagine what I'd be doing with that time otherwise, so in that sense there isn't a great opportunity cost. Obviously there are things I could be doing (studying Mandarin for example) but I don't know whether I'd actually commit myself to doing them. I could just as easily waste time online like I'm doing right now.

Also I enjoy studying, it makes living here easier and has made me better at my job. I suppose in my case enjoying the process is what makes it worthwhile, despite whatever the end result will be. Most likely leaving Korea, forgetting what I learned and never using it again. If I didn't get any enjoyment from studying, then no- the total hours I've put into this wouldn't have been worthwhile

[PatrickGHBusan]

Good topic WT.

I will chime in and say the effort to learn Korean can be well worth it for some and not that worth it for others.

For me it all depends on why you learn in the first place and then on what you do with the language once you master it.

My reasons for learning were obvious, the benefit for me based only on family relationship far outweighed the cost. The professional benetifs were a bonus on top.

I personally enjoy learning languages so I took pleasure from studying Korean and it provided so many benefits in my day to day life back then.

So the cost for me was time and effort. The benefits were greater autonomy in Korea, a better understanding of the local culture, communicating with Koreans in their own language, enhancing my relationship with my in-laws, Korean nieces, and so on. Seriously, just being able to chat with my MIL and FIL in Korean or with my Korean nieces was a benefit that surpassed the effort and time put in.

I wonder, why would French-English billiguals be at an advantage when learning Korean WT?

I would think any person who already learned a second language would be better equipped to undertake the study of Korean no?

[cheezsteakwit]

OP,

You seem to spend a lot of time TALKING about how difficult Korean is to learn.
It�s almost like you have �paralysis by analysis�.

If you spent more time studying Korean & less time posting / talking about it, you might be further along in your progress.

I�m not denying Korean isn�t difficult, but I wouldn�t say it�s impossible. I also can�t argue with the fact that Chinese is a more useful language to learn.

For the record I�ve been here a year & just started my 2nd year at the same PS high school a few weeks ago. I plan on taking the TOPIK test in July for the 1st time.

I�m in level 3 of the free KIIP class ( Korean Social Integration Program ) & I think I get more out of self-study using books / internet than I do from that class BUT it keeps me accountable.

The fact that I sit next to a cute Chinese girl in class who knows a little English doesn�t hurt my attendance either � but I digress.

I plan on finishing up my year at my PS high school, then moving to a Univ. next year, then MAYBE going to Taiwan / China the year after.

For me, studying while I'm at my at school seems like a worthwhile thing to do. I don't wanna leave Korea after 3 years & tell a job interviewer that I spent 3 years in Korea with my thumb up my arse playing Starcraft.

I want something to show for my time here.

It�s just my �2 cents� (for what THAT�s worth ) but it seems you have 2 options:
1. Give up on learning Korean, if you haven�t already & maybe start trying to learn Chinese.
2. Study smarter, & harder on Korean & spend less time on Daves�, lamenting how difficult it is to learn.

If you need some good website / book suggestions, I'd be happy to share them.

Good luck.

[Adventurer]

[salutbonjour]

Korean is the hardest language to learn and also one of the most useless one in the world.

On the other hand, it's by FAR the most useful language in Korea. So whether you should it learn can be decided based of whether you want to live in Korea. If you don't want to live in Korea, spending 500 hours learning Spanish to a high level is pretty much useless while spending 500 hours learning Korean to a low level is much more useful.

[Drew345]

A Quote comes to mind (don't know who said it).

Everyday live like you are going to die tomorrow, and everyday learn like you are going to live forever.

[hiamnotcool]

[waynehead]

Can't order off a menu after six months of study? Really?

Anyway, after 5 years here, I recently started taking a proper class. I'm enjoying it. My expectations are low, I know I'll never be fluent (nor even really close to it), but I study (and plan to continue to study) because: a) the challenge is fascinating, and understanding a new form or phrase that had always left me puzzled is a great feeling and b) what else am I supposed to do? just give up? that way leads nowhere

[happiness]

ive gotten every job here because i learned korean. my last job intv to teach english was in Korean. how weird is that?
i could do alot more with it if i want to
one day ill leave here and not need it
but im here now so i use it.

nothing more complicated than that

[edwardcatflap]