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klyfusprufrock
Joined: 18 May 2007
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 Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:14 am Post subject: Importance of learning Korean language |
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As a prospective teacher of English in Korea, I wonder how important it is that I learn the Korean language. Also, I would be obliged if anyone could give me some advice on the best way to go about learning it. I assume many people in Korea speak English, but it will probably be beneficial to know as much of the language as possible, right?
Thanks,
Kyle |
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Crowzone
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:39 am Post subject: |
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It really really depends.
I would say, at a bare minimum.. Learn to read Korean characters. Its not hard, probably takes a couple hours to get it done, plus practice and you never know when it's going to help you.
Aside from that, what matters is how much you want to mix with Koreans here, how long you think you will stay, how easy/hard it is for you to learn a language, and other factors.
For example, I started here with very little knowledge of Korean. I was planning on staying only for one year so it wasn't very important. However as time went on I read a few books, practiced a few things and now can handle most simple situations. This helps me a lot. I don't see the need, however, for me to take any classes though because I may or may not stay on for another year. If I do, then maybe I'll look to taking it seriously. |
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pest2
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:30 am Post subject: |
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Agreed. Know how to read it so you can find restaurants, bathrooms, and English translated to Korea. Know a few grammar terms in Korean if you teach in a place where no one speaks English. Know food names so you can order food. Know directions so you can direct taxis.
Otherwise, I'm finding that the more I learn, the more I dont want to know what Koreans are saying. |
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tiger fancini
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Location: Testicles for Eyes
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Importance of learning Korean language |
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| klyfusprufrock wrote: |
I assume many people in Korea speak English,
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Don't be too surprised if you find the opposite when you get here! Of course it depends on where you're going to be, but I had a similar idea before I arrived and was a little shocked at first to discover that English is not as widely spoken as you might expect.
As for learning Korean, it's not mandatory and you could probably get by without it in one of the bigger cities, but making an effort to learn basic stuff (food, numbers, simple greetings) will definitely enhance your time here. If you plan to stay for more than a year, then I definitely think you should devote some time to studying Korean. |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Location: at my wit's end
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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There must be quite a few geniuses on here (or else I'm incredibly daft), because for me, it's taken much, much longer than "a couple of hours" to learn hangeul. Maybe because I'm getting older, but I've had to consistently practice reading everything every day, and I still have trouble remembering the characters.
I studied for a few weeks (not hours) before coming over and I am just now starting to be able to read, although very slowly.
I'd presume that anyone who can learn the Korean alphabet in a matter of hours (or minutes, depending on how pretentious one is) could learn the Japanese alphabet in the same amount of time, although I found hiragana/katana much easier to learn (which may be why Korean is so tough, because the script is so similar = confusing)... |
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Miles Rationis
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Just Say No To Korea!
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Jizzo T. Clown wrote: |
There must be quite a few geniuses on here (or else I'm incredibly daft), because for me, it's taken much, much longer than "a couple of hours" to learn hangeul. Maybe because I'm getting older, but I've had to consistently practice reading everything every day, and I still have trouble remembering the characters.
I studied for a few weeks (not hours) before coming over and I am just now starting to be able to read, although very slowly.
I'd presume that anyone who can learn the Korean alphabet in a matter of hours (or minutes, depending on how pretentious one is) could learn the Japanese alphabet in the same amount of time, although I found hiragana/katana much easier to learn (which may be why Korean is so tough, because the script is so similar = confusing)... |
Sorry Jizzload you can learn Hangeul in a few hours and after a few days of practise it's in your head. It is an easy alphabet. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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It's not as easy as everyone says, especially if you are older. The good news though is that there are all kinds of free on-line lessons available.
Just do a google search "learn Korean" and you will find a lot of different sites. There are some good and some not so good, but you should be able to find something that works for you.
There are some hangul tutors on line, but I forget the sites just now.
Radio Korea International has a site that may be helpful to you.
http://korean.sogang.ac.kr is another...but this one gets pretty difficult, pretty fast.
Youtube has 180 lessons "let's speak Korean" which are sometimes helpful... sometimes not.
I don't like the format of these, but the good thing is that they get away from the formal textbook Korean and will teach you some very useful words and phrases. Things that Koreans actually say rather than the formal crap. |
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Mark7
Joined: 22 May 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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Fortunately, I learned Korean for a year at University before coming here.
The rest of the people are right. Even after taking one year of it, it is a very tough language. But, knowing the alphabet and saying some things at stores, restaurants, and especially at school definitely gives you an advantage over other teachers who live here. You never know, you might want to stay longer, or meet a special lady/guy friend who is Korean.
In some cities of Korea, Koreans know English, but hardly use it, so the onus is on you to try and learn the language. Plus, Koreans love it when a foreigner is trying to know their language. |
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venus
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: Near Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: Importance of learning Korean language |
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| klyfusprufrock wrote: |
As a prospective teacher of English in Korea, I wonder how important it is that I learn the Korean language. Also, I would be obliged if anyone could give me some advice on the best way to go about learning it. I assume many people in Korea speak English, but it will probably be beneficial to know as much of the language as possible, right?
Thanks,
Kyle |
To be honest you can get by with just the most basic Korean phrases and even without them in Seoul / Busan / Ilsan.
I would say however it makes you feel rude after a while and also somewhat awkward and stupid, going into stores and restaurants, taxis and assuming everyone speaks (and should speak) English. It also compounds and exasperates the feeling of being a complete outsider with no connection to the country you're in. This is fine for the first few months but after that you want to feel a little less on the periphery, in my experience.
Not only that, but I have been in my current area for a year and really like the storekeepers in the store next to my apt that I visit at least twice a day for snacks, meals etc. There are also a few restaurants I frequent regularly and people who work at the gym I go to who are really friendly to me and always make an effort to be friendly tand strike up as good a conversation we can with my limited Korean and the English they know.
And recently, now I'm only a week from leaving this area, I have been feeling really sad that I never bothered learning the language, as I'd like to know more about these people who have essentially welcomed me as part of the community and be able to tell them how much I like them, that it's been a pleasure knowing them and that I'll miss them and wish them well. But I don't have the language capability to express these things and feel like I'll just be up and leaving without having made much of a connection to the place I was in and it makes me feel ashamed in a sense, clinical, cynical, ignorant.
If only I'd learned just five phrases a week for fifteen minutes before bed every night I'd be so much better at Korean and it wouldn't have taken much effort. I'd not be fluent but would at least be able to express the basics - you know?
Well that's my pov, I'm sure many people are less sensitive than me and you can survive just by having other foriegn friends and English speaking Korean friends and hanging out in Itaewon and Hongdae and that has sustained and satisfied me to a large extent, about 90 percent of my time. But there have been so many instances where I've met a really cool taxi driver or waiter/waitress or someone in my local area that I encounter on a daily / weekly basis and wanted to be able to talk to them instead of muttering a few phrases and then saying I can't speak Korean well in the face of their eager smiles... |
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Colorado
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Location: Public School with too much time on my hands.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Learn as much as you can. The more you know the better off you'll be and the more enjoyable wil | | |
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