Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Murph]

Hey guys I am thinking of taking some Korean language classes this fall, and I was wondering if anyone here could tell me a little bit about the Seoul Koran Language Academy located near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam Gu. I know that I've read on here about people who attent this school, but I couldn't find anyone to pm. So if anyone has gone there, or has any valueble information about the school them please send me a pm, I'd really appreciate it.

[Ginormousaurus]

I think Ghost studies there.

[robot]

yeoksam? did they move? thought they were by gangnam station.

http://seoul-kla.com/engl/index.php

[Cheonmunka]

Had good experiences there a few years ago ...

[billybrobby]

Unless you're talking about another one, it's by Kangnam (which I guess is by Yeoksam after all). I went there for a month. It was good, the people were nice, the textbook was good. But in my class we only spoke Korean. Which is exactly what you ought to do, and it was very helpful, but I just didn't think it was worth the money. I can speak Korean whenever the hell I feel like it, you know? I definitely learned more in the time I was there than I would've learned just speaking casually with a Korean friend, but again it just didn't seem worth it.

If you're a beginner this advice is probably worthless. I think it's a totally different thing teaching absolute beginners and teaching mid-level students. Our teacher didn't even know how to speak English. But she was good.

[samd]

[laogaiguk]

It's good. Much better than the YBM program.

[ghost]

I study there at the moment. I do the morning class on Saturdays from 10am -1pm, and then I do an extra class in the afternoon, for a total of 6 hours every Saturday, as I live far down in Pyeongtaek area and cannot come during the week. Ideally coming several times a week is better than just one Saturday class, but Saturday class is a lot better than no class.

The lessons are given only in Korean. This can make it seem like a real challenge, but the payoff, I think, comes somewhere down the road, if you are persistent, and then things start to fall into place. The cost of the course for 3 hours each Saturday is 130.000 won per month (for 4 classes=12 hours).

If you look at the people who have been there for about 6 months or more, if they stick with the classes, they end up being pretty proficient in the language. I am judging that by the number of students I observe merrily yapping away to the secretary in Korean during the class breaks - pretty impressive. You would almost never find that level of proficiency from students who do not take classes in Korean. Look at the hundreds of Hagwon foreign teachers who have been here for years and cannot say anything (hardly) in Korean, and who have not even bothered to learn the Hangeul alphabet, which is not really hard.

At KLA you will learn, and learn quick you will, because the teachers really drill you and push you to your limit. When I look at how they teach us, I realize (sadly) what a mediocre teacher I and my colleagues are in comparison. These ladies are real professionals. They know the rules and all the details of Korean inside out, and all the exceptions and complexities are shown and practiced. They try to make the lessons practicable for us by using language that we can use, in a progressive way. It takes, in my opinion, about 6 months of study there, before an average student starts to feel comfortable making short sentences in Korean. This is because Korean is so different to English in word order. If you give up before this stage (6 months) - you will never get there in Korean, because the first few months are so discouraging, when you try to say something in the street and no one understands you.

Korean is really a language you need to study 'bottom up' - in a very methodical, and classic, way, because the inherent complexity of the language with the different word order and other aspects can use an approach in which drilling is useful. This is where the Korean teachers (all female!) at the academy do well - because they all teach by the same method, using the same book, and while the method can seem a bit 'dry' the payoff is good if you stick with it, and practice the vocab and do the homework during the week.

The drills are good, because with about 6 students per class the teachers use a method of going around the class and quizzing each student, so you are really put 'on the spot' and this is a good motivational tool, as you do not want to 'lose face.' Sure beats studying on your own, where most people lose interest.

In summation, I think it is money well spent. Being able to communicate in Korean can make for a much richer and quality time in Korea. In my case, I only plan on being here 1-2 years, but feel real progress is coming thanks to the classes.

If you wish to sign up, please send me a pm with your details and I will register you for the next course. Please state your level.

Seoul Korean Language Academy, 7F Hightech Bld., 649, Yeoksam-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-080

Tel: (02) 563-3226

http://www.seoul-kla.com
e-mal: [email protected]
Ghost in Korea

[ghost]

Please register for the course now:

There are still some seats available in the Beginner's course starting soon.

Register today and make sure you get a seat in the class.

Send me a pm and I will register you.

Ghost in Korea

[caniff]

Well, ghost convinced me. I called the academy, and I now I will be going tomorrow for a level test.

I can read and write hangul, and my listening is pretty good. But my grammar (beyond a slew of set phrases), is crap. And because of off-and-on self-studying over the years, I feel like I have some major gaps in the language acquisition process.

I will report back with my first impressions. Cheers.

[billybrobby]

[ghost]

[PeteJB]

I'm going to be taking 4 hour classes per day (probably) for 1 year. My Korean is already passed the beginner stage, so I guess it will be a big help for me.

[billybrobby]

[Ginormousaurus]