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jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
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 Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 10:44 pm Post subject: Which textbook is better: Sogang or Integrated Korean? |
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I did YBM for two months but couldn't stand the over formality of the curriculum. Nobody says "jeoneun kong bu reul hamnida".
Has anyone used both of these to study and came up with an opinion? I've heard Sogang has a great program but I don't want to commit 600k won and three nights a week for it. But I hear the integrated Korean series is quite good, and it has a ton of audio to practice with as well.
Thanks. |
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excitinghead
Joined: 18 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 1:43 am Post subject: |
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I don't know anything about the Sogang program, but I can tell you about the Integrated Korean books.
They are very good, with some of the best explanations of Korean grammar I've ever seen, but unfortunately the CDs have to be ordered from the University of Hawaii press separately, and cost as much as the books. It's true that they can be listened to on the internet instead, but they're in a weird file format that can't easily be converted to an MP3, so you always have to be in front of a computer with internet access to study (more annoying and impractical than it sounds).
In addition, there's no answers(!) to any of the exercises in the separate work books, let alone the textbooks, so without a Korean teacher or girl/boyfriend to look at them then the exercises are virtually useless.
Given all of that, then I'd have to agree with a reviewer on Amazon.com that said that the series could have had an A but those points above make it a C at best. It is definitely only suitable for use by a Korean teacher in a classroom setting, and not for self-study. For the latter, I'd recommend Sogang's own series of books.
An irreverent guide to Korean social issues:
http://thegrandnarrative.wordpress.com/ |
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BlaisePascal
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:02 am Post subject: |
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| excitinghead wrote: |
| They are very good, with some of the best explanations of Korean grammar I've ever seen, but unfortunately the CDs have to be ordered from the University of Hawaii press separately, and cost as much as the books. They can be listened to on the internet instead, but are in a weird file format that can't easily be converted to an MP3. |
The audio files used to only be in Real Audio format, but if you look at the publisher's website here you can download the files in mp3 format as well (files are zipped).
I've only glanced at the Integrated Korean books, but I like the grammar explanations in Ross King's Elementary Korean & Continuing Korean textbooks a lot, and I have often consulted them for reference. (There are other things I have issues with these textbooks, though.)
The Sogang regular (200 hours/quarter) program is quite good. Of course, I can say that, being in Level 2 now.  I can't comment on their evening program. Their textbooks are quite nice, although their grammar explanations aren't always clear to me. And they start with the -아/어/여 요 form for verbs instead of the -(스)ㅂ니다 form, which I like.
BP |
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excitinghead
Joined: 18 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:07 am Post subject: |
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I didn't realize that they were available in MP3 format now; good to know. Actually I hadn't looked at the website in about 2 years, about the same time I was forced to abandon using them because of the problems with the audio!
Does anyone know if the textbooks and workbooks have answers now too?
An irreverent guide to Korean social issues:
http://thegrandnarrative.wordpress.com/ |
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Huh Kyung-young
Mod Team
Joined: 06 Jul 2008
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i4NI
Joined: 17 May 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 4:34 am Post subject: |
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| Self study is NOT the way to go. |
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Cliffhanger
Joined: 07 Sep 2007
Location: Anyang
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:16 am Post subject: |
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I don't know about the Sogang program, but I can vouch for the Integrated Korean books. I used these textbooks when I took Korean in university. The books are very well structured and has good explanations and lots of exercises.
I still use mine every once in a while when I feel like studying.
I also don't mind listening to the audios on the computer.
However like excitinghead mentioned there no answers to exercises, which wasn't a problem for me because I had a teacher, but still thought it was a major flaw with the books.
So if you can get a tutor a couple hours a week, or a friend to quickly check your answers and explain mistakes, I would go for Integrated. |
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Fresh Prince
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Location: The glorious nation of Korea
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 7:11 am Post subject: |
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Googlebooks let's you view the inside of books so you can browse through it just like a real bookstore. They have Elementary Korean and one of the advanced Integrated Korean books so you can see for yourself which format you prefer.
http://books.google.com/bkshp?hl=en&tab=wp
I like Elementary Korean by Ross King since the format fits my learning style better than the Integrated Korean series, but to each their own.
I've taken classes in Korea and found that it's really the instructor that makes the classes worthwhile rather than the program. If you can find an instructor that understands cultural differences amoung foreigners, and the language mistakes most common to native English speakers and is willing to explain how to correct them, then that's worth the extra money. |
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jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the responses everybody. I was going to take the entire Sogang course but it meets too often and I don't have the time. I'll go to Kyobo and see they have the books there and check them out. |
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samd
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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| i4NI wrote: |
| Self study is NOT the way to go. |
What makes you say that? Some people thrive in a classroom, others do better going solo.
I know people who have succeeded with both methods. |
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inthewild
Joined: 28 Mar 2004
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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Through intermediate, since I live in Korea, just self study and learning in my environment has worked for me. Seems faster, cheaper, more fun... I can learn from music, tv, online etc if I keep it organized just a bit.
Pathfinder in Korean from Ewha is great I think. Good topics, organized, pretty up to date. |
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Clemmens
Joined: 25 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Are the Integrated Korean books pretty easy to find in Korea, either through a public library or a bookstore? I'm not in Korea yet, but I'll be there by the end of August. My hometown library had the entire set of I-Korean books/workbooks and I downloaded the audio online for listening practice. I've gotten fairly comfortable with the system, though not having answers is a bit of a drag. It'd be a plus if I could pick the books up when I arrive in Korea. It's much better than the other option I've been considering: photocopying every page of every book and workbook, and taking them with me. |
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i4NI
Joined: 17 May 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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| samd wrote: |
| i4NI wrote: |
| Self study is NOT the way to go. |
What makes you say that? Some people thrive in a classroom, others do better going solo.
I know people who have succeeded with both methods. |
are you really arguing saying a person who does self study can be as successful as if the same person went to a good language program? There's so many things you can't get from self study. Not to mention most people are not motivated enough to take self study seriously enough to get good at a language. If his goal is to acquire semi fluency, reading a book is NOT the way to go period. Also not having someone (especially a certified teacher) judge his speaking, reading, writing and listening is a major disadvantage.
There's really no way you're going to convince me self study is as effective unless he's a brilliant super genius, which if that was the case he wouldn't be in Korea teaching English (no offense). |
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jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:52 am Post subject: |
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| i4NI wrote: |
| samd wrote: |
| i4NI wrote: |
| Self study is NOT the way to go. |
What makes you say that? Some people thrive in a classroom, others do better going solo.
I know people who have succeeded with both methods. |
are you really arguing saying a person who does self study can be as successful as if the same person went to a good language program? There's so many things you can't get from self study. Not to mention most people are not motivated enough to take self study seriously enough to get good at a language. If his goal is to acquire semi fluency, reading a book is NOT the way to go period. Also not having someone (especially a certified teacher) judge his speaking, reading, writing and listening is a major disadvantage.
There's really no way you're going to convince me self study is as effective unless he's a brilliant super genius, which if that was the case he wouldn't be in Korea teaching English (no offense). |
Well I was on Jeopardy when I was in college and won two episodes, so I'd say I'm a low level genius. |
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samd
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:59 am Post subject: |
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| i4NI wrote: |
| samd wrote: |
| i4NI wrote: |
| Self study is NOT the way to go. |
What makes you say that? Some people thrive in a classroom, others do better going solo.
I know people who have succeeded with both methods. |
are you really arguing saying a person who does self study can be as successful as if the same person went to a good language program? There's so many things you can't get from self study. Not to mention most people are not motivated enough to take self study seriously enough to get good at a language. If his goal is to acquire semi fluency, reading a book is NOT the way to go period. Also not having someone (especially a certified teacher) judge his speaking, reading, writing and listening is a major disadvantage.
There's really no way you're going to convince me self study is as effective unless he's a brilliant super genius, which if that was the case he wouldn't be in Korea teaching English (no offense). |
Again, it depends on the person. Some people have a lot of practise resources at their disposal, and don't need the in-class speaking and listening practice that lessons give you.
With a few patient Korean friends and an outgoing personality you can easily become fluent in the language without being in a classroom.
You're right that having a teacher's guidance is helpful, and personally I do better in a class. However, the two people I know who speak the best Korean did it solo. I also know someone who just completed a semester at Yonsei, and they can hardly say their name and where they are from.
If the OP is serious about learning and puts in the same hours of solo study as they would get in a langauge program, I can't see why they couldn't reach the same level of fluency.
Also, learning a language has nothing to do with genius. Anyone with a decent work ethic and a capable memory can do it. |
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