Korean Job Discussion Forums

chaz47 · Joined: 11 Sep 2003

I have decided to become serious about my Korean studies. I've been here about 3 years and can get by fairly well but I know that I'm missing out on a lot of life here by not knowing more. So, given the Korean approach to education, I was wondering if classes are worth it.

I've already got a big selection of books which I've barely begun to get into. My excuse is lack of free time, but this semester looks to be pretty relaxed.

In addition to a ton of books, I've also got quite a bit of the Pimsleur series. I was wondering about maybe getting the Rosetta Stone for Korean as well.

Question

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

Might be good for a hook-up. That would depend on you, though.

postfundie · Joined: 28 May 2004

group classes are a waste of time!!! why sit there listening to some other fool ttttttrrrr ttttrr try to sputtttttter out a sentence. one to one's where you practice the vocab you've got and build new sentences. You just need someone who will listen and work out all the Engrean out of your speech.

Private lessons can be expensive so find a friend of friend or somebody who doesn't want to learn English and pay them around 7,ooo won to listen to you speak. F.ck group classes. You'll never learn when and how to put that stuff in those books to use if you don't have someone listening to you and correcting you.

i4NI · Joined: 17 May 2008 Location: Seoul

Don't get Rosetta stone!!! Huge waste of time. Completely worthless. I've already went off on rosetta stone several times. Wish I could find the posts.

It's not even worth pirating.

Korean classes are worth it in my opinion, just some people can't find the time to go. I recommend Seoul National University and Sogang's programs personally. I am attending SNU right now and about to go to level 4 next semester. Sometimes I think I know the grammars well, until I get tested on it!! I really enjoy the teachers and the program so far.

Also if want to find a good way to do some self study, try adding to my Korean language wiki. I, like you, have a ton of Korean language books. I get tired of looking through the different ones to get various definitions on a grammar. Which is the reason I created the wiki, to unify the information from all my books. Let me know if you're interested, I only started less than a week ago.

d503 · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Location: Daecheong, Seoul

I take classes at a hagwon (seoul KLA), I support the group classes. My korean is good now, I am thinking of picking up a tutor to prep for the proficiency exam. However I have been taking classes off and on since I got here and have never regretted it.

The best part about the group classes is that its an excellent way to improve your grammar and listening. Also in the higher level classes, you are expected to read and watch korean authentic materials and talk about them in class. For me its helpful to be able to talk about things that I have seen in a controlled environment before attempting to discuss it with coworkers or friends.

Faunaki · Joined: 15 Jun 2007

Group classes are good because you have to keep up with the rest of your classmates. If everyone else understands but you don't, then you'll work harder and getting lots of speaking/listening practice is the most important thing.

I've done private lessons before but there's no drive to do my homework or answer the question or really improve.

hugekebab · Joined: 05 Jan 2008

Clemmens · Joined: 25 Jun 2008

You guys mentioned taking language courses both through universities and hagwons; what do these classes generally cost, respectively?

i4NI · Joined: 17 May 2008 Location: Seoul

Bryan · Joined: 29 Oct 2007

If you have no intrinsic motivation and ability to sit yourself down and study, classes are great because you try to keep up with your peers and not waste money.

However, you're immersed in the language and there are a lot of people who learned it simply by self-study. So if you wanna save the money and have the drive, you can do it better than classes which aren't specifically tailored for you.

This is a forum full of people who make their livings off of teaching classes. You might get biased answers. If you go to the how-to-learn-any-language forums you will see most of the accomplished polyglots learned through self-study and find classes both a waste of time and money. They won't be catered to your speed and needs, and other people will fill up your time with questions you often know answers to.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

If you want to be base line functional, then don't sweat the classes.

If you want to be proficient, then you can't avoid a proper class. No two ways about it.

Bryan · Joined: 29 Oct 2007

i4NI · Joined: 17 May 2008 Location: Seoul

Bryan · Joined: 29 Oct 2007

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Some things that may help you:

An interesting book that I found called," Reading Korean for beginners", published by Hollym.

It's part of a series one is focused on Speaking, one on listening, one on
writing and then the above one.

If you are a total beginner, get the "Speaking Korean" book too. The lessons and vocabulary are set up in such a way as to be understandable,

unlike a lot of the Korean university textbooks I've tried.

If you're more advanced, you still may want to check it out. It's got some good graded reading with relevant and useful vocab. exercises.

Other than that, 2007 lsk lessons 1 - 200 on youtube.

The new series is set up a lot better than the old, I'm actually finding it pretty helpful.

Good Luck.