Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MollyBloom]

1. One of the older teachers I teach English to brought me in a big bag of kimchi today. Should I get her a thank you gift or just write her a note? If I were to get her a gift, I was thinking some sort of book to help her learn English because she really tries hard and tells me she studies every day. Her level is intermediate; can anyone suggest a particular learning guide or supplementary book?

2. I have such a hard time pronouncing the character: ㅡ . Every time I try it sounds like "uh": ㅓ . I know 은 should sound like "eun", but I can't pronounce it that way. How should my tongue be placed when I am pronouncing that sound?

Thanks!

[tashi]

Hi Molly,

It's the same at my work... I reciprocated by making Bruschetta for one lady and bought some good chocolate for another. Both seemed to appease... the koreans who got some kimchi reciprocated by bringing some of that orange jelly tea, so I vote for bringing food.

***Although the book idea is very thoughtful, too.

[jkelly80]

for 은 get your mouth as horizontal as possible, and make a "ugh" sound like you just saw something gross. but dont' purse your lips and don't say 'ugh' say 'uhn'

Between an unstressed "uh" (as in 'sun') and a short i (as in 'swim')

maybe

[MollyBloom]

[Mint]

I got my "eun"s and "leul"s down by putting my teeth together and 'pushing' the o sound forward. I hope that helps...

[RACETRAITOR]

[man_of_words]

there's some good advice above for the 으 sound but I think the best analogy for the 어 is closer to the vowel sound in the word "on" that's what I always hear them doing and when I use it I get winning results!