Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Shauneyz]

Could anybody recommend a book for beginner Korean? I can read/write, and I have a handful of phrases that are cute for me to say, but it's starting to annoy me that I can't have a proper conversation beyond "hi, my name is ___ and I'm from __, nice to meet you!"

Something that I could find at Kyobo would be nice, though of course I don't mind ordering online.

[Son Deureo!]

I highly recommend Elementary Korean by Ross King, as well as its sequel, Continuing Korean. There are no pretty pictures, so it may seem intimidating at first, but it has excellent, clear grammar explanations with a lot of great exercises to get you practicing. I remember seeing it at Kyobo, but that was quite some time ago, and it's definitely available at Amazon. It's a little pricy at $44, but it's high quality and will keep you busy for a few months. Check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Korean-Tuttle-Language-Library/dp/0804836140/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229394498&sr=8-1

Also worthwhile for self-study is Sogang's online Korean course, if you haven't already used it. It's free, high quality, and has sound. http://korean.sogang.ac.kr/

[el_magico]

I ought to get paid for always touting this book... but Survival Korean is the best series I've come across.

There is an original Survival Korean followed up by Grammar and Vocabulary books.

The original one is very useful as it has lots of everyday phrases, good explanations and yes pretty pictures. It's great for starting out....

These days I'm incorporating the lessons from the original with the Grammar and Vocabulary books on the same topic.

[samd]

[newteacher]

[IncognitoHFX]

[sojusucks]

Darakwon has some descent books, especially:

Arirang Korean Basics 1 & 2 (http://www.darakwon.co.kr/koreanbooks/page_sub_view4.html), and

2000 Essential Korean Words for Beginners (http://www.darakwon.co.kr/koreanbooks/page_sub_view10.html).

In the latter book, the authors use Korean that is higher than that found in the book.

[some waygug-in]

I suggest this book:

http://hanbooks.com/easkorforfor.html

There are 3 in the series. What I like about it is that it does kind of what Side by Side does except in Korean.

The other thing I like is that it has useful situational dialogues with the vocabulary I need to know.

The bad thing is, it's designed to be used as a classroom textbook, so it's not the best for self study.

Also this book:
http://hanbooks.com/komaeaforbeb.html

By the way, that University of Michigan site is awesome.

[maingman]

Easy Korean for Visitors
Publisher UCL
author Jeong-Seop Kim, Hyeon-Yeong Cho
price 4 000


Korean Language for a Good Job
Da Rok Won
author Mi-Hye Lee
price 15 000


Korean Made Easy
Publisher Da Rak Won
Authr Seung-Eun Oh
price 17 000


Pathfinder in Korean
Publisher Ehwa Women's University Press
Author Ehwa Women's University
Ehwa Language Center
price 15 000

[samd]

[Kikomom]

This one is touted by an Army linguist and is said to be available in Korean bookstores...

"Everything you ever wanted to know about the language":