Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chnike112]

Hi, friends. Where, how much, and how effective are Korean classes in South Korea? I know it depends on where you are I am just wondering about general availability. Do I have to teach in a big city like Busan or Seoul to have access to a Korean beginner class or are they readily available in smaller towns. Also, are they expensive? I know in the states lots of churches have free english classes maybe they have that in South Korea too????

[coralreefer_1]

Check past threads for more detailed info..

Here is a rundown

University classes - Almost every university in Korea offers Korean classes, usually from 9am-1pm Mon-Fri. Average price for a 10-weeks emester of this is about 900,000- 1,000,000 won. I am of the opinion these are the best option for actually learning the languege and making real progress. (Just my humble opinion)

YMCA - Most larger cities have a YMCA in which Korean classes are offered.In my city (Daegu) the class is 2 hours on Saturday mornings. If I recall it is a 13 week program and runs about 80,000 - 100,000 (books not included)

Korean Language Institute - There are a few places that teach Korean, but I have never heard on one in my city, though I hear there are a few up in Seoul. No info on cost or schedule.

Private tutor - If you can find a tutor, that is an option, but note that this is very different than a "language exchange" partner. Finding a KOrean person who can actually teach you the language is a systematic manner is not as easy as finding some korean who will tell you "i will teach you Korean if you teach me English"

Internet - There are several good websites out there that can get you started off on the right food. Google "learn Korean online"

Books - If you get some of the Korean book in the bookstores here (not the conversation books, but a program series from a university, and supplement that with a language exchange partner to guide you through the difficult areas/answer questions..this is an option as well.

All are dependent on whether you actually want to learn the language to a real level of proficiency, or just to speak a little here and there just to get by.

[chnike112]

Thanks so much for that post it was very helpful!

[rmo1127]

My fiance and I have teaching jobs lined up in Yongin for after we get married in April. My school (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) doesn't offer Korean language classes, so I spoke to a guy in the foreign language department. He did a little research and found out that the best textbook series is called "Integrated Korean".

http://www.amazon.com/Integrated-Korean-Beginning-Textbook-Textbooks/dp/0824823427/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249662043&sr=1-1

That is the first book in the series. I ordered that and the matching workbook a few days ago, but haven't received them yet. The reviews are for the most part very positive. The only legitimate and repeated complaint is that it doesn't come with an audio CD. However, one reviewer found the audio materials for free online.

http://languagelab.bh.indiana.edu/korean101.html

They appear to be very well organized, and they're also in MP3 format, unlike a different site that a different reviewer linked to.


I'm planning on using that program as well as setting up a weekly conversation/tutoring session with one of my friend's roommates (he's Korean). Has anyone else had any experience with Integrated Korean?

[greasypeanut]

+1 on integrated korean. i recommend studying at home unless u have the time to go to a class every single day and if u are a public school teacher u wont. if u study by urself u can go at ur own pace and if u have any questions on pronunciation...you can just go outside and ask someone lol

i used to go to sookmyung uni in seoul for their weekend classes which is pretty good also, but they teach each level in loops and when i finished level 1 and went to level 2 they were already 2 chapters into the level 2 book O_o