Korean Job Discussion Forums

[idiotinkorea]

last year a friend offered free arabic classes on weekends in itaewon. it was a really nice experience, but i wasn't able to regularly attend and unfortunately the number of interested and committed learners was small and in continuous decline.

of course, the mosque in itaewon offers arabic classes and there are private tutors available. but i'm not really interested in getting proselytized or having to pay for it.
rather, i'd like to find fellow expats interested in learning/teaching arabic (and/or other languages, like russian, turkish, etc.), and form something akin to a social group meeting once a week, preferably on weekends.

wouldn't this too perhaps be a propitious avenue contributing to "make the most" out of your stay in korea? -or did i just choose my username wisely?

[gakduki]

If someone is willing to teach basic arabic for free, count me in.

[mimis]

I'd LOVE to learn Arabic...

[cdninkorea]

I was one of the few students at those free Arabic classes, but I dropped out after a few months in favour of focusing on Korean (that and the MA Linguistics course I'm taking). It was really interesting and the guy running it (Adventurer on this board) really knew his stuff, but I couldn't retain what I couldn't practice. At least with Korean, I can learn something and go out and use it right away.

[anbrainblasta]

if there is any arabic classes happening at the weekends count me in. PM if you have any concrete arrangements

[roadwork]

The last I spoke to Adventurer when I was at the 236 (fabulous BBQ and TexMex) in Ilsan, he mentioned that he's going to bail out after his contract is up in order to pursue his MA back in the US.

[idiotinkorea]

yes, Adventurer moved back to north america and i'm stuck here.
it's nice to see that there are still people interested in learning arabic.

i'll pm everyone as soon as i find someone willing to teach us.

[roadwork]

[nmh03]

Please let me know, too. I took an Arabic class for two months last summer (before coming to Korea) and would like to get back into it. A small cost is no problem.

[idiotinkorea]

hi all,

thank for your interest. unfortunately -like so many things in korea- it didn't work out...

i inquired at the mosque, and at several middle-eastern embassies, without much success.

i'm thus pretty much condemned to sit back, drink tea, and relax. sorry...

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

Arabics will tone you up and give you endurance but personally I'd go for a power yoga or pillates class for all round conditioning.

[idiotinkorea]

[nmh03]

My friend and I wandered into a bookstore in Itaewon today and got talking to the proprietor; they offer Arabic classes on Saturdays for 50,000 won a month. I'm not sure how long or at what time the classes are, but he said the instructor is from Yemen and has a good knowledge of English grammar, so he's a helpful teacher for English speakers.

Walk up the What the Book hill and take the first left after the WTB, and the Muslim bookstore will be on your left. Be prepared for some religious proselytizing, though.