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kalbitang
Joined: 07 Aug 2009
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 Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 9:21 am Post subject: Gyopos -- How long did it take you to perfect your Korean? |
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I'm a Korean-American gyopo -- and just now starting to re-dedicate myself to my Korean language.
I've spoken Korean my entire life, but almost entirely with my parents and relatives, so my "university-level" vocabulary in Korean is severely limited when compared to my English. I should mention that I was born and raised in Seoul until the age of 8.
However, I'm told I speak it like a native (i.e. with a Seoul accent) and can obviously speak and understand regular conversations natively without thinking/translating in my head.
How did you perfect your Korean? Reading newspapers, books, attending classes? Any tips or suggestions? |
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andrewchon
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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How is your 한자? How many can you read?
That was the stumbling block for me from complete understanding. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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Not a gyopo, but if you're conversational, have you tried the book 6000 essential korean vocabulary? Supposedly it has all the vocab to take you to level 6 topik which is supposed to be someone who is near native and could function at a very high level
Found it here:
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- Perform language functions necessary for professional research fields or affairs with relative accuracy and fluency
- Perform overall range of even unfamiliar topics such as politics, economics, society, and culture
- Perform native-like level of functional performance in conveying message |
This is described as level 6.
http://www.topik.or.kr/sub01/2008_topik_en_01_a.html
So vocabulary wise the book might be a good start. |
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chonga
Joined: 15 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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im a halfy and was raised speaking limited korean with my mother. so my understanding of the language is pretty good, but my vocabulary is quite limited as well as my grammar (i can get any point across but sometimes it can get ugly).
so if anyone can provide which study materials worked best for them or can recommend a class to take, it would be much appreciated |
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exercise_in_futility
Joined: 11 May 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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books and classes can only get you so far. the best way hands down is to get a native korean significant other. the less he/she speaks english the better. your korean will vastly improve plus you'll pick up on current slang and 유행말.
i also learned a lot through watching korean television and listening to KPOP, which i detested at first, but grew on me *lol* |
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Slowmotion
Joined: 15 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| exercise_in_futility wrote: |
books and classes can only get you so far. the best way hands down is to get a native korean significant other. the less he/she speaks english the better. your korean will vastly improve plus you'll pick up on current slang and 유행말.
i also learned a lot through watching korean television and listening to KPOP, which i detested at first, but grew on me *lol* |
I was gonna say something similar. Some of the things you need to learn won't be found in books, but through real interactions with Koreans. It's like imagine only speaking textbook english, not only will you sound awkward and geeky, but you'd have trouble understanding "real" everyday spoken English, especially from young "hip" people. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Slowmotion wrote: |
| exercise_in_futility wrote: |
books and classes can only get you so far. the best way hands down is to get a native korean significant other. the less he/she speaks english the better. your korean will vastly improve plus you'll pick up on current slang and 유행말.
i also learned a lot through watching korean television and listening to KPOP, which i detested at first, but grew on me *lol* |
I was gonna say something similar. Some of the things you need to learn won't be found in books, but through real interactions with Koreans. It's like imagine only speaking textbook english, not only will you sound awkward and geeky, but you'd have trouble understanding "real" everyday spoken English, especially from young "hip" people. |
In the same vein, depending on who you hang out with and have conversations with you're only going to be learning and practicing their level of vocab and grammar that comes up in your conversation.
People who drop out of high school talk to people all day, watch TV, listen to music/etc but there is a reason there is a stereotype about their level of communication. |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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A good gyopo friend of mine picked up a book "Learn Hanja the Fun Way" by Lee Young Hee. This book has the Chinese, Korean sound and the english translation.
My friend said just going through the first few chapters really helped him understand a lot of words. He's pretty lazy, I think he only went through maybe 25/50 chapters in 5 years. He's still working on it though. |
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chonga
Joined: 15 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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| yeah i have a good korean friend who i speak with frequently. unfortunately and fortunately her english is pretty good so i tend to cheat a lot in trying to learn more than i should |
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kalbitang
Joined: 07 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 2:51 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the tips. I picked up around $150 worth of vocab material today.
I actually find newscasts to reveal the biggest holes in my vocabulary.
For example, I could be watching Korean soaps or a Korean film and during large parts of the show, understand 95%+ of what's being said with 'native' understanding.
Then I'll watch a news broadcast and this drop to 50% or below. |
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