Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bcraig]

Has anyone heard of Seoul Academy GM for Korean language lessons? I am thinking about taking a course there. It costs 150,000 won/month for three months, plus 20,000 for application and 15,000 for the book. Is this too expensive? Are there better options for learning the language?

Please let me know!

[DeLaRed]

how many hours do you want to study? part time? full time? location preferences?

[ThingsComeAround]

important:
how often are the classes?
what is the class size?

Most important:
Is it easy for you to get there? (location, location location!)

[KevinLS]

Here's the info for academyGM -- http://academygm.com/index.html?PNO=122396462477296600

I've looked at their site and read some things about it online already, it looks positive. It seems a little on the expensive side, but I'm thinking of starting up in March. It looks like you'd be doing the 4hrs/week course. I'm not decided which one yet, but I'm thinking of doing 6hrs/week. They teach specifically to English speakers, and their maximum class size is 7, both which I think would be positive points.

I think http://language.hansung.ac.kr/korean/english/index_english.php would probably be better as it's a university and only 1million Won / 10 weeks, 20 hrs/week, but if you're living in Bundang like I am, that'd be hard to manage.

[bcraig]

The class is super small ... just three people including me which is good. There are two classes per week for an hour fifty minutes each. It's a three month course. It's about an hour away from where I live via subway. I think I may do it

[lifeinkorea]

Any closer to the west side of Seoul? I live in Incheon. Going to Bundang is doable, but I would rather find a place closer (considering I work near Incheon Airport )

[KevinLS]

I've been doing a little legwork on finding a place to study, so one of these might interest you:

Check out this article about universities you can study at -- http://www.seoulcityblog.com/2010/01/12/studying-in-korea/ (in the middle where it says "Studying Korean Language")

And here's a post on another forum from a year ago about free lessons around Seoul -- http://www.theyeogiyo.com/Forum/showthread.php?p=1087

I haven't gone through all those to see if they're still being offered yet, but I'm thinking of doing at least one free lesson this weekend. It definitely appears http://kongbubang.wordpress.com/ is still being offered.

[tokkibunni8]

Just do what I do. Hang with Koreans only. It's been ages since I've had a beer with someone who speaks English. Two years of Korean classes didn't really do me any good. Three months of staying away from English speakers and yahooooooooooooooooooo! Life in the boonies is great!

[Missihippi]

Anyone have experience with this one: http://kli.ybmedu.com/hakwon/kli/course_eng.asp

I'm going to attempt a class, even though i've been out of the study habit for quite some time. Think my brain stopped learning new things several years ago.

[kinerry]

recommendation on a text book:

Korean Made Easy by Darakwon

You can get it at the book store at gwang hwa moon station or the book store in Jeju


It's the best intro to Korean book I've ever seen

[kinerry]

[Jane]

Learning a language depends on the person, I think. Some people do better with complete immersion from the start, others do better in a structured class or one-on-one with a tutor.

Personally I do best in a classroom with other students to start. I pick up the basic grammar and vocabulary, then I use it in the real world and start to make connections with expressions, word usage, etc.

It really does depend on the person's learning style, so all the more power to you using whatever method you feel is the best for you.