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asc422
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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 Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:14 pm Post subject: Why (how) you should start learning Korean today |
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Last edited by asc422 on Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:51 am; edited 3 times in total |
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morrisonhotel
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
Location: Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Tomato is going to have a field day with this.... |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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| This is definitely more "how" than "why". |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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| But you didn't answer why we should. |
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asc422
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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Uhhh ... yeah I did.
Why should I learn Korean?
Cuz, feels good man. |
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thatkidpercy
Joined: 05 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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Well said. I thinik it makes a big difference to your quality of life if you're able to understand, at least to some extent, what's being said around you!!
I started studying Korean using the series "Korean for foreigners" by KANADA (you can find it in most bookshops here that stock language books) and I'd recommend it - the majority of the vocab you learn is useful and the grammar explanations aren't too hard to follow. As with most textbooks you learn the formal way of saying things first (as it happens to be the easiest in Korean - no irregular verb conjugations) but it's a good starting point, especially if you supplement what you learn with something like the talktomeinkorean.com website for more natural expressions.
I started studying Korean as soon as I decided to come here (so around a year ago) and I'm glad I did - I've been in the country for 3 months now and I speak at least a little bit of Korean every day.
I too found pronunciation to be my biggest stumbling block in the beginning, but shadowing a recording is a good way to get over that. |
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morrisonhotel
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
Location: Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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| thatkidpercy wrote: |
I started studying Korean using the series "Korean for foreigners" by KANADA (you can find it in most bookshops here that stock language books) and I'd recommend it - the majority of the vocab you learn is useful and the grammar explanations aren't too hard to follow.
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I've said it before on here, but I think the Kanada series is dreadful. |
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thatkidpercy
Joined: 05 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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| morrisonhotel wrote: |
| thatkidpercy wrote: |
I started studying Korean using the series "Korean for foreigners" by KANADA (you can find it in most bookshops here that stock language books) and I'd recommend it - the majority of the vocab you learn is useful and the grammar explanations aren't too hard to follow.
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I've said it before on here, but I think the Kanada series is dreadful. |
Really - how come? Of course some of the dialogues are pretty dry, but I've found that so long as I supplement the book with other sources of input I'm good to go. The order that grammar and vocab are introduced in seems to make sense to me at least!
This book was chosen with the help of a Korean friend after mulling over the available choices (I forget what the other books were called) but I've not used any other textbook first hand so can't really make any comparisons... which series would you reccommend instead? |
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morrisonhotel
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
Location: Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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| thatkidpercy wrote: |
[
Really - how come? Of course some of the dialogues are pretty dry, but I've found that so long as I supplement the book with other sources of input I'm good to go. The order that grammar and vocab are introduced in seems to make sense to me at least!
This book was chosen with the help of a Korean friend after mulling over the available choices (I forget what the other books were called) but I've not used any other textbook first hand so can't really make any comparisons... which series would you reccommend instead? |
Its way too formal. I've shown the books to Korean friends and without fail every single person said that Koreans don't speak like that.
I'd recommend any of the Darakwon series. The Yonsei textbooks are rather good as well (but a bit heavy going). I'd also recommend the Integrated Korean series |
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thatkidpercy
Joined: 05 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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| morrisonhotel wrote: |
Its way too formal. I've shown the books to Korean friends and without fail every single person said that Koreans don't speak like that.
I'd recommend any of the Darakwon series. The Yonsei textbooks are rather good as well (but a bit heavy going). I'd also recommend the Integrated Korean series |
Definitely a fair point, although the level of formality does become more natural if you stick with the series. I agree at the beginning it's more formal than how most people speak, but I think the ~ㅂ니다/습니다 ending is maybe the easiest to grasp gramatically for someone new to the language and so that's probably why did it that way.
I'll check out some of the titles you mentioned next time I'm in near a decent bookshop.
Anyway sorry for derailing the thread slightly. The recommendations for beginner textbooks above should be useful for somebody though I guess! |
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nomad-ish
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: On the bottom of the food chain
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: Why you should start learning Korean today ... |
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| asc422 wrote: |
- I don't need this language because I'm moving home.
Then never complain about people in your country who can't speak your language.
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there's a problem with this last point. the difference between us is that some foreigners are just in korea for a year or two and then they go home. end of story. koreans that go to our home countries are usually trying to immigrate there. so yeah, i believe anyone who is planning to become a citizen of a particular country should have a working ability in the official language.
that said, i still think everyone here should be able to read and know some survival korean; shopping, ordering food, taking a taxi, asking for help, etc. but becoming fluent? unless the person plans to stay in korea a number of years, is interested in languages, has a lot of korean friends, or wants a hobby, i don't think it's a big deal if that person doesn't advance to fluency or near fluency. |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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I've used this analogy several times, and it seems to make sense.
Spending time in Korea is a bit like going skiing for the first time. You start at the top, and without any lessons or practice you will, eventually, make it to the bottom, the majority of the time sliding on your ass and struggling to pick yourself up. Spend a little bit of time learning the basics and you'll enjoy the trip down sooooooo much more. |
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trogdor
Joined: 05 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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You spend 20 minutes on the toilet? What do you eat????
I agree with the "take 20 minutes" per day, though. |
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asc422
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
You spend 20 minutes on the toilet? What do you eat????
I agree with the "take 20 minutes" per day, though. |
For a proper trolling effort I'm not sure if I should attack your comment, refute the comment, or answer the question. I think I'll get lukewarm responses either way. So...
I'll go with red herring: I'm going to adjust my original post and ask that you learn English and proper manners first. |
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hapigokelli
Joined: 04 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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| thatkidpercy wrote: |
| Well said. I thinik it makes a big difference to your quality of life if you're able to understand, at least to some extent, what's being said around you!! |
One of the things that I enjoy most about Korea is not understanding what is being said on the bus/train/street or in the restaurant/office. When I go to my home country and have to listen to everyone's inane, pointless conversations, it drives me crazy. |
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