Korean Job Discussion Forums

Knucklehead · Joined: 06 Jan 2008

Hey,

To those who have studied Korean, and are fluent or near fluent, how has it changed your life in Korea? Did it lead to any better (or different) job opportunities?

And I remember a thread some time ago on the best place to study (either Yonsei or Seoul uni if I remember correctly), but I don't feel like wading through the search results... and maybe there's some new info.

So, what programs do people recommend for learning Korean. I'm thinking of taking some time off and studying the language.

thanks

Keith

tomstar86 · Joined: 09 May 2009 Location: Daegu, South Korea

I learned by myself, mainly using Talk to me in Korean.

Also, my boyfriend has helped me a lot with my Korean, and prepped me to take the TOPIK test. Now, we talk in a strange mix of English and Korean.

If there's a place in your area that offers a course you're interested in, then go for it. But most other foreigners I know that speak Korean well simply studied themselves because they had a reason to do so.

In my opinion, I find that life is a lot easier now that I speak Korean pretty well - I can figure things out without having to whip out my phone dictionary every 2nd or 3rd word, plus Koreans are nicer to me when I speak Korean to them (although if they speak English to me, I'll speak English back).

Having something on your CV like a TOPIK test score also enhances your resume - it shows any potential employer that you're that little bit more serious about living/working in Korea.

I'm not saying that those who don't study Korean aren't' serious (I know a lot of long-timers who speak barely any Korean), just that it can go a little way towards ensuring the employer that they're not hiring someone who spends all their free time slouched over a table at Family Mart with a pitcher of Cass, or that you won't arrive at the job and runaway a week later because there's no Walmart and Wendy's in your neighbourhood.

Plus, it looks good in the sense that you're doing something productive with your free time. You know how Koreans are a sucker for a) studying and b) their own country, so studying their own language? Win win win on a CV!

Tom

http://waegook-tom.com

Koreadays · Joined: 20 May 2008

Native English speakers don't really need to learn Korean compared to other nationals in regards to employment. it's not life or death for us.

it will change your life in the sense you will meet Koreans who can't speak English. you will be able to understand the lyrics of the music, and watch the movies, of course both can be translated into English.

learn the language if you can.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 4:25 am Post subject: Re: Learning Korean --

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

What tomstar 86 and Patrick said.

I'm not fluent but somewhere beyond the "survival Korean" area which is why I can say this. When you are able to communicate with the locals beyond the point and grunt stage...it does make your life a lot easier...as well as make them take you more seriously.

edwardcatflap · Joined: 22 Mar 2009

Yes learning Korean is a very useful and worthwhile thing to do. If you speak Korean, you can talk to Korean people who don't speak English and also you can apply for jobs for which one of the requirements is, you have to be able to speak Korean.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 7:23 am Post subject:

kimun · Joined: 12 Dec 2010

very true. as a gyopo here I couldn't read when I first arrived but made effort to learn alphabet and read words phonetically now. Things like being able to understand maps by the bus stops has done wonders for making it easier for me. the alphabet is easy to learn (my friend did it in 1 day), vocabulary takes practice and time.