Korean Job Discussion Forums

[marsavalanche]

Which do you think is the best way to learn Korean?

Language exchange is nice because it's free, but you have to help them out also and sometimes people can flake out

I've never done tutoring, but one on one tutoring at a cheap rate seems like a great way to pick up the language

Korean classes are expensive, I've never done them, and I'm not convinced they are the most efficient way to learn Korea (give cost/amount of Korean you learned).

Any advice on which is the best way to go? I'm not looking to become some weeaboo that speaks perfect Korean, I just want to learn the basics for when I'm doing every day things (i.e. post office, grocery store, hospital, etc.)

[minos]

get a book for the basics and learn those. Koreans aren't used to teaching the basics of a language. It's better to knock out the basic grammar forms so your not repeating random sentences blindly.

Then get a conversation partner afterward. I put up a sign in my neighborhood and got tons of conversation partners.

Helped alot.

[jammo]

I did Yonsei level 1 and wouldn't recommend it


since then TTMIK has taught me a lot more. highly recommended

Language exchange is useful but, as you say is pretty flakey sometimes.

Solid Korean friends/partners will aid you more

Good luck!

[furtakk]

a tutor would be the best option, but can be pricey. if you live in a uni area try posting ads for a cheap tutor. you may get lucky. going through a company that does 1:1 will be upwards of 50,000.

classes are okay (and can be free; see seoul global centre), but it depends on the teacher and attitude of your classmates. good classmates and teacher can make a great learning environment.

language exchanges suck. odds are, they will speak much better english than you do korean and it will end up being a free english lesson for them.

nice korean friends willing to help is good too. i used to buy my friend coffee/lunch and meet once a week just to practice and study. worked out well while it lasted.

[Squire]

I'm working through a textbook at the same time as meeting a language exchange partner once a week. She's studying English at uni but worked in Australia for about a year, so it's a perfect situation really. I study the book and try to pick up what I can and then practice dialogues with her for pronunciation.

[TellyRules986]

I say get a book and take those free Korean classes they offer. Practice speaking with Ajuma/Ajosshi (people you know don't know any English).

Once your Korean is good enough, then you can do an exchange. The thing with exchanges is that both partners have to be on about the same level. If their English is better than your Korean (as it usually is), then you'll get nothing out of it and the other person benefits from the free English lesson since you're forced to speak English to get by.

[Squire]