Korean Job Discussion Forums

daveeslcafe888 · Joined: 09 Apr 2011

Hi Everyone,

I could really use some formal instruction in Korea. What cost-effective ways do you guys recommend? (i.e. schools, churches, language exchanges, etc.).

I live in Hongdae/Sinchon, btw.

Thanks

marsavalanche · Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Location: where pretty lies perish

buy a book and study it

highstreet · Joined: 13 Nov 2010

language exchange probably the cheapest. but you should buy a book/or use the internet to get the basics down before you start.

nate1983 · Joined: 30 Mar 2008

Get a Korean gf?

nate1983 · Joined: 30 Mar 2008

Squire · Joined: 26 Sep 2010 Location: Jeollanam-do

I use a textbook which I study through the week then meet my language exchange partner at the weekend. We practice speaking the dialogues in the book and then usually practice some more using the phrases and expressions from the dialogue but with different vocabulary and such. It seems to be working well and doesn't cost anything in itself

sbp59 · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere in SK

Seriously, books are a very boring way to learn a language. I wouldn't buy one. Use youtube, so many good video's. Also, watch TV and listen to Korean music. If you really want to learn the language, you need functional everyday language and you will find that on TV, radio, etc.

IMO, buying a book and trying to read it at home is a dreadful process. Online learning is very interactive and you can ask questions and receive feedback.

This site is really helpful too, it taught me a great deal. http://www.seemile.com/renewal/package_list.jsp?pkg_no=21

Good luck.

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

Try the Talk to me in Korean website (TTMIK) - do a google search and they should pop up immediately.

I learned all my basic stuff through there, and that plus a decent vocabulary book were enough to get me through the basic level TOPIK proficiency test.

Or try TOPIK Essential Grammar 150 in the Beginner Level - check out langpl.com for that. I'm studying with it for intermediate, and it's brilliant.

Hope that helps you a bit, and good luck. 화이팅!

Tom

http://waegook-tom.com

brier · Joined: 14 Dec 2009

nick70100 · Joined: 09 Sep 2005

Join this program

http://www.kiip.kr/

100% free classes, supported by the government. You don't even have to pay for the books. Classes available in most major cities in Korea.

furtakk · Joined: 02 Jun 2009

There are free classes all over the place. Gwanghwamun, Hongdae, Itaewon, and Gangnam come to mind, but if your neighborhood has a Migrant Centre, chances are they have free classes too.

The class in Hongdae is at the Yeonnam Global Village Centre:
http://global.seoul.go.kr/village/yeonnam/?Language=en

chungbukdo · Joined: 22 Aug 2010

Talk to me in Korean . com - Completely free, audio mp3s, videos, pdfs, must be like a thousand files now.

Koreanclass101.com audio blogs with accompanying pdf. Free.

KIIP program - Free

Watch TV / DMB / Radio - Free

Talk to Korean people - Usually free, sometimes you have to leave your house and this requires going to a coffee shop or grabbing a beer.

Anki - Use it to memorize the vocabulary you pick up - free.

Look up music videos that show the Korean lyrics as well as the English translation at the bottom at the same time, on Youtube. If you find a song you enjoy, play it over and over. Usually the formula is [Song name] + ["Eng subs"] for the search bar.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

try these if you are just beginning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A93eF6Jwpow

or these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRkCvr_m0sI&feature=related

or these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFquIh-g9XA&feature=related

There are also lots of free on-line sites.

http://www.learn-korean.net/

http://rki.kbs.co.kr/learn_korean/lessons/e_index.htm

http://www.elanguageschool.net/korean

as well as the sogang site:

http://korean.sogang.ac.kr/

Bada_Bing · Joined: 25 May 2011

Excellent resources. A thread like this should be stickied.

World Traveler · Joined: 29 May 2009

Great advice here:
http://language101.com/learn-any-language/finding-time/

Also, don't look for cost effective ways. (Or at least don't scrimp and be stingy I mean.) Spend money. It's worth it. Trust me. The Korean language takes thousands of hours to learn. Your time is precious. You want to make good progress as efficiently as possible. Otherwise you could end up wasting a boatload of time and still sucking at the Korean language. (I am describing myself here.) Get a tutor and pay the tutor. That is the best way to get good. The overwhelming majority of Westerners never get past the beginner level. (Korean is a HARD language.) Become one of those rare few who do.
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