Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jingo besus]

Hello, I've used the search facility to try and find an answer to my query but failed, so sorry if this has been covered elsewhere!

I'm currently preparing myself to try and come over on the EPIK 2012 program and one of the ways I'm preparing is by trying to learn a few Language basics.

I've been using this website to learn the basics of pronunciation http://www.learnkoreanlanguage.com/learn-hangul.html and decided to get RS level 1 a try as well.
Considering its supposed to be level 1 its seems to expect people to be able to read the characters and be able to understand how sentences are constructed from the outset, it seems ridiculously difficult for what i thought was an entry level program. Is it worth sticking with, or should i be leaving it for a while until i've learnt a bit more?

If anybody else has used this and found it works (or has any tips for making it a bit easier to comprehend), i can just about read hangul characters and match the sounds to the shapes but thats about all i can do at the moment!

[freddy teacher]

i studied korean for a while. im by no means fluent, but im much better than most people as i can read, write and carry a semi-useful conversation.

IMHO, RS is garbage. dont waste your money or time downloading it.

[Jingo besus]

This is what i'm suspecting, i can see it being good for French or German where you can have a better chance at working out what they're saying but it seems completely unsuitable for a language where you have to start entirely from scratch.

At least i now know how to say 'water' anyway...

[Chet Wautlands]

www.talktomeinkorean.com

Best way to learn the basics of Korean.

Some people swear by the Sogang program too... I never took a liking to it.

[Hiromi C]

My Korean's pretty crappy, but this YouTube series has helped me learn the basics of Korean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1rmh7x2ZAQ

Note: You need to learn how to read Hangul first.

On the plus side, Hangul is absurdly easy to learn. Pick any digital flashcard program (there are a bunch online, including some smartphone apps), load in the characters, and start drilling. A few hours later, you'll have the entire thing memorized. Similarly pronounced characters look similar. It's a really well thought out writing system.

[yellowdove]

Easiest way to learn Korean without being in Korea -

Step 1: Learn how to read Hangul. Super easy. Also learn how to write it.
Step 2: Use youtube videos and talktomeinkorean to hear the language.
Step 3: Use RS in order to figure out sentence structure. What is good about RS is that it is SUPER repetitive, so you'll pick up on words easily.

Sentence structure basically is subject, noun, verb. (EX: The male book has.) They don't use pronouns.

When you get to Korea, it will be easier to learn, because you can read all the signs and environmental print around you for practice.

*I would suggest just learning how to read, practice saying simple things like thank you, hello, my name is ______, and how much. Also see if you can catch onto the numbers (they have two sets, one is for countable things like flowers, tickets, beers, etc. and one for non-countables like time and money).*

[nate1983]

[yellowdove]

They have pronouns, but because everything is contextual here, they don't really use them. For example, they would just say 'read?' instead of 'are you reading?' if there were only two people in the room. I'm not denying that they don't have them.

[nate1983]

[gundam_whang]

Rosetta Stone might be useful in the beginning languages of your language development (e.g., basic vocabulary, short phrases), but by no means will you develop a fluency strong enough to hold a long meaningful conversation (in my opinion). And I really don't think it's worth the money.

Try this. http://www.livemocha.com/

I've used it before and I know others who have used it as well. It'll give you a chance to learn and practice Korean before you head up here.

[yellowdove]

Sorry, I sent a PM to nate, but I should point out that many of the words on his list are not pronouns. EX: time, sorry, off, told, fine, like, about, keep... not pronouns. Pronouns replace the subject in a sentence.

[Chet Wautlands]

[yellowdove]

I'm sorry then. My Korean tutor is wrong.

[chrisinkorea2011]

yeah that one posting with the korean letters, entirely wrong lol

and pronouns are extremely important in korean. here are a few basic ones

너의 - your
그 - he
그녀 - she
그들 they

and actually hangul is harder to read than people say because sounds change with certain combinations.

슨릉 = seulleung
네가 sounds more like (nee ga than nae ga)
and many others

the best way to learn korean really is to go out, make friends, and ask people lol
experience is the best teacher

and Rosetta Stone sucks and is overpriced for their product, i wouldnt recommend learning ANY language with RS

[nate1983]