Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Toby]

[matthewwoodford]

[matthewwoodford]

[just because]

Guys...
Lets not turn what could be an education topic into a Korean-bashing one.

I'd like to know techniques and Mithridates is my godsend.

[carcerate]

It is always good to just speak Korean at all times. Even if the other party speaks in English, just answer back in Korean. Since you cannot control others, let them practice their English with you. Since you understand English, it shouldn't be such a big deal. If you just practice Korean all of the time, you will be alright.

Also, I disagree with the statement that Korean is not useful outside of Korea. Just you don't need Korean outside of Korea but it definitely can be used. I have lived in LA from (2001-currently) and I use Korean almost everyday. If I don't speak any Korean in one day, I at least write an e-mail in Korean,or read an article in Korean. It is not about the place you are in, but it is about what you surround yourself in when living your life. So even though I am in California, I can practice, use and listen to Korean because that is what I choose. That is why the internet is such a wonderful invention!

[Eazy_E]

Back to techniques....

You have to train yourself to say something even though you think you might be making mistakes. The best learners of languages aren't afraid to come off sounding like a five-year-old because they have a deep desire to communicate. You can't wait until you're 100% sure before you say something.

That's a pretty high-falutin' speech from a newbie, but that's what I've come to learn since attempting to learn Korean.

[just because]

[just because]

You are doing a good job kangnam -mod - dragon

[Flex Bulkchest]

such and issue that's plagued us for a while, but maybe it's a little seoul-centered...move to the country...now try finding someone who will speak english with you

i spent a good part of my life in french canada, and i know if i came across an english person trying to speak french, i'd switch to english just as a courtesy, want them to feel comfortable, there's also a certain amount of pride in it. look how happy we are when we can conduct our business in korean, i think they're probably just as content when they can respond in english.

living in a foreign language, �������� �� �׷�����, ��

[johnriley007]

i didn't couldn't learn any korean while i was teaching english. it was just too hard being a hagwon slave to have any energy left to learn korean. also, it really helps to be in a good language program (like one of the universities) that meets EVERYDAY. unless you're really great at learning languages, i wouldn't expect to learn that much beyond a few key phrases while working at a hagwon. do yourself a favor, and just try to do one thing at a time. studying korean and teaching english full-time is really, really difficult, if not impossible.

[ryleeys]

I'm very happy...


I've been studying Korean out of some textbooks that I've had for several months now, but it's painfully slow. And I'm slow at languages anyway (8 years to have a basic conversation in Spanish)...

But this week, I'm going to start getting private tutoring from a friend that is not only perfectly fluent in English, but is also a really good teacher. So, I hope that this will help me start picking up the language more easily. I'd love to be able to speak Korean.

On a side note, my reading is getting really good, even when I don't know what I'm reading. I started out just reading signs from the bus (to improve my speed), but lately, I've been going to the noraebang with many Korean friends. And I could keep up with the slow Korean love ballads, but now I'm gettin' good enough I can sing the fast songs. And it's a fun way to study cause I'm learning to read more quickly and my Korean friends love it when I sing Korean.

[Cheonmunka]

Hi,
I studied Korean a loooong time. At Uni before I went to K.
I'm somewhat what's the word, kind of slow and clumsy in speech, a____
anyway, in the fourth year it just clicked into place. All I had read, all the grammar, spelling, syntax, clicked in.
I think because the syntax is different from Western languages, it gives some confusion initially, but then it clicks as you start dreaming and thinking your pre-speech stuff in the target language.....
But, it takes disclipline to get good. You have to use a notebook and practice spelling the same word 50 times, and read texts over and over tring to remember the words. You should go to school and have tutoring.
People tell me I'm good, but I was once a moron you see, and now I converse. On all topics.
Since 1994 I studied. But not consistent mind. And there are cats out there who speak like Ajossis at the Noryangjin markets.
But, me mother in law loves me and I talk to to the local cops, down and outs, and ajumas in the vicinity of me old man's pudongsan. They get to know you, you see?

I'm living in New Zealand now and hate the place. All a legal rip off. Migrants getting screwed here left right and centre just for the privaledge of living where the bloody Hobbit did.
And there is NO service.

[thebum]