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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 12:08 am Post subject: |
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| Many say Chinese is the foreign language to learn, and for good reason. Yet I remember one career counselor saying NATIVE speakers of Chinese will enjoy most of the benefits associated with speaking Chinese. Given how hard that language is to learn, let alone master, and the exclusivity of the Chinese... |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 9:24 am Post subject: |
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| Fox wrote: |
| ArabicTeacher wrote: |
| The verb endings in Arabic, colloquial or standard, or even in the Quran, are as complicated as Korean ones ... |
Is this actually true? Korean has hundreds of possible verb endings, is that also the case with Arabic? I've been toying with the notion of approaching Arabic, so I'd love to hear more. |
Well, what I can say about Arabic is that the structure of the language i.e. syntax is similar to that of the European languages. It has masculine and feminine. It follows the S-V-O pattern. I don't necessarily think it's more difficult than Korean. However, the script and pronunciation can be major challenges. I think many people who study Arabic pick it up faster than Korean.
I would say it's harder starting out when you're learning Arabic, but if you hang in there, you can pick up a lot of steam. I have seen many Americans who could converse well in Arabic.
I can't say if Korean's easier or more difficult than Arabic. I will say that it's much easier to read in Korean at first, but I will say that Arabic is more similar to European languages, structurally. |
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Kepler
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 10:54 am Post subject: |
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Some linguists believe that if adults approached learning a second language like babies approach learning their first language then they could be just as successful. Google "the natural approach".
One teacher and linguist noticed that learners who went through a silent period (like babies do) during their first year or so in which they just focused on listening and trying to understand what others said were much more successful at learning the language in the long run.
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED501257.pdf
This guy, a fan of the natural approach, says he was finally able to learn Thai after he stopped speaking the language and threw away his dictionary (babies don't use dictionaries).
http://bradonomics.com/second-language/ |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Kepler wrote: |
Some linguists believe that if adults approached learning a second language like babies approach learning their first language then they could be just as successful. Google "the natural approach".
One teacher and linguist noticed that learners who went through a silent period (like babies do) during their first year or so in which they just focused on listening and trying to understand what others said were much more successful at learning the language in the long run.
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED501257.pdf
This guy, a fan of the natural approach, says he was finally able to learn Thai after he stopped speaking the language and threw away his dictionary (babies don't use dictionaries).
http://bradonomics.com/second-language/ |
Adult learners are different than babies. Our brains are not the same. We don't learn at the same speed. That Natural Approach has its merits. I do like some of Krashen's ideas. I don't think you should necessarily hurry into production and receiving a ton of comprehensible input can help you more comfortably produce. The reality is so many students receive lots of input, but then can't produce |
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Stain
Joined: 08 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 9:42 am Post subject: |
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| As a baby myself at 2 years old, I can tell you how easy language learning is. I really don't understand why people can't grasp it. I mean, it's so simple. You hear it and mimic it. You listen and eventually you figure out what is said in particular moments. You hear it again and that reinforces it. Eventually, it all comes natural. Why all the fuss, people? |
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ArabicTeacher
Joined: 20 Jan 2016
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2016 12:23 am Post subject: |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| I can't say if Korean's easier or more difficult than Arabic. I will say that it's much easier to read in Korean at first, but I will say that Arabic is more similar to European languages, structurally. |
Any colloquial Arabic is no way similar to European languages. It's much easier for a native Arabic speaker to learn a European language from scratch than vice-versa. And based on my experience, I have seen more Koreans who can get a grasp of Standard/Colloquial Arabic than English or European language speakers |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Fox wrote: |
| Chinese has been much easier for me than Korean |
Most people don't realize Korean is at least as difficult as Chinese, if not more so...which is why it is frustrating to hear, "Korean is not a difficult language".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65GMENZ8UDc
[2:02] |
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