Korean Job Discussion Forums

[leewchris]

I notice that working in Korea requires fluent Korean. And all programs, even translations, seem to be based on Koreans because this is Korea.

For example. If its English-Korean translation, they focus on English and forget about Korean, because that's what they must improve upon.

So, my question is, if I go to the U.S., are there maybe any training/certification programs or even graduate schools that may help to improve my Korean ability? Because there, it would be the opposite, they would teach Korean in English, which would be the best bet.

[PRagic]

1. Working in Korea does NOT require fluent Korean, although a working level proficiency can be benficial to your career, particularly if you're working outside of ESL.

2. There are numerous Korean language training programs available in Korea at both universities (SNU, Sogang, Yonsei, Ewha...) and private institutes. Instruction is English based until enough proficiency evolves, at which time instruction can be conducted via Korean.

3. Several universities in the US (see: http://korea.education/) offer degrees and certificate programs in Korean and/or Korean studies.

4. Your best bet? Depends on what you want to do. If you just want to become proficient in Korean while working here, studying here makes sense. If you want a degree in Korean/Korean Studies, studying in the US is an option.

5. Another option is to join the US military and specifically request (get it in your contract!) a shot at the Defense Language Institute. This is arguably the best foreign language school in the U.S. The downside is that they may not let you choose your language. You have to pass a language aptitude test just to qualify, and, even if you 'pass', you'll need a pretty high score to qualify for Korean. Those who pass with lower scores, for example, end up with Spanish or German. Push to get Korean guaranteed or you may just get assigned a language based on the 'needs of the military'. Remember that until you sign and raise your right hand, you're more in the driver's seat than you will be for a while. No DLI, no Korean, no signature. Push for it and be prepared to walk.

Many people don't know that you DO NOT have to be active military to attend this school. You can get to DLI (and the other training affiliated with getting language qualified) even as a reservist or, in some cases, even National Guard. Also, you don't have to be Army. You could also attend DLI as a member of any branch of the service or as an employee of the State Department. Look at your options.

It's not for everyone, but if you're young and looking to do something different, it's a great school. Keep in mind that you'll also need to get a security clearance, so if you don't think you can pass a lie detector test and a thorough background exam, don't even bother talking to them. Also, it's a lot of pressure, with one of the highest drop-out rates in the entire military. You do language 6-8 hours a day, plus copious amounts of homework and a butt load of testing. All that, plus the regular military stuff like PT, inspections, etc. In the end, they basically cram a 4 year degree in a language into roughly a year. The credits tranfer to 4 year universities in the US.