Korean Job Discussion Forums

Rather_Dashing · Joined: 07 Sep 2004

Yes, I have read the other relevant threads. But I haven't yet heard any feedback about this product:

http://store.yahoo.com/rosettastone/korean.html

I've heard of other such systems, ones being that they teach you like you are learning a language for the first time. Anyone try out such a system?

Also, how much Korean should I know before I get there?

Thanks for all your help!

Mashimaro · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Location: location, location

If you could spend a few days learning learning to read korean before you come (it's easy) it will make life a lot easier down the track. i.e. the earlier you start the better and the sooner you can start reading restaurant menus store signs etc. make some palm cards with the korean characters on them, it won't take long to remember them.

Other than that it might be good to know the basic greetings and saying thankyou etc.

I don't know much about rosetta stone, but my advice would be to join a good korean class as sson as you can after arriving and just practise with koreans rather than sitting home listening to instructional tapes. Your best bet for practising before you go would be the sogang university website. a quick search of this site will give you the adress. it really is a great resource.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

mumblebee · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Location: Andong

Hi there,

I purchased this program at great expense before I left Canada. It is entirely in Korean, with no English whatsoever. As I am sure you have read, the idea behind the program is that you should learn a second language like you learn your first...which in this case seems to be interpreted as presenting information along with repetitions of a word or phrase. You then choose from 4 pictures which is the right one. Initially by trial and error, you start to recognize that certain words and phrases consistantly match certain situations. Supposedly you can build up a natural and innate sense of the language this way...

I am unconvinced that this is a great way for adults to learn a foreign language. You can spend a long time making mistakes and trying to figure out what is signifigant about the phrase and matching picture. After awhile it is possible to 'cheat' in a way, because all you have to do is hear a key word in order to get the right answer, and you still won't have a clue as to what the sentence is saying....for example, I had no idea (before arriving here) that the verb comes at the end of the sentence in Korean. Using the program, I wasn't able to clue into this, and I was wondering why so many of the sentences sounded the same at the end.

It may be true that kids are able to learn a language in this simple way, but the fact is that adults just don't learn a language the way kids do...instead of just absorbing information about how a language really works, an adult using this program will rely on higher reasoning and deductive skills....which seem to undermine the idea of naturalistic learning.

I was very motivated to use the program in Canada, but now that I am here, I hardly use it at all. It hasn't (yet) told me how to ask how much something costs, how to say please and thank you, how to ask for something, how to indicate directions, how to say today, yesterday, and tomorrow; these are the things I need, not how to say "cat" and "dog".

It is really handy for learning and practicing new words, especially things like colours and numbers. There is a speaking-with-feedback component that is kind of fun...you try to match the pronunciation of the recorded voice, and the program scores you on your tone, phonetic accuracy and rhythym. You need a microphone for this component.

I haven't found it super-useful yet, but like I said, I haven't used it much. Of the 92 lessons, I have covered only about 8 or 9. I'm not sorry I got
it, but I might have been much better off with a briefer (and cheaper!) program that concentrated on a set of common and useful phrases.

If you want, I have the software and would have no problem showing it to you...just pm me.

inthewild · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Location: Korea

I agree with mumblebee about Rosetta, it's not worth the retail value.

chronicpride, did you buy that software or do you use the online material?

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I downloaded and installed it off of their website. Then I paid for it and they emailed me the registration access numbers to use it.

Randall Flagg · Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:35 am Post subject: Re: Learning Korean...

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

Oops, double post.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

inthewild · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Location: Korea

The Sogang site is great and professional but the Novice part seems too advanced to begin with. I'm having a tough time getting moving with it. Ah well, it's free!

shakuhachi · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Sydney

shakuhachi · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Sydney

This kind of stuff should be stickied.

Kangmi's blog has a comprehensive list of links for the Korean language

A list of Korean resources from UCLA

'Teen Korean'. This site offers Korean language aquisition for ethnic Koreans outside Korea. However, anyone is free to make use of this site

Korean as a second language. This is a very active MSN group. The creator is very dedicated and often answers questions about the Korean language

Page full of accurate Korean slang

shakuhachi · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Sydney

Sunmoon university also offers a free course

Mashimaro · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Location: location, location

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 6:38 pm Post subject:

There should be a Korean language forum. We could write in Korean there or have threads about learning the language. The ones who speak very well like Mith or Tomato could help the ones who want to learn.

That way both the people who want to learn the language and those who get all touchy about seeing it here would be happy.