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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:58 pm Post subject: FT Korean study suggestions |
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I'm pondering taking some time to study Korean and get a student visa next year.
Any suggestions from anyone who has done this. Where did you live? How much did it cost? I hear you can work legally on the side -- true?
I'm not quick at picking up Korean, but I've been here a while and have picked up a lot of basics. Not sure if I should go for the "full immersion" plan -- 4+ hours of class per day, or not.
I tried studying twice at a hagwon in Kangnam, but only lasted a month each time because it just started moving too fast. And the Japanese students ran circles around me. Most all of the other non-asians dropped like flies, too, except one guy.
Just decided that if I want to do anything that makes money here, I'll have to learn Korean (at least it will help my future chances more than an MA, anyway).
Any advice about schools, cost, etc., would be helpful.
Any programs starting next March? |
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Cedar
Joined: 11 Mar 2003
Location: In front of my computer, again.
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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Derreck,
Yonsei FLI offers two programs: one for the Japanese and others who learn Korean easily, and one for the rest. The program for the rest is 8 levels long, but the 8th level is supposed to be no argument from anyone totally fluent.
It's not legal to work when you are on a student visa for the first six months.
Yonsei FLI and a couple other Uni programs are the only ones that offer visa sponsorship for students, but you have to go to their more intensive classes to get sponsored.
There are some hagwons that offer low hours and low pay but visa sponsorship and you can study while still working a little.
All the uni programs have classes starting in late March or early April.
Seoul is expensive to live in, if you aren't working, your money will go faster than you think. You can find a little tiny room for 200 or so per month, but the odds are with utilities, it'll get to be far more. Homestay is an option-- but then where do you go with your girlfriend? |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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I was wondering about Ewha. Kind of got turned off on Yonsei, based on what Polychronice (or somebody) said about cocky students.
There is also a place here in Bundang, and my co-worker gave the the site: www.aks.ac.kr and phone #: 82)031-709-8111 ext. 213, but I didn't have time to look into it yet. |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not sure about any of the programs myself but here's what somebody wrote on the Korea Wiki:
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Ewha Womens University Korean Language Program (http://elc.ewha.ac.kr/english/) Yes, they accept men in the Korean program. The teachers here are very well trained and have produced their own book which is very communicatively focused and well founded in linguistic theory. The classes are divided into the four skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Furthermore each class recycles and builds on materials covered in the other class resulting in a strong mastery of the skills and language covered. Additionally there is a part-time program that runs three times a week in the evening and also in the early afternoon.
Seoul National University Language Education Institute (http://lei.snu.ac.kr/english/eng_pages/SN00020_00.jsp)Classes are five days a week, 4 hours per day. There's also an evening program with 3 hour classes twice a week. Teachers are well trained, the course books are quite good and there is a stimulating learning atmosphere.
SISA - YBM (http://)Clases are run five times a week for two hours per day. The text is incredibly dry and poorly designed. Additionally there is far too much focus on grammar and little on communicative ability. The teachers are not particularly well trained. A last resort for formal Korean language training.
Sogang University Korean Language Program (http://sgedu.sogang.ac.kr/korean/)This is probably the best program in Korea for learning Korean with a real focus on communicative ability. The classes are divided into the four skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Furthermore each class recycles and builds on materials covered in the other class resulting in a strong mastery of the skills and language covered.
Sookmyung University: Lingua Express (http://www.lingua-express.com/kfl.html) No information yet: add your review here
Yonsei Korean Language Institute (http://www.yskli.com/) The oldest program in Korea. Very heavily grammar instruction with a dry boring book. |
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Mashimaro
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: location, location
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Cedar wrote: |
It's not legal to work when you are on a student visa for the first six months.
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It's not legal AFTER six months either if you are studying at a korean language institute. The rules differ between studying korean languange and studying a 'normal' degree/masters course.
The authorities in their wisdom dicourage people learning korean by making it illegal to work on a student visa.. Great way to propagate the korean language and appreciation of korean culture  |
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taobenli
Joined: 26 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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Mashimaro, you seem rather bitter recently...did something trigger it or just having a bad spell?
The Korea govt. is not the only one to not allow people to work on student visas. The U.S. does this, too, as do many other countries. That's what working visas are for... |
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Mashimaro
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: location, location
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| taobenli wrote: |
Mashimaro, you seem rather bitter recently...did something trigger it or just having a bad spell?
The Korea govt. is not the only one to not allow people to work on student visas. The U.S. does this, too, as do many other countries. That's what working visas are for... |
if you can contradict my thinking that korea does sweet fa to encourage foreigners to learn korean and korean culture I'd be happy to hear it.
They may spend money to this effect, but certainly not in effective ways that I can see |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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| It makes sense to me. They want all of the control possible, and letting us work while on a student visa will put too much control in our hands. |
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chance2005
Joined: 03 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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| taobenli wrote: |
Mashimaro, you seem rather bitter recently...did something trigger it or just having a bad spell?
The Korea govt. is not the only one to not allow people to work on student visas. The U.S. does this, too, as do many other countries. That's what working visas are for... |
Sorry this in incorrect, students in America may work at the university they study at, as long as they are full time students, I believe they may even be able to accept part time jobs outside of the univesity as long as it is not over 20 hours a week. |
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