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Best way to learn Korean?

 
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kingplaya4



Joined: 14 May 2006

PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:42 pm    Post subject: Best way to learn Korean? Reply with quote

For relatively little money?

I bought some CD's and a basic phrasebook and dictionary from Border's. The CD's will say a phrase in English and then a Korean speaker will translate into Korean twice. The Korean translation seems really fast to me. I know its because I don't know the language that it seems so fast, but it would be nice if they had slowed it down greatly.

I think something like this would be helpful, as long as they slowed the speaking down, and the other problem I have with it is they alternate between a male and female native speaker, but they cover different phrases. For some reason, I seem to follow the male better than the female speaker.

Any suggestions on a good intro Korean course that would be better for me?

Thanks in advance for any help.
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Hater Depot



Joined: 29 Mar 2005

PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This should really be a sticky as it seems to come up about every month or two.

Anyway:

http://forums.galbijim.com/index.php?showtopic=1253&hl=
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seoulsucker



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff

PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2006 5:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Best way to learn Korean? Reply with quote

kingplaya4 wrote:
For relatively little money?

I bought some CD's and a basic phrasebook and dictionary from Border's. The CD's will say a phrase in English and then a Korean speaker will translate into Korean twice. The Korean translation seems really fast to me. I know its because I don't know the language that it seems so fast, but it would be nice if they had slowed it down greatly.

I think something like this would be helpful, as long as they slowed the speaking down, and the other problem I have with it is they alternate between a male and female native speaker, but they cover different phrases. For some reason, I seem to follow the male better than the female speaker.

Any suggestions on a good intro Korean course that would be better for me?

Thanks in advance for any help.


Not sure if you've learned to read Korean yet, but it's incredibly simple and will really help you with phrase books and CDs.
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kingplaya4



Joined: 14 May 2006

PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2006 6:32 pm    Post subject: Re: Best way to learn Korean? Reply with quote

quote] Not sure if you've learned to read Korean yet, but it's incredibly simple and will really help you with phrase books and CDs.[/quote]

No, not yet. Any tips on learning?
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seoulsucker



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff

PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2006 6:39 pm    Post subject: Re: Best way to learn Korean? Reply with quote

kingplaya4 wrote:
No, not yet. Any tips on learning?


It's incredibly easy. One hour a day, and you'll be reading a newspaper in a couple of weeks. Not that you'll be able to translate it, but you get the idea.

Are you living in Korea?

Once I learned the basic characters and how they are put together, the best tool for me was the subway. I would get on the green line once a week, and take a round trip around Seoul. The signs are in hangul and english, and are also broadcast over the PA.

After two weeks I could pretty much read anything you put in front of me.

All in all, I'd say there are anywhere from 200-300 character combos in common use. Once you learn to recognize them, you'll start reading chararcters instead of symbols, the same way you read words all at once instead of letter by letter.
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just because



Joined: 01 Aug 2003
Location: Changwon - 4964

PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2006 6:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The sogang university website has a Korean learning section, it is free and fantastic.
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SPINOZA



Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Location: $eoul

PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2006 7:20 pm    Post subject: Re: Best way to learn Korean? Reply with quote

seoulsucker wrote:
kingplaya4 wrote:
No, not yet. Any tips on learning?


It's incredibly easy. One hour a day, and you'll be reading a newspaper in a couple of weeks. Not that you'll be able to translate it, but you get the idea.

Are you living in Korea?

Once I learned the basic characters and how they are put together, the best tool for me was the subway. I would get on the green line once a week, and take a round trip around Seoul. The signs are in hangul and english, and are also broadcast over the PA.

After two weeks I could pretty much read anything you put in front of me.

All in all, I'd say there are anywhere from 200-300 character combos in common use. Once you learn to recognize them, you'll start reading chararcters instead of symbols, the same way you read words all at once instead of letter by letter.


The subway got me started as well.

Learn to say a few important things first. Then learn to read. Then get yourself a beginner book like 'Survival Korean' by Stephen Revere (comes with a CD). Use an online dictionary and teach yourself some more verbs, adjectives, nouns.
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kingplaya4



Joined: 14 May 2006

PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2006 8:01 pm    Post subject: Re: Best way to learn Korean? Reply with quote

seoulsucker wrote:
kingplaya4 wrote:
No, not yet. Any tips on learning?


It's incredibly easy. One hour a day, and you'll be reading a newspaper in a couple of weeks. Not that you'll be able to translate it, but you get the idea.

Are you living in Korea?

Once I learned the basic characters and how they are put together, the best tool for me was the subway. I would get on the green line once a week, and take a round trip around Seoul. The signs are in hangul and english, and are also broadcast over the PA.

After two weeks I could pretty much read anything you put in front of me.

All in all, I'd say there are anywhere from 200-300 character combos in common use. Once you learn to recognize them, you'll start reading chararcters instead of symbols, the same way you read words all at once instead of letter by letter.


No, not in Korea yet, I'm going to be there in about a month. I was thinking it would be kind of interesting to move there without knowing a word of Korean, but have since thought better of that idea Very Happy

I really hope not to be the person there for several years and only have a rudimentary knowledge of the language. Anyways, thanks for the tips.
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kingplaya4



Joined: 14 May 2006

PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2006 8:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

just because wrote:
The sogang university website has a Korean learning section, it is free and fantastic.


Thanks for the tip. Will check it out.
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itaewonguy



Joined: 25 Mar 2003

PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2006 8:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

get a korean girlfriend who doesnt speak English at all..
get a couple books and you be sweet as..
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tomato



Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.

PostPosted: Tue May 30, 2006 3:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is my opinion on the subject:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=31230&highlight=zone++proximal+development
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