Korean Job Discussion Forums

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

There are some great ideas here. I spent a long time studying Korean on my own because I just didn't have access to classes except on Saturdays.

Some things that worked for me were studying from comic strips, I liked 광수 생각 and 멜랑꼴리. Both were pretty funny and had adult content, and each strip in 광수 생각 included a short anecdote loosely related to the strip. It's definitely gives an interesting perspective of Korean culture.

Korean DVDs with English/Korean subtitles are also a godsend. It takes several hours to watch a movie this way, but watch in Korean with hangeul subtitles on, rewind and re-listen if you can't pick out all of the words, and write down the Korean and English for anything you don't know. Use a dictionary, the English subtitles, and a Korean friend to find out what you don't know. Besides the fact that DVDs are bilingual, they are also nice in that they are native speed, with a lot of natural dialogue, and the movies themselves give context to make it easier to understand and remember new expressions.

Another thing that helps is just paying attention to the hangeul subtitles in English TV and movies that you're watching here. It may not be the best as a primary method of study, but it's a great way to build vocab and reading speed.

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Maybe it would be helpful to make a list of activities you can do to learn, going from easiest to hardest. The order here might be inexact and there's certainly some overlap, but for me it was

1. Having conversations. In the beginning, you know so little that you can't read anything that is interesting or fun. The only fun thing you can do is have conversations, switching back to english when needed
2. Reading books for beginners and books for little kids. This isn't a lot of fun, but you've got to start reading something.
3. Chatting on MSN. This will help a lot. I can't say enough about how this has helped me.
4. Reading comic books. Try getting realistic books like Slam Dunk instead of Zombie Hunter, unless you're keen to learn zombie related vocabulary.
5. Watching Korean movies with the English subtitles on. Don't just rely on the subtitles. Listen, and then glance at the subtitles to get the meaning.
6. Watching Korean movies with the Korean subtitles on. this will help if your reading is better than your listening. but don't forget to listen!
7. Reading online discussion boards. There always some interesting stuff on Nate TalkTalk
8. Watching dramas
9. Watching movies with no subtitles.
10. Reading books with no pictures.
11. Reading the newspaper and adult books. I guess this is the penultimate test of understanding.
12. Listening to the news. This is probably the ultimate test of listening skills for standard (well pronounced) Korean. Actually, listening to the news through a fruit truck loudspeaker would be the ultimate test.
13. Listening to 2 drunk old adjosshis and figuring out what the hell they're talking about.

well, that's a rough list, i guess.

stevieg4ever · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Location: London, England

TOPIK

well i took it in london, not more then 30 people there most of which were 교포 in the uk i would guess. most of the foreigners were in the beginners level 1급 which is the level i was taking. there has been a bit of discussion as to the levels and the exam i took was separated into 3 levels changed from 6.

onto the test itself. it was a roller coaster from the very bog standard questions to ones where i just hadnt covered some of the verb conjugation and grammar and vocab that was included. towards the end of the 읽기 and 듣기 paper i was just making non educated guesses Sad

apparently the pass levels were very lenient. that gives me a bit of hope. i dont really mind what the outcome is tbh, its not a life or death situation. but it was difficult. it just shows how far ive got to go...

noles_acc · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

This is an interesting and mostly unpretentious thread. One thing I'd like to toss out there: Any consideration being given to the different ways different people learn? Some are more visually inclined versus reading versus action.

Axl Rose · Joined: 16 Feb 2006

my Korean is garbage but at least I try!

folks, how do I say "I didn't understand"?

My guess is 잘 모르겠었어요 but I'm not sure. seemed like a good place to ask.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

chilgok007 · Joined: 28 May 2006 Location: Chilgok

chilgok007 · Joined: 28 May 2006 Location: Chilgok

Just found the following website:

http://www.indiana.edu/~korean/courses.html

If you click on one of the classes, then click on "syllabus," it'll take you to some good grammer explanations and example sentances. Though I haven't found a way to search for a specific topic, it still makes for an interesting browse.

chilgok007 · Joined: 28 May 2006 Location: Chilgok

I've been studying the following form:

Verb Modifier + 일이 있다/없다 -> have been/hasn't been (I think it's the Korean equivalent of the present perfect tense in English...though given the subtilty and complexity of this language, I would be suprised if it wasn't).

Here are my questions:

1) What's the difference between this form and "아/어 봤다 (To have the experience of doing...)? To me they seem pretty much interchangable. Am I correct in this assumption? Are there certain cases where you only use the former and some where you only use the latter?

2) What's the difference between:

-나는 남부에 가본 일이 있다. (I have been to the south).
-나는 나부에 가 봤다.
-나는 남부에 갔는 일이 있다.

3) Why, in the above examples, does the sentance use "본"? I thought you were supposed to use "았/었는" with action verbs. Furthermore, I thought "verb + 은" was only used with descriptive verbs. In the above examples, is this not, as I assume it to be, the verb "보다 (as in, "to see")"?

4) What if I wanted to say: I have eaten Kimchi? Would "김치를 먹어 본 일이 있다" be correct, or should I use a different Verb modifier with "먹다," like "던"?

Axl Rose · Joined: 16 Feb 2006

Qinella and Son Deureo!

Many thanks for that.

If you don't mind, what phrases do I need to send money home? I'm fine with numbers, but it'd be best if I learnt "I want to send [insert amount] to Migook - here are the details [I hand them the receeiving bank details I've used before]."

that'd be really useful!

I've done it before using very crude Korean and I'm sick of it. I can't really ask any Korean friends at this particular time, so again, I fgiured it's a good place to ask.

thx