Korean Job Discussion Forums

VanIslander · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 1:51 pm Post subject:

You know how it ends.

A lot of it is needed.

mithridates · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 8:32 am Post subject:

I have a new tip. I have a microphone now and I record myself 'teaching' myself new words. I take a page or so of a dictionary and repeat it all, in English as well as the target language. For words that I already know I just say the word once, but for others that I know haven't stuck in my mind I go over it a few times or even talk about it a bit.
Say the word 'demander' in French for example; if you didn't know that you would say it once, then say 'remember that it doesn't mean demand, it means ask! If you want to ask for directions, use demander. Demander.' Then go on to the next word. Usually you'll end up with a 5-minute or so sound file that you can listen to over and over again even while doing 'useless' things like surfing Dave's.
As long as your pronunciation is all right, that is. It doesn't have to be perfect but it should be understandable.

Universalis · Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Location: Seoul

1) Buy some Korean language tapes and listen to them all the time... on the way to work, on the way to school, on the way home, on the subway, while walking, anywhere! I suggest the Yonsei tapes.

2) Learn some hanja... they work like prefixes and suffixes in English... it's a good way to expand your vocab.

3) BS with taxi drivers. Seeing as how they're looking forward and concentrating on driving, I find talking to them a bit less intimidating.

4) If you go to a stationary shop, you might be able to find some small notebooks that they sell for about 200W. Buy one and carry it with you... use it write down expressions and vocab you hear during the day.

5) Beyond that, just practice, practice, and practice.

Brian

d503 · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Location: Daecheong, Seoul

Hey mirth I really like that idea about recording the vocab. I'm using it now to keep my non-using languages on track

Thanks for the idea Smile

komtengi · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Location: Slummin it up in Haebangchon

hook up with a local that doesnt speak your language... as the relationship blossoms... watch your language skills rocket

pollyplummer · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Location: McMinnvillve, Oregon

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

Read. Read everything you can get your hands on that you can handle in your target language. Usually the most well-spoken people in their native languages read a lot. IMHO it's no different with a foreign language.

Street signs and subway ads are good when you're first starting. Later graduate to comic books and kids books. Eventually you'll be able to handle light fiction and news (Daum and Naver news is a bit easier to read than regular print news, and the free papers on the subway are also a bit easier to read), and so on. It's the best way to pick up new vocabulary and expose yourself to good grammar on a regular basis.

You'll need a basic grasp of grammar in order to pull this off, and even then you'll need a grammar reference as well as a dictionary. This does take patience, but over the long haul it will do a lot to help you improve.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

Atkinson · Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Location: Land of the Golden Twist-tie

<bump>

MOS, did you ever get your laptop working? I'm in need of a good flashcard program, but haven't found anything solid online yet, and would like your recommendation.

cypher · Joined: 08 Nov 2003

I would kill for closed-captioning on Korean TV. I can read Korean all right (well, at least I can read some of the subtitles on English shows on TV, which is doing well for me and Korean) but my listening skills shi...so bad. I figure I might understand more of what they were saying if I could read some of what they were saying. As it is, if I watch a drama I add my own dialogue (in English)...highly amusing for me but not so good for improving my Korean.

Okay, this isn't a tip...more of a wish list...with one item.

BTW, anyone know some good Korean music to exercise to?

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

inkoreafornow · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Location: Gyeonggido

Check these sites for more suggestions:

http://how-to-learn-any-language.com

http://www.omniglot.com/

Atkinson · Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Location: Land of the Golden Twist-tie

I searched for, downloaded and installed all the flash card programs I could find. Most of them were not good enough to relase even as alpha because of horrible layout (buttons hiding off the screen), or weak features (can only go Eng=>��, not ��=>Eng). All the rest were acceptable as flash card programs where you can do slideshows of the cards, or quiz yourself, or whatever you like.

One program that stood out for me was VTrain: http://www.vtrain.net/home.htm. This program does more than just let you go through your hundreds of flash cards being right or wrong. This one remembers how well you know each card, and gives you more practice with the ones you mess up, and less with the ones you always get. So some words you'll practice every day or two, and some you'll practice once every year or two (Do you really need to practice �ִ� and �� every day?), or never again, if you choose that option. This way, you spend all your valuable time learning hard words. You can choose to type the answers out, or just say them (check the answer, and then tell the computer if you got it right).

It's not the easiest program to use right away because it's not just a simple flashcard program, but it comes with an integrated tutorial that got me up and running fast.

There are sets of flash cards already made for many languages at their website, but not one for Korean. I've already made my own based on the Sogang series. If you want it, PM me.

The shareware version comes with a 30-hour time limit. I don't know if it stops funcitoning or just nags you after that. I'm not gonng find out because I just bought a licence. I think this is my first time buying shareware.