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legalquestions
Joined: 25 Mar 2007
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 Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 12:33 am Post subject: Korean language hagwons or univ programs? |
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Thinking about studying me some Korean language. Which do you think is best, the Korean language hagwons, such as those advertised in the English language daily newspapers, OR the university Korean language study programs.
Compare and contrast, please. |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 1:22 am Post subject: |
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Everyone successful at it says Sogang University is the place to go because it's more conversational. Some like Yonsei, because they prefer more drill grammar.
Stay away from the hagwons. I've wasted a chunk of money there, and the one I went to (in Kangnam) was not good at all, IMHO. The first few lessons were OK, and then we hit a huge wall. It was like...Day 1: Oh, here's what the language looks like. Day 2: Here are some Korean sounds. Day 3. Here are a few words. Day 4: Please memorize these full sentences, and by the way the verbs follow any one of the following multiple patterns. We'll teach you the most formal for now, but nobody uses it. By the way... why can't you read yet? You'd better learn fast, because we're going to write a letter. |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 7:19 am Post subject: |
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I don't really know anything about the Hagwon side of this question, I attended Yonsei. But I think the real question isn't where to study, but to what degree do you want to study. How much time, effort, and money are you looking to put into it? Your OP said "I'm thinking about studying some......"
If this is an indication of how much you want to put into it (and I'm in no way trying to be critical) I would recommend the Hagwon route. Yonsei is a demanding course that requires a lot of after class study to keep up with the pace of new grammar and vocabulary they are continually throwing at you. It is definitely not just a fun class to pick up because you have your mornings free before working six hours teaching English.
The down side to going the Hagwon route is that there are good and bad ones out there, as you know. A little research on your part should help you navigate that minefield though.
So it really boils down to what you are looking to get out of it, and what you are looking to put into it. You really can't compare the two as equal choices. Good luck! 열심히 공부하세요! |
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Toon Army
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 8:03 am Post subject: |
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| bassexpander wrote: |
Everyone successful at it says Sogang University is the place to go because it's more conversational. Some like Yonsei, because they prefer more drill grammar.
Stay away from the hagwons. I've wasted a chunk of money there, and the one I went to (in Kangnam) was not good at all. |
I went to Sogang and found it very good and would like to study there again if I get the time in the future. I did levels 1 and 2 and worked full time no problem.....level 3 requires onwards requires way more dedication though.
As for hagwons....I would probably avoid them as mentioned but the one I`ve heard good things about is - Ganada language school in Hongdae |
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Easter Clark
Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong
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aerialsimulacrum
Joined: 11 May 2008
Location: Space is the place
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 1:47 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Day 1: Oh, here's what the language looks like. Day 2: Here are some Korean sounds. Day 3. Here are a few words. Day 4: Please memorize these full sentences, and by the way the verbs follow any one of the following multiple patterns. |
That's also what my self-study CD course is like. I bought it in the US. The course book spent an entire page explaining hangul, with nothing about the rules for forming syllabic blocks.
Section 2 of the audio suddenly introduced lengthy, complex dialogs with not a single explanation of individual words, verb conjugations, or word order. |
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