Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JanyAlly]

Hi everyone!

I have been researching teaching abroad in Korea for about a week now and I am obsessed with the idea of it! I will be graduating in May 2012 with two degrees. Therefore, I essentially have a full year to get ready. However, my school does not offer Korean courses and was wondering if you guys had some solid recommendations on how to get an ahead start on learning the language in the US. Please tell me your experiences with books, audio, podcasts, the works! Of course, the more reasonably priced, the better

[isisaredead]

i guess you could do rosetta stone.

honestly, though, nothing will really "stick" unless you use it every day - and the best way to do that is to actually live here.

i had my basics when i got off the plane, but seriously, you don't REALLY learn until you're here.

i certainly admire your gusto, though, that's for sure.

[nathanrutledge]

You're in college now? Go to the student center/foreign student place and find a Korean. Most universities offer language exchange options for foreign students to help them meet people and improve their language. You've got to have at least one on campus somewhere.

[matthews_world]

Is this a typo in the thread title or should you be concentrating on your own language?

[djloekee27]

craiglist ftw. that's where i found my korean tutor before i came to korea. i got lucky, he just happened to be an "exchange professor" at my college.

[oldtactics]

I recommend using Anki to practice vocabulary - I've been here two years and I still use it often.

[young_clinton]

Yeah yeah yeah yeah Pimsleur Korean I & II and all 3 Rosetta Stones Korean. These will allow you to understand a few things Koreans are saying but mostly you will be able to say a lot of useful things that will make the children (if thats who you're teaching) like you and the adults impressed with you. Those two programs will give you a good base for further learning. Do Pimsleur Korean I & II first.

[Chet Wautlands]

A tutor, Pimsleur, and learning the alphabet. You'll be miles ahead of most English teachers.

[cert43]

"chinese"

[JanyAlly]

[JanyAlly]

[JanyAlly]

[cert43]

[nate1983]

I started studying a few months before I left for Korea - used Integrated Korean series from U of Hawaii Press...barely passed level 3 (low intermediate) of TOPIK before I left, which provided me with basic grammar, but my conversational skills were (naturally) very weak. Nevertheless, having the basics down kept me motivated and I ended up studying full time at a university (where after a little more study I was able to enter at level 5). Learning some before you come (more than just hangeul and a few basic phrases) will be hugely helpful, and honestly the Integrated Korean series is pretty damn good in my opinion. I also used some video series that was available on youtube but forgot what it was called (put out by Arirang network). Now I'm living in Shanghai and it's incredibly frustrating not being able to communicate and having most of the world shut off around me...hence, I'm about to go eat at a Korean restaurant (my comfort zone). I imagine it's easier to get around in Seoul than Shanghai only knowing English, but that's not something I wanted to experience for nearly two years.

[djloekee27]

learn online.

http://www.kosnet.go.kr/
sign up and use their flash/audio/movies with practice exercises.

http://korean.sogang.ac.kr/
sogang has their own version.

and some other websites.
http://www.learnkoreanlanguage.com/
http://catcode.com/kintro/
http://www.onlinelearnkorean.com/
http://www.declan-software.com/korean.htm#Links

and this is the book that my tutor in the states taught me out of. i had it for years but i only used the online resources until i found a tutor (the book was confusing to me without a tutor. i had taken spanish in high school and spanish, french & japanese in college so i was used to having a teacher, not self-study).
http://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Korean-Second-Ross-Ph-D/dp/080483976X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309522339&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Continuing-Korean-Ross-King/dp/080483430X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309522348&sr=8-1

hanbooks has a better selection like the active korean books by seoul national univ. that my korean hagwon used but you can buy them cheaper once you get to korea.
http://www.hanbooks.com/kolate1.html

i won't bore you with the other books i use for self study (i have tons of books).