Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Drew345]

I’m part of a pretty decent language exchange meetup and we could use a few more foreigners there if you are interested.
http://www.meetup.com/Language-Learn-Korea/

The meeting is from 7-10 pm on Tuesdays near Ehwa University Station; come a little late or leave early is fine too.
The nice thing about this language exchange is that we really shoot for a 50-50 split between English time and Korean time. I’ve been to another language exchange in Hongdae where there was no “Korean language time”, which made it a rather weak language exchange imho. We really aim for 50-50 time split between the languages here.
I’ve heard about other meetups that were “Fun! Party! BBQ!”. I’ve never been to one of those because I think in “social” situations, the language tends to move toward English a lot more than Korean. So this meetup is fun, but more structured and not a “party”.
Last meeting we had 3 native English speakers and 6 Korean speakers, so we did 3 groups of 3 and rotated members around to keep it interesting, then just a big group at the end. It seems to work out nice that way: small groups; rotating members; an hour for Korean, an hour for English. I’m thinking we may be getting more Koreans, and I think if ratio gets more than 2:1 Korean it will be hard to keep it a true “exchange” so that’s why I am posting here.
If your Korean is at a level where you want to try carry on in Korean only for an hour we’d love to see you. If your Korean is not quite there then you can use the Korean time to talk “about” Korean, or bring your textbook and run through some dialogs with native speakers; that would be great too.
So, if you’d like a language exchange with real 50-50 Korean-English time then we’d love to see you.
Thanks, Drew

http://www.meetup.com/Language-Learn-Korea/

[rabidcake]

Is there a fee? Where is the event held?

[Drew345]

It's 10,000 Won a meeting. You get a juice and coffee, but the fee is really to cover the meeting room. It is some kind of multi-purpose meeting facility: other nights there are meditation or self-improvement meetings (all Korean).
There's a map here:
http://www.meetup.com/Language-Learn-Korea/events/149397982/
Basically, leave Ehwa station exit 3 walking toward Ehwa university. Make a right at the first road. Go up till you see an Indian restaurant. The meeting room is above the Indian restaurant.
The name of the place is "Vision Story", but I don't think it's on any English map.
Thanks, Drew

[postfundie]

Could you describe the " Korean Time" a little bit more and what you mean by keeping it 50/50? like what are the specific things you do to keep it even?

[Drew345]

For the past few Tuesday night meetings, we start with a meet and chit chat from 7:00 - 7:30, waiting for people to arrive.
From 7:30 to 8:15, we do 45 minutes of one language (maybe English, maybe Korean first). Then from 8:15 to 9:00 we do the other language. We have been making small groups (it's been two Koreans and one foreigner in a group), and rotating the members every 15 minutes.
I usually leave shortly after 9, so I am not sure what happens from 9 to 10, but I see from the kakatalk pictures that most everyone hangs around, so seems to be fun enough during that time too.
So, in answer to your question, we have designated Korean language practice time, and designated English language practice time. I really push for 50-50, but it may not be that exactly because I'm not sure what they do from 9 to 10.
I mention the "Korean time" and "50-50" because I went to another big language exchange in Hongdae that had no designated "Korean time" and most every time I tried to practice Korean the others (Korean) would really resist and try to change back to English. So that is why this language exchange has designated "Korean time". If a foreigner's Korean is not quite up to "Korean only" then of course the Koreans wouldn't mind mixing in English in the Korean time.
All English speaking Korean learners are welcome. Hope to see you Tuesday night if interested.

[Drew345]

Thought I'd give this a bump. Meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) night.
Thanks

[postfundie]