Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dtowler]

Well.. I guess the subject puts it out there, how much Korean should I know before coming to teach? Obviously basic phrases and words will help make things easier, but should I be able to read Korean? How well should I know the language, and how hard is it really to get settled in without knowing any Korean other than the basic phrases?

[Son Deureo!]

The more you know the better, but there are Westerners that have lived here for years and never even bothered to learn how to read Korean script. I don't know why they want to live like that, but they seem to get by.

If you have time, try out the Sogang web site: [url]korean.sogang.ac.kr[/url]. You'll have to register, but it's 100% free.

Good luck.

[itaewonguy]

you dont need to know anything really..
you can easily live here without knowing too much..
all you really need to know is HELLO, GOODBYE
and the money. you can easily live here..

[maddog]

Agree with itaewonguy. I arrived here three weeks ago and have just started learning. But, it definatley makes life much, much easier.

MD

[cazador83]

hey, you will start learning words when you get here, from other co-workers and just from koreans and stuff. but i would at least try and learn hangeul, the korean script. it's very easy and you could learn it in a day. just go over it a few minutes a day and you'll be good. try a google search for it and you'll have numerous websites with helpful information.

[Qinella]

[Homer]

[AbbeFaria]

I spent some money and got some audio files for my iPod for learning Korean before I got here and they were practically worthless. Once you learn the alphabet, as was previously stated, it helps, because you can compare what you're hearing to the Korean charachters. Many of the sounds are similar, but they're usage in a lot of ways is totally different than English.

My advice would be just to focus on the written language first. If for no other reason than it gives you something to do on the walk to and from work, trying to read all the signs. The double vowels are the trickiest. I still haven't mastered those yet, but I haven't actively studied in about 2 months. I learned the main alphabet in a couple of days and have been getting by with that so far. Not that I understand 99.8 percent of what I can read, but it makes the world less foriegn.

�S�

[brento1138]

Honestly, I think the only word you need to know in your first couple weeks is "moolayo." That means "I don't understand." Because when I got here, people simply yammered on to me in Korean, even though I didn't understand a word of it. Now they still do it, and I can yammer back in very basic, messy Korean.

However, I've picked up a fair bit since I've been here, and I'd suggest learning as much as possible before coming if you have the time. Being able to read it is perhaps more practical than speaking it. But you'll learn your survival words fast, heheh, that is, if you wanna survive!

But sometimes those educational books don't teach you the more practical stuff right away... you'll just have to see what you need most. I think I learned this stuff first:
- cab driver directions
- food (being able to order in non-western restaurants)
- money (numbers. buying stuff. Koreans rarely use english outside of Seoul or big cities. sign language works, but might be confusing..)
- ordering food on the tele (comes in ultra handy!)

[Hater Depot]

http://langintro.com taught me how to read. It also has some basic grammar and a couple of vocabular quizzes. I highly recommend starting with that and then buying the first book of the Active Korean series, or Ross King's Elementary Korean if you start to feel like you really want to study hard.

[bucheon bum]

[Ekuboko]

There is a programme that has screened on Arirang TV (might be repeating right now, don't know) called Traveler's Korean.

Sure, the skits are really stupid, but the basic phrases they teach you are useful and you also get cultural and sightseeing tips.

Go to www.arirang.co.kr > TV > Culture > Traveler's Korean

You can watch the shows online (video on demand) without signing up.

[zappadelta]

[Col.Brandon]

There's a useful phrase that surfaced a few weeks ago...

No noon ilbon yon

Memorise that and use it as often as possible. You'll fit in with the locals in no time!

[SPINOZA]

It obviously won't be a bad thing to learn some stuff before arrival, but don't bust your balls. Learn some names for food so you can eat, learn hi, thanks, juseyo (give me, politely), and excuse me (yoggiyo suffices for restaurants). "I don't know" should be pronounced moh-la-yo. Some kids - ages ago - told me that "I don't understand" is 이해가안돼요 (ee hey ga an dway yoh) which I've probably spelt wrongly. I feel silly when I say it for some reason, so when I don't know what someone's on about (which is most of the time), I say "I don't speak Korean well", which (for OP's benefit), is "hangoo mal erl jal moh la yoh".