Advice for learning Korean

**Samurai_Warrior** · 05-25-2005, 14:53

Hey everyone. I've wanted to learn korean for a long time. If anyone knows of any videos, cd's, or colleges that teach korean online I would REALLY appreciate it. I'm mostly looking for a college that will teach me it online so if you have any information please tell me. Anything would be helpful. Thanks.

**D Dempsey** · 05-25-2005, 16:48

Originally Posted by Samurai_Warrior

Hey everyone. I've wanted to learn korean for a long time. If anyone knows of any videos, cd's, or colleges that teach korean online I would REALLY appreciate it. I'm mostly looking for a college that will teach me it online so if you have any information please tell me. Anything would be helpful. Thanks.

It's going to be incredibly difficut to learn by taking online courses. I studied at a university and lived in korea for a while and my korean is really lousy. It's just a really hard language to learn. Korean is rated as one of the most difficult lnaguages to learn by the Defense Language Institute. Surprising a lot of colleges offer classes in conversational korean. Just chek with local universities and community colleges.

**tkdcanada** · 05-25-2005, 17:57

This is a pretty good website for a start...

http://www.langintro.com/kintro/toc.htm

**jwinch2** · 05-25-2005, 18:24

Not to be a complete jerk, but calling the language by it's actual name of "Hangul" instead of "Korean" might not be a horrible place to start.

**D Dempsey** · 05-25-2005, 23:55

True... But its almost never called hangul in the class description.

**rupertmja** · 05-26-2005, 03:15

Hangeul is the writing system, not the language itself. The language is just Korean, or in Korean, Gukeo (Guk+eo = 2 syllables). Spelt Gukeo but pronounced more like Kugeo (or Ku-gar).

**jwinch2** · 05-26-2005, 09:27

I lived there for a year and a half and the South Korean soldiers (Katusas), and other Koreans I met called it Hangul. Two of my collegues in graduate school who are from Munsan and Taegu respectively call it Hangul. So, take from that what you will.

**D Dempsey** · 05-26-2005, 10:26

I wasn't so much refering to the natives, as yes my wife and inlaws call it hangul as well. I was talking about classes at a local university.

**rupertmja** · 05-26-2005, 11:21

Maybe you heard them saying hanguk-mal. That is what people usually call Korean - literally, Korean Language. Hangeul - it sounds similar but refers to the writing system. Guk-eo - I mentioned it above - is the name of the subject they study at school (like, we study English). Also, Hangukmal - it sounds like hangungmal when spoken. I should probably not have mentioned guk-eo as it only serves to confuse. Also, when talking to Koreans (as a foreigner) they often refer to it as uri-mal (our language).

**D Dempsey** · 05-26-2005, 14:36

So is there really a difference between saying Hangukmal and Hangukuh? My korean teacher as well as my wife use the term Hangukuh, but said they mean pretty much the same thing. Is one more proper then the other?

**rupertmja** · 05-26-2005, 19:39

Next time you hear it - listen carefully and ask. Indeed, they might ask you if you know Hangeul, but what that means is, can you read and write Korean.

Hangukeo is a more formal term for Korean language - OK - let's make a list.

1 Han-guk-eo = Korean Language (formal, written style) [sounds like hangugar]
2 Han-guk-mal = Korean (informal, spoken style) [sounds like - hangungmal]
3 Guk-eo = Korean Language, as in the subject studied by Koreans at school [sounds like gugar]
4 Han-geul = Korean writing system (alphabet) [sounds like hangul]

(The dashes are not usually written - I just added them to show where the words separate)

**D Dempsey** · 05-26-2005, 22:52

Ok thanks for clearing that up. I've got a hanguel program on my computer so you could have just written everything in hanguel. Once again thanks though.

**AllanJGAnderson** · 06-01-2005, 21:39

I taught myself to read and write in Russian, along with quite a bit of speaking, but trying to teach myself Hangul (The writing system) is dang near impossible

**Gae-Bek** · 06-03-2005, 08:19

All you need to know:

Maek-chu ashim-nika? = "Do you have beer?"

Cho-nen maek-chu po a ham-ni-da = "I like beer."

I borrowed some "Learning Korean" audio tapes from my Master Instructor, and that was pretty much all I took from it...LOL. There was also how to ask "Where is the liquior store", but I can't remember that one.

**Mr.Rooster** · 06-19-2005, 14:34

Samurai_Warrior:

If you want to learn Korean, that's great and good luck.
However, if you learn from a Korean teacher, I would suggest not makiing reference to being a Samurai_Warrior. Why? Samurai were Japanese and the Japanese are considered to be enemies of the Korean people still to this day in many cases because of the way the Japanese have treated the Korean people through the years. You will be hard pressed to find a patriotic Korean that does not bear some ill feelings toward the Japanese. Just keep that in mind when dealing with the Korean people. It is often with alot of the Koreans, insulting to them if you talk highly of the Japanese in there presence. It is best to stay neutral on the subject if you don't agree with all they say about the Japanese if you plan on getting anywhere with the Korean people. Of course, most of these same Korean people are well aware of the fact that not all Japanese are bad or were bad to the Korean people, but on the whole, Japan is frowned upon by the Koreans.

**Pale Rider** · 06-21-2005, 10:13

I learned something here today. I thought that Hanguk was more of the spoken language and Hangul the written, I can say that I learned more in this thread.

Thanks

**Pale Rider** · 06-21-2005, 18:16

I understand the Basic written language. I can read it (may not know what it says.... lol), but the basic sounds are phonetic.

**klaasb** · 08-14-2005, 03:34

Want to learn Korean???

Spend your time in Korea

and even then it is HARD (like some people already mentioned).

I spend six months at the Yonsei Language Institute (http://www.yonsei.ac.kr/~kli/) and I can make myself clear in most everyday situations.
But don't expect me to understand everything the guy from the news says on TV.

Learning Hangul (The writing system) is easy, although you will have problems with the right pronounciation for A LONG TIME.

**Samurai_Warrior** · 08-14-2005, 21:22

I have a question. Would you recomend learning korean through an audio tape? I'm thinking about buying one through a brand called 'pimsleur' but I'm not sure it will work and it costs 105 bucks. I would really apreciate your opinion on this matter, and thanks everyone for all your advice.

**klaasb** · 08-15-2005, 02:55

DON'T BUY THE PIMSLEUR TAPES or anything that resembles them.

If you can get just a little help from native Korean, I would recommend buying the books from Seoul National University.
They are pretty good for self-study and you can order tapes with them as well. (in case you can't get help from a native Korean speaker)

The ISBN number for the 4th book (which I happen to have in front of me) is: 89-7260-631-1
As soon as I get the first three books back from my friend I will post the ISBN-numbers here as well.

The publisher is MoonJinMedia
http://www.moonjin.com/

Tel: 0082 2 2140-2500 (that is in Seoul, Korea)