kangmi: learning korean

Korean language meetups

Click here for a list of Korean language meetups worldwide. I’m the sole member of my local meetup (and I have been for months). However, with a quick check of the list you may find yourself more fortunate than me.

Posted by kangmi on March 1, 2004 at 5:47 PM3 comments

More on study courses

John Freehling makes an excellent point about the different foci of Korean language courses.

And thanks for the kudos, John!

To all...suggestions for linking to additional resources will be taken under advisement.

Posted by kangmi on February 18, 2004 at 8:41 PM0 comments

Which Korean language study course is best?

One of the reasons that I have a shelf-ful of Korean language study books is that I was always looking for the “magic” book, the one that would instantly transform me from a monolingual American to a bilingual expatriate.

Never found a book like that, nor a web site, nor audio materials. Although one may debate the merits and demerits of a particular course (and you’ll find that I’m capable of such debate), I have finally come to the conclusion that the best Korean language study course is the one that you use.

I came to this conclusion after participating in the uproar surrounding the abrupt transition from the old Let’s Speak Korean course to the new Let’s Speak Korean course. I had become fond of host Ahn Chak-Hee and teacher Ji Seung-Hyun (if I met them in the street there’s no guarantee that I wouldn’t ask for their autographs), and I liked the structured format of the show. The new Let’s Speak Korean provided no familiarity...different hosts, no apparent structure, and what were those students doing on the show?

However, as I continued to watch the program, I realized that I was still learning new things, and that’s when I had my study material epiphany. I haven’t reached the same level of fan-girliness (which is probably a relief for the current hosts), but every day I know a little more than I did the day before. Which, in the scheme of things, is the only way anyone learns a new language.

Posted by kangmi on February 18, 2004 at 9:53 AM0 comments

High-context language

In the Let’s Speak Korean VOD I studied today (lesson 22), Stephen mentioned that Korean is a high-context language. I had never heard the term, but I knew immediately what he meant. See here and here for further definition and description of the term.

One of the initially frustrating things about Korean is that so much of what English-speakers include in their sentences is left out in Korean. For example, pronouns are often not used. It’s expected that both parties in a conversation know to what or whom the speaker is referring.

After a while, much of my frustration wore off. It can be refreshing not to have to be explicit all the time and to know that the other person understands what you’re talking about.

But I may never be fully comfortable in a high-context environment. One day, in my third or fourth year in Korea, one of my bosses (who had known me for a long time) took me aside and kindly suggested that I not ask so many questions. At the time, I understood it from the perspective of language ability. Someone whose first language is not English may have difficulty answering “why” questions. Upon reflection, however, I am finding a new perspective.

Posted by kangmi on February 17, 2004 at 3:05 PM0 comments

Hunt and peck

Let’s try some 한글 here...and it works!

This morning someone pointed out that, on a 한글 keyboard, all of the consonants are on the left, and all of the vowels are on the right. And indeed they are. Already I can feel my 한글 typing speed creeping up.

If you can’t read the Korean characters on this page, get up to speed at The Korean Keyboard WWW Virtual Library.

For good measure, here’s my Korean name: 심강미. Whee!

Posted by kangmi on February 12, 2004 at 8:30 AM0 comments