|
This is a great initiative. I've been learning for about two years, mostly self-study plus two semesters at Sogang University. I'll post more later but for now:
1) TTMIK is a great resource, I know the guys who run it and they're awesome people as well.
2) Rosetta Stone is obviously not worth paying for, but as someone already posted, most TL users can probably figure out a way to "acquire" it anyway. RS is an easier and more efficient way to learn basic phrases and vocabulary than just learning it from a textbook imo. I used it when I first started out and I don't regret it.
3) On a personal note, I'm preparing for the TOPIK (한국어능력시험) at the moment and I have some hard grammar questions that I can't figure out. So if there are any kind souls on TL who are native speakers and could help me out, I'd appreciate it immensely and definitely shout you a beer if you're in Seoul or ever come to Seoul. Cheers.
|
On January 04 2012 20:57 FuRong wrote:
This is a great initiative. I've been learning for about two years, mostly self-study plus two semesters at Sogang University. I'll post more later but for now:
1) TTMIK is a great resource, I know the guys who run it and they're awesome people as well.
2) Rosetta Stone is obviously not worth paying for, but as someone already posted, most TL users can probably figure out a way to "acquire" it anyway. RS is an easier and more efficient way to learn basic phrases and vocabulary than just learning it from a textbook imo. I used it when I first started out and I don't regret it.
2) On a personal note, I'm preparing for the TOPIK (한국어능력시험) at the moment and I have some hard grammar questions that I can't figure out. So if there are any kind souls on TL who are native speakers and could help me out, I'd appreciate it immensely and definitely shout you a beer if you're in Seoul or ever come to Seoul. Cheers.
gl on topik,
got the beginner level here, takes me 30 minutes to figure out what the questions are about 
well not learning korean for that long, so i guess that's how it's supposed to be.
|
For those who are trashing Rosetta Stone:
I started with it a few days ago after getting lv1 for christmas. Is it really so bad that I should quit using it and start with something else instead, or can it at least be decent to start with? I'm obviously not yet at the point where I can tell how much I'm actually learning. How can it be so bad if it's been the go-to for computer language learning? Can Korean really b e that different as far as how good the program is? I find it hard to imagine that korean in particular would be so bad.
|
Concerning Rosetta Stone:
It's great for vocabulary or as a supplement.
But it has it's limitations, since there is absolutely no explanation in another language. So you learn what you think it means/when it's used. Not necessarily what it means / when it's used (though you might realize in a later example that you misunderstood the concept and can correct it. But imho it's still time wasted, and could've been avoided with a short English explanation).
Btw if you want to read a nice success story from a TL user:
I found this blog inspirational & a good read.
|
I'm actually very interested to learn Korean. Might try it this summer.
|
On January 04 2012 09:24 k1mjee wrote:Show nested quote +On January 04 2012 09:01 Froadac wrote:
To be avoided
[*]Rosetta Stone - Universally considered terrible for Korean.
100% disagree. I spent 3 months with Rosetta Stone and can speak fluently with other native Korean people perfectly fine. Great resource.
When you say fluent, what do you mean exactly? Like, you can order food/give taxi directions and stuff like that? I've been living in Korea and studying Korean for 10 months now, and I still wouldn't say I'm fluent per se... I mean I can say a ton of things and probably know ~1500 words, but they speak so damn fast >.< and with slang and all that... 어떻게 ㅠ.ㅠ
OP, great thread by the way!
|
On January 04 2012 22:49 Zocat wrote:Concerning Rosetta Stone: It's great for vocabulary or as a supplement. But it has it's limitations, since there is absolutely no explanation in another language. So you learn what you think it means/when it's used. Not necessarily what it means / when it's used (though you might realize in a later example that you misunderstood the concept and can correct it. But imho it's still time wasted, and could've been avoided with a short English explanation). Btw if you want to read a nice success story from a TL user: I found this blog inspirational & a good read.
Hm, true - did notice this already. I am streaming my rosetta stone on a private channel to my gf (fluent korean) and asking her questions if it doesn't make sense. She also teaches me some small phrases / uses them to keep me in shape, so that helps. Seems to be working well though so far!
|
is Mandarin closer to Korean than Japanese or are they about the same?
|
On January 05 2012 03:09 Timurid wrote:
is Mandarin closer to Korean than Japanese or are they about the same?
I think Japanese is closer than chinese, am not sure.
|
On January 05 2012 08:59 Froadac wrote:Show nested quote +On January 05 2012 03:09 Timurid wrote:
is Mandarin closer to Korean than Japanese or are they about the same? I think Japanese is closer than chinese, am not sure.
In terms of grammar Korean and Japanese are nearly identical. In terms of vocabulary, both Korean and Japanese borrow heavily from Chinese as it is, so all three are related somewhat equally in terms of vocabulary.
|
Chinese grammar is pretty much the same as English grammar. Korean and Japanese are similar to each other, but completely different from mandarin. I believe it is SVO vs SOV or something?
My question is, when writing words in hangeul with more than one character, how do you decide what to write when two ways result in the (maybe) same sound? like 숮이 vs 수지. This has been bugging me for a while, thanks.
|
On January 05 2012 11:23 fatfail wrote:
Chinese grammar is pretty much the same as English grammar. Korean and Japanese are similar to each other, but completely different from mandarin. I believe it is SVO vs SOV or something?
My question is, when writing words in hangeul with more than one character, how do you decide what to write when two ways result in the (maybe) same sound? like 숮이 vs 수지. This has been bugging me for a while, thanks.
It depends on the word, I'm pretty sure. There are a few spelling things that are just word by word - my biggest peeve is ㅐ vs ㅔ.. TT
|
Germany2413 Posts
Korean and Japanese are definitely SOV. Don't know about Mandarin.
And your question has been boggling my mind for a while already. I wondered every time why it was written 윤아 and not 유나 when I was still into SNSD. I came to the conclusion that you can't tell them apart from their pronounciation, you just gotta learn them by heart. Would like to have that confirmed too though.
On January 05 2012 11:27 Pokebunny wrote:Show nested quote +On January 05 2012 11:23 fatfail wrote:
Chinese grammar is pretty much the same as English grammar. Korean and Japanese are similar to each other, but completely different from mandarin. I believe it is SVO vs SOV or something?
My question is, when writing words in hangeul with more than one character, how do you decide what to write when two ways result in the (maybe) same sound? like 숮이 vs 수지. This has been bugging me for a while, thanks. It depends on the word, I'm pretty sure. There are a few spelling things that are just word by word - my biggest peeve is ㅐ vs ㅔ.. TT
I was told there's actually very little to no difference in today's pronounciation. So it's truly a pain in the ass to know which one to write...
|
There is no way to tell just by listening, you have to learn the spelling one word at a time.
But think about it, at least it makes sense. Be thankful we don't have to deal with the bs that is English...rough/cough/through/bough etc
|
Germany2413 Posts
Speak for yourself, native English speaker 
|
Would anybody be up for skype chat sometime in next few weeks?
|
Seeker
Where dat snitch at?37065 Posts
On January 06 2012 09:31 Froadac wrote:
Would anybody be up for skype chat sometime in next few weeks?
The Korean coaches? Or the ppl who want to learn?
|
On January 06 2012 11:53 Seeker wrote:Show nested quote +On January 06 2012 09:31 Froadac wrote:
Would anybody be up for skype chat sometime in next few weeks? The Korean coaches? Or the ppl who want to learn?
Haha. Figuring both.
|
Seeker
Where dat snitch at?37065 Posts
On January 06 2012 12:06 Froadac wrote:Show nested quote +On January 06 2012 11:53 Seeker wrote:On January 06 2012 09:31 Froadac wrote:
Would anybody be up for skype chat sometime in next few weeks? The Korean coaches? Or the ppl who want to learn? Haha. Figuring both.
I can probably make it. What time are we looking at?
|
I just want to learn how to type in korean " I'm not korean and I dont speak it"
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT
