Review: Talk To Me In Korean Lesson Books (With Video)

Im using the Sogang textbook, but I am doing so while taking a Korean class with a teacher. I think this textbook would be harder without the classes…

Hi Donovan,
Cool. Thanks for the tip. I haven’t even looked at those books to be honest. I will check them out.

I have found the Speaking Korean series by Francis Y.T. Park really good for people who want to learn Korean style Chinese characters. The book itself is quite ok (even though it’s not authentic content in the sense of having actual utterances) but you might be better to just go through all the other books you already have. Once you move onto reading Korean-style Chinese characters then I fully endorse the Speaking Korean book. This will help a lot with Korean vocabulary later.

My own way of studying Korean is a bit laid back and lazy to be honest. With your superior methods and hard-core enthusiasm I’m sure you will improve much faster than I did when I was first learning. These days I take a bilingual book to Paris Baguette in lunchtime and read it for about half an hour. I often (but not always) read aloud as I do it (quietly so as not to freak people out too much) and I have the same tendency to reread the same couple of pages on consecutive days (or with a longer break between readings) until I feel comfortable with it. Right now I’m reading Animal Farm in Korean, and am almost half-way through a set of Russian short stories. I also extensively read with a whole bunch of other books that I have at my house and listen to the radio whenever I drive. Other than that I just randomly read lots of different stuff. As well as reading Korean books I’m also reading Cosmos by Carl Sagan and reading modern Mandarin textbooks and classical Chinese Buddhist texts such as the Diamond Sutra and one section of the Avatamsaka Sutra with Korean pronunciation while referring to Korean and English translations. Of course that kind of thing may seem strange but I can’t help feeling that hacking Chinese through Korean pronunciation may actually be easier than torturing myself trying to read it some forced Chinese way (without being able to speak Mandarin properly), and I think an understanding of Chinese is very helpful for learning to pick up Korean vocabulary better. The idea is to read Chinese the Korean way whilst learning Chinese through listening to Assimil and then later switching to really trying to speak Chinese when I can get some pronunciation help from a native-speaker.
Have you joined any sports or other clubs? If you have some hobby like yoga or martial-arts I’m sure this might be a great way to meet and speak with good people and form genuine relationships. Have a nice day,
Craig

I bet Animal Farm’s a fun challenge in Korean. :) Do you find that all that reading is helping you expand your active vocabulary?

I do go to a gym twice a day here where I’ve made friends with some of the guys and I’m looking into Jiu Jitsu classes. I’ve also got a group of Korean students that I meet with every weekend and they’re constantly introducing me to new people which has been fantastic.

Have you checked out the 성균관 University textbook series? I haven’t used them seriously (just a bit) but they seem really great.

I haven’t yet but I’ve heard good things about the series.

I’ll try to buy it next time I’m up in Seoul.

Hey Donovan

I just read a news article on an Irish website about your Irish language endeavour (unbelievable if not for the fact you prove it here!) and at the end of the piece it mentioned you were in Korea now. As I’m in Korea and learning Korean too this piqued my interest and a google search led me here. Your philosophy and technique for learning is very different to mine and I’ve no doubt that you’ll improve much faster than I did (for reference I’ve been here a little over 2 years and am preparing to take TOPIK 5 early next year).I’ve been inspired to focus more on speaking and care less about making mistakes in interactions with people after reading a few of your articles; I’m far too stuck in my ways to change the way I study completely, but even this small difference should pay off!

Hope you’re enjoying your life in Gumi. I’ve spent the last few Chuseok/Seollal there as it’s my girlfriend’s hometown - don’t know the city well but I like what I’ve seen!

If you’re ever up in Seoul on a weekend you should check out the Hongdae “Language Party” on a Saturday night - similar to Languagecast, but with alcohol instead of coffee!

Cheers and keep up the good work.

Hey Jon!

Sorry for the late reply.

Glad you found my blog. Are you learning Irish yourself? I’ve met a few Irish speakers in Seoul already which has given me a great opportunity to practice here.

TOPIK level 5 is a huge achievement. Good on you. I’m looking into taking a lower level test early next year as well to give myself something to aim for.

Let us know the details of the language party and I’ll try to make it next time I’m up there.

Thanks mate.