Fighting!

The best way I find to keep track of my progress, revise and enjoy learning is to make a language book.

You can see my Japanese Language Book called 'Japan and Back' on my Japanese site Gambate:
http://japanese.travellerspoint.com/2/

My Korean isn't good enough yet to complete a phrase book but it's a work in progress and it's on it's way. This is what it will look like most likely with a Vocab column on the left and main phrases beside it. All color coded with original Photo's taken by yours truly.

A short one this time round. All I have to say is simply this LEARN TO READ

When you travel, go to a restaurant, at your school and even around town your going to want to read to save you time and worry. The good news is Korean writing or Hanguel is a piece of pie so get to it by clicking this link:

http://www.genkienglish.net/speakkorean/koreanalphabet.htm

I thought you might like this translation I made of a 'gimbap chonguk - gimbap heaven' menu (the common orange sign Korean restaurants). It's a bit biased because I didn't include some of the more fishy dishes (not a fan) but I will do a complete one ......... someday?
For a full menu with more information visit:
http://maryeats.com/2006/11/16/kimbap-nara-menu/

My menu doesn't have any Korean writing because it would be too large and you should get a copy of your local menu and find these items on it as practice.

To see the full menu use this link:
http://www.travellerspoint.com/photos/stream/size/L/photoID/205762/
Then you can print it, fold it and keep it in your wallet like I do.

Korean food is healthy cheap and delicious so get stuck in.

Here are some tip's I have found through trial and error:

Find a reliable time to study Korean outside of home.

Personally, I have a friend at my Korean school to help me at the end of the day for about 20 minutes or so and then I can go home and review it.

To supplement his classes I listen to a Korean Podcast while I run

In the past I have used coffee shops and Libraries to get me off my arse and study in a good environment

Use your MP3 player for more than Beyonce

My Free Podcast is Korean101. You can download all the dialogues for free from:
http://www.koreanclass101.com/
I recommend signing up for the free trial so you can look at some of the PDF's that are useful. In fact if you sign up for the free trial you will receive a bunch of emails offering "deals". Resist them until you get the one that say's 'name your price' and then you can have a whole month for $1. In this time you can download the lesson content you need for a long time.
Newbie1 + 2 are great, funny and dead simple
Beginner classes are more in depth on grammar and longer dialogues

The feeling you get when you start to understand the dialogues and then real-life is fantastic

Don't knock Language Games

There are some dead simple Korean vocab games on:
http://www.genkienglish.net/speakkorean/

Elementary Kids

Kids speak quickly and they may not understand your lack of Korean as they fire a billion Q's your way but with the study tips mentioned above they are the best way to practice.
Don't be afraid to use a bit of Korean in class or ask the kids the Korean for what you are teaching. The kids enjoy it even if you get it wrong.

Lunch Time

So maybe your an English teacher but that doesn't mean you can't practice your Korean with your students. The best time for this is during lunch. Sit with the kids (mingle) and ask simple questions you've learned.

It doesn't take much to become a Korean novice and that's all that most expect of you but if you go that one step more you will enjoy and learn much more about the culture through the language

Good luck and here's a few more free links worth a browse:
http://korean.sogang.ac.kr/
http://survivalphrases.com/korean/guest.php

Hey there fellow Korean expats.

I am learning Korean (or at least trying) but not absorbing enough of it into my tiny sponge of a brain so this is my incentive to learn and study.
As an off shoot, I though you might find it a useful tool too and I hope that you can see this page as your own site too by emailing me any info, tips, corrections (or whatever you think is useful) along with an explanation and I will look it over and post it.

So rather than get off your arse I ask you to sit on it and study with me.

On a side note, if your interested in learning Japanese or are an EPIK teacher then check these links out:
http://japanese.travellerspoint.com/
http://teachingepik.travellerspoint.com/