I was wondering if anyone can recommend computer programs, books and/or tapes/CD's to Learn Korean? Thanks

Kristin

Found it in the bottom of an old box I hadn't yet unpacked. There is a very good CD based program. They used to sell it at most BX/PX's. It is a Korean company, here is the contact info:
NongShim Data System Co.
680-1, Yeoksam-Dong, Kangnam-Gu
Seoul, Korea
Tel: 82-2-501-1211 Fax: 82-2-539-1815.

I bought this back in 94 so couldn't say if they still exist. There were three CD's, three levels, from elementary on up. It was easy to follow and had audible instruction for proper vowels sounds etc...

If you really want to get into it deep, the Defense Language Institute used to sell a complete program from a to z, or I sould say from ah to yah. It was relatively expensive and it used to come with cassettes and books. Probably comes in a CD version today, if they still sell it.

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Turk Quid Pro Quo

Thanks so much that was really helpful! I'll have to look to see if I can find it :)

Also, you will find many good books at the BX. In the past they have usually carried the ones that are easiest to understand. One put out by Barrons was always my favorite. There are usually informal conversational Korean classes available on base. One tip on what worked for me, practice speaking and learning the vowels first. Stay busy and enjoy the food. Playing darts on a an SSDA dart team is a good thing to help pass the year there, if you can get into that kind of thing. You make many friends that way. Good luck and have a great year.

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Turk Quid Pro Quo

It really depends on how deep you want to go and where you are living.

If you are looking at basic Korean consider buying a book.

I used the SoKang University books. It is a set of 6 books from beginners to advanced. This was a unversity class for foreigners. The larger universities usually have a program for foreigners.

If you are looking for a more advanced book the one I liked was College Korean. THe author is Michael Rogers and it is Korean language program at the University of Cal Berkeley. It is a year long program.

Intructor led training is the best way to learn.

Perseverance is the key to learning. Do not be afraid to make mistakes. In fact if you get a small pocket size book you will be surprised at how friendly most Koreans are and willing to help you learn.

Best of luck.

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Chill

I think I read that you would be going to Osan. Suggest you check with MWR or the Education Office when you get in. Free lessons are available.

This thread had lots of suggestions we made way back in March or April,etc.
We came to the conclusion that CD's and spending money won't help you. Perseverance will.

To make a long story short- ( I have 9 hours of Korean with the University of Maryland-) I have tried every way there is. With a small book from the BX you can do fine. Choose to learn to speak without learning the written language and you will have a difficult time without a tutor. My opinion is learn to read the language first. About 23 characters in all, and can be learned in a day or so. Simplifies and speeds up the whole process.
Most just buy a pocket size book and find someone to help them travel around. Learning to speak from an American is normally not a good idea, in my opinion, unless that person is able to read Hangul fluently. Without that ability, pronunciation normally suffers. I'll recommend a beginners book tonight, if I can find it. Good luck.

By far, the widest selection of books is at the large bookstores in Seoul. They literally have dozens of them. In my opinion, the vast majority of them are crap (there and everywhere else that sells these kinds of books). Unfortunately, however, it's hard for someone not already familiar with the language to know what is and what isn't good.

I was very fortunate to have a good KATUSA friend buy me my first book for learning Korean (by the way, 25 years later and he and I are still good buddies). I don't know if it was just luck or what, but he got me the best book I've ever seen for learning Korean. I ended up loaning that book out and never got it back. And I've only ever seen it for sale once - and that was several years ago.

I recommend that rather than grabbing any ol' book off the shelf at the bookstore, you find a non-native Korean speaker who is fluent in Korean and get him/her to assist you with finding a good book.

And don't only count on the book - you have to use your ears. Find a native speaker that's willing to help and copy what they're saying. Do it over and over and over - to the point where you are mimicking them exactly. This probably won't work for everyone, but it worked wonderfully well for me - to the point where I can get on the phone and hold a short conversation with a Korean and they never have a clue that I'm not a native speaker.

Just so everyone knows, if you are Army or work for the Army and have an AKO account, you can sign up for FREE Korean language classes at AKO. Not just Korean either, their are several different language classes there.

I'm not sure about the other services, but i'm sure they have it also!! Just have to go to your specific service main page and check under education.

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CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey

Here is a book I recommend- it is like a child's workbook, but is excellent to learn on the Plane riding to Korea. Looking out the window over the Pacific is not nearly as profitable.
"Your First 100 words in KOREAN" includes puzzles, games and flash cards!
If you spend about $10.95 for this from Passport Books you won't be sorry. ISB#0-658-01140-5 (Show this # to your bookstore)
It is Red, Yellow & Blue, and 8 1/2 X 11. Maybe 1/4" thick. When you get to Inchon, you will be able to read some Words!

There are others. Check the Thrift shop at your favorite Base or Post. For additional reading on the plane, I recommend Lonely Planet Korea Guide, (although it is over $20.) Your Sponsor package should have some good reading, also. Older books are fine, but Korea is ever changing, and know that books are quickly outdated. Don't believe what your neighbors tell you about the "old days" is still true. The old days will never return to Korea, or your old hometown! Enjoy the New Korea! Don't drink the water yet, though. And don't expect a U.S. equivalent of sanitation.

I love it here, everyone is so helpful :) I like the idea of the childs workbook, thats just my speed. I didn't know that they offered language classes on base, thats really great. I hope to be able to learn to read it as well I mean how will you really know where you are unless you can read. Thanks for all the help!