Teaching in Korea: Hangeul

One of the many questions I receive on a regular basis is did I know any Korean before coming here to teach. The answer to that question is a simple, No. When I was in Korea in 2008, I tried learning the language, but wasnt really focused, so my skills really didnt develop. I did learn how to speak a lot of Korea, which made my stay very enjoyable.

But this year, I took a different approach and have made it a priority to learn the Korean language. This is having a profound effect on my stay here, making it far more enjoyable.

But the question remains, Does one need to learn Korea before coming here?

I still stand by my answer that one does not. However, I do think that every person coming to Korea should learn how to read Hangeul (한글). First, the Korean character set is quiet easy to learn. One can master it in about a week (a day if youre really focused). While you wont be able to make sense of whats in front of you, you will be able to know where youre going and thats key because transliterating Korean into English can be a major source of frustration (at least on my part). I say this because if you know the Hangeul, then you know for sure the destination (or what youre looking for) despite what the English sign says.

Here are a few examples:

강남 can both me romanized as Gangnam and Kangnam. As an native English we read these as two different words, yet they are the same place.

How about 부산? thats right its Busan or Pusan depending who youre asking.

Like your mobile phone manufactured by 삼성? Thats Samsung, the company, but also Samseong Station.

Each of the above 한글 (Hangeul or Hangul) examples have different spellings yet their pronunciations are the same. Being able to read the Hangeul characters makes it far easier to get around, especially when there arent bus routes printed in English. Someone can tell you the stop to get off at and you can actually find it yourself. That is what living in a foreign land is all about. And let me tell you the first time you do this its an awesome feeling!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Education
• ESL
• Hangeul
• 한글
• Korea
• Language
• South Korea
• Travel

[only1bigg]

I love Korea and learning Korean - I have been learning more and more - My son's Tae Kwon Do master loves teaching me and learning English too. The one problem I have is how in the world do you have a language that is so "scientific" that does not evolve? I mean English evolves and we are able to change words and spellings around and when something better comes along we adapt and adopt. But Hangeul is so stringent. You can't even blend let alone have a F sound - no new words being created?

[qiranger]

I'm not sold on the ever-changing aspect of English is a good thing. One of the thing that really gets me is how it is acceptable to not have the last "," in a list.

[fehquig]

It always helps to learn some of the language where you live.

That way you don't come across like you're ignorant...

[DerReisendeGaijin]

The same thing happens here in the U.S. with Uni, also combined with(what I think) is too high of a drinking age, and America's attitude toward alcohol in general. When I was in Germany kids as young as 16 were drinking at the bars, but they didn't get nearly as drunk as American students typically do. They even sold Beer at the college cafeteria!

The U.S. education system is becoming more and more test(standardized tests) oriented for younger and younger ages, it's kind of sad.

[PhionYu]

@tokee1234567 Banning corporal punishment was good. But they failed at improving education by doing that. Students still commit suicide because of the grades, and also impolite students take advantage of there being no punishment for mischievous deeds.

[PhionYu]

@only1bigg You gotta note that current Korean has been established less than 100 years ago and a lot of original letters and new letters that corresponds with f, v, and z have been marked off.

[only1bigg]

@TheKeekingSpiv

Okay okay - I understand that they make words to describe new things, but how in the world do you explain making something as simple as ice cream (what is that 3 syllables - 2 hard and 1 soft?) INTO "Ah ese uh cuh rrem"? It is so strange that no one has said hey it would be so much easier and sound so much better to make rules to blend consonants without having to use a vowel sound.

[tokee1234567]

@DerReisendeGaijin I think that's a good thing though. Korea's at the way end in terms of high academic expectations for their kids, hence the high rate of suicide in students during exam times... but I agree the people in US or Canada don't put emphasis on just academics, but in more things such as extracurricular activities and such. be in mind that not many kids in korea get to have that opportunity b/c of their lessons until they go to college

[tokee1234567]

@VirtuallyAddicted um they still do that in the cities too, not just the countryside. The current mayor of one of the districts in Seoul is trying to ban corporeal punishment for good b/c so many teachers have been abusing the students, and so many students have abused the teachers as well

[TheKeekingSpiv]

@only1bigg Words are created all the time!!! Just because they don't have the exact same letters and sounds that we do doesn't mean their language isn't evolving. That's like saying Spanish isn't evolving because they don't say their R's like we do. How do they describe smart phones, text messages, and all that stuff that corresponds to advances in technology/society? Lacking the F letter does not mean a language has stagnated.

[sthawee12]

SARANGHAE!!!!!!!! that's all i know. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

[TheRivalConcept]

@VirtuallyAddicted : still heared technical school still use corpreal punishment

[MBRHIndustries]

My first fm radio capable walkman was a samseong.