How to Learn Korean

Note:  I realize that this post might sound like I got paid to do this or something because it's such a glowing review but I didn't.  I promise you.  No one pays me anything or gives me anything to write this blog.  I just wanted to let all of you know about something awesome.  

Since moving to Korea it has become necessary for me to learn Korean.  The large majority of Korean people in Danyang do not speak English and in order for me to do things like order food or buy laundry detergent I have to have a little bit of Korean.  But Korean isn't easy.  The alphabet is different and very few words sound similar to English.  But that isn't really that big of a deal because I found a language learning program that's basically the most awesome thing ever.

But first, let me tell you a story.  When I was substitute teaching, I one day had to teach Spanish students about the sounds that animals make in Spanish.  And by teach I mean I played a CD and then handed them a worksheet.  As I conducted that lesson I remembered learning that exact same lesson approximately 10 years earlier.  When I learned the lesson I thought it was stupid.  Then when I taught the lesson I thought it was stupid.  Because who needs to know animals sound when trying to communicate in another language?! No one.  I have never once used Spanish animals sounds outside of school.  And sadly, my Spanish language skills now are poor at best.  Could I get around Mexico if necessary?  Yes.  Could I tell someone what I did yesterday?  Nope.  Pathetic.

Luckily, Talk To Me In Korean (TTMIK) is nothing like this.  The lessons on the website are all free and include an audio lesson and accompanying PDF guide.  There are something like 270+ lessons on there and I pay nothing for them.  They follow a logical language progression and allowed me to be able to start using the Korean I was learning right away.  No pointless animal sounds.  No obnoxious grammar rules that don't make sense and bore me to tears.  Just a friendly, logical conversation between two Korean people with fantastic English skills who are fun to listen to and good at teaching Korean.

Look how cool these books look. They imply that you go to space. Always cool.

I actually like the website so much that I have started buying the books.  The book lessons are almost the same but I prefer learning out of the book because 1) I am not always near a computer, 2) it's easier for me to flip back and forth to things, and 3) I like books and these books look cool so why not own them.  The books are really easy to follow and are set up perfectly.  For example, the English-ized Korean spelling underneath the Korean sentences is printed in light blue so it's a little harder to read.  That helps because it forces me to read the Korean sentences instead of the English-ized ones.  Also, the English translations are placed in the bottom right hand corner, away from the Korean sentences.  That way I don't accidentally or automatically read the English first.  I have a chance to read the Korean and figure out what it means.  How smart is that!?  Way to go, TTMIK.

This is a joke about looking at pictures of girls in bikinis instead of studying.  This type of hilarity is exactly what would have motivated me to pay more attention in Spanish.

I feel like I should be honest here and also say what isn't so great about the books.  The table of contents doesn't list page numbers, only lesson numbers.  And Talk To Me In Korean only comes in Korean.  That's it.  Honestly.  I've tried to learn multiple languages (Spanish, Irish, Latin, German, American Sign Language) and learning Korean has been the most fun.  If every language learning program was as well-designed, cool looking, and funny as this, people would not dread learning another language.  And they certainly wouldn't waste time with animal sounds.