Just Visiting

[Pamela246]

Hi,
I am trying to learn Korean for my visit to Korea in July.
While I find some of the lessons useful I feel the topics are not what I need for a person visiting for a short time.

I would like more to do with everday transactions and directions etc.
as the newbie lessons are now more about a litle girl and her father!

I liked the last picture video lesson as it was more relevant!
I know there are plenty of phrase books around (well not that many here in UK!) but when I use a phrase to one of my online Korean friends , they say no - we don't say that!

I have also noticed you concentrate more on intimate politeness levvel - is thet suitable for everyday use to strangers?

My suggestion is a series for a tourist visiting - like how to ask directions, order food and shop in markets and basic manners so as not to cause offense etc.,

I do intend to carry on learning Korean and will no doubt find the other lesson of some use - eventually!

[javiskefka]

On the right side of the page is a drop down menu for the date. Try checking out some of the old, old lessons for more of the basics.

[matthew254]

i agree with javiskefka.

you know actually, i was first introduced to Keith through his work in survivalphrases.com - and i ended up using (seriously) all 60 lessons in my trip to korea. but truthfully, as good as his lessons were for that company, koreanclass101's archive for newbies/beginners are of higher quality IMHO.

as for the intimate politeness level, i would humbly suggest that you use the standard politeness level (think [-yo] -요). even at my intermediate level of speaking, i only use 반말 (intimate) with little kids, close friends . i don't even use it with my korean friends who are a bit younger than i am, sometimes. but then again, i'm sure that they would be okay with it it's just that I feel more comfortable using the standard politeness with them. it kind of depends on how close you feel towards them. there is such a thing as a polite distance, right?

I think you'll find that korean-speaking strangers are more willing to help you if you use the standard politeness.

BTW, where in korea will you be? i'll be there in July too!

[pucca246]

Thanks for the replies, I did write in a bit of a rush.
What I meant to say was that I had been through most of the newbie and beginner lessons and although the "role play" is a good idea perhaps one based on a tourist arriving in Korea for the first time, from arrival at airport - might be one to do in future (pref soon!)
The most useful ones I have found so far were to do with ordering food and picture vocab ones, as i only know individual words and would like to use sentences (and understand some replies!) the grammar part is a bit of a minefield for me as I always seem to get it wrong!
I really need some simple but appropriate sentences that can be applied to various things, I know the "romanised" form of words is not the best way to get used to Korean writing - but it is a big help sometimes in making things quicker to read. I can read Korean - it just takes a lot longer and hopefully when I get back from my trip I will be able to learn more thouroughly - ready for next time!

(matthew254 -We will be spending most of time in and around Seoul, with a trip down to Kyongju for a couple of days with a Korean friend I met online, in last 2 weeks of July)

[matthew254]

I know the "romanised" form of words is not the best way to get used to Korean writing - but it is a big help sometimes in making things quicker to read.

i am fully aware of my biasness towards romanization of korean, so take that into consideration when i say just how much i despise it but other than that, yeah I would grab a copy of a small travel guide (as i'm sure you already have) for the travel options (what to say when you get off the plane, etc)

(matthew254 -We will be spending most of time in and around Seoul, with a trip down to Kyongju for a couple of days with a Korean friend I met online, in last 2 weeks of July)

how nice that you could have a meetup like that - i'm green with envy

[Keith]

As Matthew mentioned, I first started out with this company with survivalphrases.com. Those are actually my favorite lessons. All company bias and shameless plugging aside, I personally think they are highly effective and extremely useful for just your case. Please check them out when you can.