Korean Language Learning

Korean Language Training
A variety of universities, private language institutes and volunteer service organizations as well as private tutors offer foreign residents and visitors the opportunity to learn the Korean language. The Korean Proficiency Test (KPT) is the most common test used to determine the language skills of foreign speakers of Korean. Some organizations also offer free Korean classes.

Free Korean Language Classes: 
Korea Culture Foundation  02-3789-5600 
Seoul Global Center   02-731-6803
  
Private Lessons are also available either through a language institute or from private tutors. Note that
some companies with famous brand names may not provide a program that is equal in quality to what you may be used to in your home country. It is always a good idea to visit the school that is providing the private lessons and see how a class is taught by their instructors. While you’re there look at their teaching materials and see if you can find out what the attrition rate is in various classes.

Korean teachers have a tendency to teach a lot of structure and grammar and to rely on students to memorize a lot of material (similarly to how they are taught English). If you are looking for ‘Survival Korean’ that will help you get around, communicate basic instructions, go shopping and have a pizza delivered to your house, make that clear up front and ask about their ‘curriculum’.

Learning on your own is also possible – how effective it will be depends on your learning-style – and there are my books and learning aids available in bookstores all over the city. Some have been written by native English-speakers who have become fluent speakers of Korea. It’s worth checking these out since the authors know, at least theoretically, what you’re going through.