Product Description
Title: Korean Translation of: Daily Inspiration for the Purpose Driven Life: Scriptures and Reflections from the 40 Days of Purpose / Korean Language versionPublication date: 20042004-01-30 / (170X105)mm / 282?? ... Read more

Product Description
The Volume 1 textbook covers the first semester of an introductory language course. It includes three units each with four lessons that cover topics relevant to student life. A preliminary chapter in Volume 1 allows students to learn Han'gul, pronunciation guidelines, and basic vocabulary before delving into the grammar based lessons where an immersion style or Korean-only approach may be used in class.

Lessons contain a vocabulary section with special exercises, a dialogue with easy-to-understand language notes, grammar instruction, exercises with both individual and partner activities, and a "Checkpoint" that presents short readings with all the grammar points from the lesson. "Culture Point" and "Language Point" sections throughout the textbook help clarify cultural nuances and proper etiquette. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best Korean text book EVER!
I really love both volumes of You Speak Korean! Volumes 1 and 2. The workbooks are great too. I hope the authors publish a volume 3 and 4 for second-year students soon. I've noticed in the volume 2 references to grammar that will be taught to second-year students, but I don't see additional books on the web site.I really hope you will publish additional volumes because this is by far the clearest and most user-friendly Korean language textbook I've ever used.This series is very good. I just can't say enough how much I wish it would continue. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first Korean-language textbook being made available in decades, with such comprehensiveness and thoroughness. Designed upon the latest language teaching/learning approach, Functional Korean will enable the English-speaking learner to develop skills and strategies for manipulating the Korean language system spontaneously and flexibly and to express his/her intended messages and meaning effectively in hundreds of real-life situations. There are ample cultural notes and illustrations, which will make the learning experience entertaining as well as instructive. Accompanying the regular lesson units are useful "resource" units dealing with the Korean sounds and Han-gul, numbers, telephone, Chinese characters, and others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Easy to follow, applicable conversations
We used this for our basic korean course. This book is easy to follow, has all the key vocabulary listed at the end of each lesson, and grammar discussion for some. Also an index on the back to check korean spelling, not bad! ... Read more

Product Description
This fascinating ethnography provides unique insights into the history, politics, ideology, and daily life of North Koreans living in Japan. Because Sonia was raised in this community, she was able to gain unprecedented access and to bring her personal knowledge to bear on this closed society. In addition to providing a valuable view of the experience of ethnic minorities in what is widely believed to be an implacably homogeneous culture, Ryang offers a rare and precious glimpse into North Korean culture and the transmission of its traditions and ideology. ... Read more

Product Description
Pocket-size dictionary contains all the most common Korean words that you'll need to use and understand, whether as a traveler or in the early stages of learning the language. Includes 3,000 words most commonly encountered in everyday speech. Softcover. ... Read more

Product Description
Your First 100 Words in Korean removes all the intimidation from learning a language that uses a non-Roman alphabet or script. Learners are shown how to decipher and read the script while they learn 100 primary Korean words.

Detachable flash cards illustrate each word and make learning simple. Enjoyable games and puzzles--such as word searches and matching exercises--reinforce recognition and reading skills. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

learn while you enjoy!
i have no idea that learning a new language will be this fun yet super educational! i wish to find the connecting series for this books that i have bought so that i can have a continuous learning about the korean language. if only i have a korean friend who can help me more thru conversational follow upi will really appreciate it! if only i could turn back the hands of time i wish i found this while i was still teaching special english clasees for koreans way back 2004!

Does what it says, but not very usefull.
This does exactly as the name suggests.It teaches you 100 words in korean.However, that is the only reason why I gave this book 2 stars.It is also glaring with problems.

First, I will no longer buy any korean language book that gives romanized translations of words.Most of the time the roman version is wrong, and it attracts the eye.Instead of reading and practicing hangeul, I would find my eyes drawn to the incorrect roman versions.

Second is a problem that I find with many language learning books (not just this book) is the choices of words.Most words like "lion, mouse, monkey, bed, farm, etc." are utterly useless for beginning to learn a language.These words will not be used enough to be useful when speaking to natives.They could easily and should have been switched with more common words.Sure, "lion" is an interesting for a child to learn.But I, and most people learning korean are not children and should not waste our time with these words.

Your first 100 words in Korean
This book is very helpful in demystifying Korean pronunciation.
The delivery was quick and the book was in perfect condition.

Appealing Presentation, Lacking in Content
Although it appears to be a great learning tool, I didn't learn much from this book as I thought I would. It's funny - vocabulary is what I need and this book just didn't provide me with enough of it. The best part of the this book is the first set of words, and the flash cards in the back. I say the flash cards, because I basically borrowed the idea from the book and made my own flash cards from blank ones I found at my bookstore (4"x1.5" i think) I would write the Korean word on the front with the definition on the back.
Nice looking, but lacking. Not worth the money.

Helpful
Yhis book seems to be helful but if you do not know
the language at all it is difficult.But is helps
to have the explanations to make words and learn the
symbols to use. ... Read more

Product Description

Korean: An Essential Grammar is a concise and convenient guide to the basic grammatical structure of standard Korean. Presenting a fresh and accessible description of the language, this engaging Grammar uses clear, jargon-free explanations and sets out the complexities of Korean in short, readable sections.

Key features include:

• clear explanations of grammatical terms
• frequent use of authentic examples
• the Korean alphabet used alongside McCune-Reischauer romanization system
• a full glossary of explanations.

Customer Reviews (1)

The best korean grammar book

I have look at many Korean language books and this is
the best so far.Hope that it can also be on Kindle. ... Read more

Product Description
A handy guide to the Korean language, Survival Korean contains basic vocabulary necessary for getting around. The pronunciation for each Korean word in the book follows a precise and simple formula that will quickly become so familiar that speaking Korean shortly feels just as "normal" as conversing in English.
The material is divided into four parts, including:
*Common Expressions and Key Words
*Essential Communication Tools
*Travel Vocabulary and Useful Expressions
*Pronunciation Guides for Key Names and Signs
Each part contains a range of relevant vocabulary, useful phrases, and the minimum of grammatical explanationneeded to allow users to convey exactly what they want to say. The book also contains an A-Z index with more than 1,000 additional words and their pronunciation for quick reference.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Well done but with one glaring omission.
As far as phrasebooks go this is a superior effort. It has the right balance of basic grammar, essential travel phrases, and culture notes to get one going without being intimidated by the Korean language. Particularly useful was the section on counting which has different forms depending upon what is being counted. All words and phases are given in romanized form as well as in Korean script. The booklet concludes with a short but handy vocabulary list. What is missing is a pronunciation guide for the Korean alphabet. While the author does furnish a table indicating how Korean vowels are pronounced, it is presented in romanized form with no accompanying Korean script. This is unfortunate because it is relatively easy to follow Korean pronunciation when reading from written Korean. Despite this flaw, this is one of the better phrasebooks available. ... Read more

Product Description
The English/Korean version of the second edition of the best-selling and well loved Oxford Picture Dictionary, features over 4,000 words and phrases in both languages illustrated with all new vibrant, crystal-clear artwork. The topics, based on extensive input from teachers and students, have been thoroughly updated to meet the needs of today's English language learners.The new bilingual editions havecomplete second language indexes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent
Our son is learning Korean and is an English speaker so we thought it would be helpful to have a visual aid with words.

Geared to English learners (not learners of Korean)
I teach English as a second language, and this is the dictionary that I urge my higher beginning students to get.It's a wonderful practical vocabulary builder.I have seen disappointed reviews from people trying to use these bilingual Oxford Picture Dictionaries to learn a foreign language (i.e., not English), and I don't think the OPD the best dictionary in that circumstance.Everything in the dictionary is geared toward American English and American society, and all the incidental material that Oxford University Press creates for the OPD (and there is a lot of it) is in English.

When used for the purpose for which it was designed -- learning English -- this is a fantastic asset.

Great concept, but could be better..
I loved the idea of pictures to help learning languages..

However disappointed with the use of many words and chapters....

I feel it should be more "general" and geared for my "useful" korean words.

However, when learning Korean... the options are limited...

Picture dictionary for adults and kids to learn English
This book was meant for Koreans learning English but the Korean words are under the English words so you can use it both ways.You might think a picture dictionary is for kids but this one is for grown-ups and is VERY well laid out by category.There are quite a lot of words illustrated including verbs, prepositions and nouns as well as adjectives.

Picture Dictionary
This is a much simpler version of Oxford's other language picture dictionaries, but it is very useful. ... Read more

Product Description
Comprehensive ESL Korean includes 30 lessons of essential grammar and vocabulary -- 16 hours of real-life spoken practice sessions -- plus an introduction to reading.

Upon completion of this Level I program, you will have functional spoken proficiency with the most-frequently-used vocabulary and grammatical structures. You will be able to:

* initiate and maintain face-to-face conversations,

* deal with every day situations -- ask for information, directions, and give basic information about yourself and family,

* communicate basic information on informal topics and participate in casual conversations,

* avoid basic cultural errors and handle minimum courtesy and travel requirements,

* satisfy personal needs and limited social demands,

* establish rapport with strangers in foreign countries,

* begin reading and sounding out items with native-like pronunciation. ... Read more

Product Description
Includes 20,000 entries with Korean words in romanized Korean and Korean characters. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

big prints but not comprehensive
This is an English-Korean and Korean-English dictionary.

The good thing about this book is the large print, you don't have to squint.

The bad things about this book are:
1. it only covers some 10 000 words in either language
2. it is big and heavy even though it doesn't cover that much
3. it follows romanized pronunciation, most people quickly learn Hangul and don't need romanization for very long

But my main complaint is that this book costs the same as a Berlitz Korean dictionaries such as Berlitz Korean Dictionary: Korean-English / English-Korean (Berlitz Concise Dictionaries S.) (Korean Edition), which not only covers 40 000 plus words but also weighs much less than this clumsy brick.
So I really don't see any point in buying this book when you have better options for the same or even lower price.

In defense of the romanization
Several reviews here assume too much about what new students of Korean need to know. There is nothing wrong with the romanization since the hangul is right next to it. (Characters added might have been helpful as well.) Hangul is not phonetic. The romanization helps students who are outside a 'Korean is spoken here' area avoid serious errors. There are lots of pronunciation patterns that are made easier by the romanization.

Obsolete Words
This dicitonary is OK.When my Korean teacher (I am an expat living in Seoul, so I trust that she knows Korean backwards & forwards)checks my homework, often she says, "no one uses that word any more."It is also common to not find words that I need in this dictionary.

Romanizing Korean is a bad habit
I second Minerva Rheault's motion: Romanizing Korean is not a good idea.However, my objection is somewhat different--any serious student of the Korean language will eventually look up items which are not in this dictionary.The sooner that student learns the Korean alphabet, the better.

Would you serve a drink to an alcoholic?
If not, then don't serve Romanization to a student of the Korean language.

Too expensive and ineffective
English-Korean is all right, but the Korean-English section is terribly confusing.Since the dictionary uses hangul, why are the Korean words alphabetized according to the romanizations?For a beginning Koreanstudent, learning the hangul alphabetical order is challenge enough.Add aseemingly erratic romanization (there is no one standard system of writingKorean words in Roman letters), and you have a very confused student!Forthis much money, find a dictionary that is strictly hangul withoutconfusing romanizations. ... Read more

Product Description
A thoroughly original picture dictionary featuring beautiful artwork. The vibrant pictures encourage the reader’s creativity while learning to identify objects and words. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice, but could be better
I really wish this book had the pronunciation of the different items for non korean reading parents.Also, the images are all hand illustrated in a style that my two-year-old can't always easily identify even in english... ... Read more

Product Description
This book is intensive listening comprehension course for beginner to advanced beginner-level students. It makes learning Korean as well as listening to Korean easy and fun. This book is intended to help the learner listen for meaning not listen to every word to do a task but the overall message of what someone is saying. Book and 3 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

only a drop in the bucket, but that's about all we have
Korean listening comprehension is an extremely difficult task.There is a serious need for instruction materials in this area, and publishers are doing very little to meet this need.

This volume 1 is easy to use, but it goes only a short way toward meeting the student's needs.

Both volume 1 and 2 of this series seem to be out of print, and volume 2 seems to be unavailable anywhere.

Meanwhile, the same publisher has published another listening course (1565912470) which is ten times too difficult.Why they have done that is known only to the publisher and God.

One more word: Don't buy both this item and "Elementary Task-Cenetered LIstening Comprehension of Korean" (1565910265).The two items differ only in title. ... Read more

Product Description

Say farewell to language faux pas forever!

Based on the revolutionary Easily Pronounced Language Systems (EPLS) approach, Say It Right in Korean makes mastering correct Korean pronunciation simple. With Say It Right you'll learn how to use hundreds of Korean words and phrases in everyday conversation.

Product Description
This reference is perfect for businesspeople, students, and travellers and contains over 20,000 entries of essential Korean. Many entries include related words and phrases or example sentences. Helpful appendices include the names of language and ethnicities, kinship terms, and numbers. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is intended primarily for those English speakers who wish to acquire a good knowledge of spoken Korean.This is the first of four volumes in an entirely new type of textbook series for students of Korean.This book has several unique characteristics to it, qualifying it as an important development toward a more integrated approach to the study of the Korean language.This new approach develops a new method of learning rather than simply a method of teaching.The structural-linguistic approach avoids simply repeating, changing or substituting sentences. Instead, the devices are used by the learner to achieve the goal of self-expression. This book has several unique characteristics and focuses on a more integrated approach to the study of the Korean language. It is the standard textbook used by most universities in the United States ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Complete book with a couple of mistakes, but would definitely recommend
I started studying Korean about 2 years ago and I read completely the first book of the "Speaking Korean" series, and I am now nearly done with the second one.

These books have nothing too much fancy, no colors, images, shiny glossy paper, but they are very complete. If you are a serious learner that really wants to improve your Korean skills and get a global good understanding of the Korean language, this is definitely for you.

However, I found quite annoying that this book was so poorly proof-read. This book has really many spelling mistakes, or sometimes some word are inversed, and so on. First you think it's just a few here and there, but as I went through the book, I realized there was around at least 1 or 2 mistakes per chapter, sometimes more. It's quite annoying, because even sometimes you are not sure which spelling to use.

About the CD: only the dialogues are on the CD, which means only one short dialogue per chapter, it's better than nothing but not perfect. On a personal note, the voice of the woman acting on the recording is pretty damn annoying.

Also, many new words that are suddenly added are not translated, so you'll have to check in a dictionary for dozens of words.

In overall, a very good book that could use some better reviewing, and have maybe some more recordings, and more translations of words. I would recommend it but it's not perfect.

The best Korean text available
I used this book in my class for college level. This is simply the best Korean text I ever used. When you go through 4 volumes you really will master Korean. It has a lot of drills.

not bad; not good
I'm using this textbook to learn Korean now. I suspect there must be better ones around. I find the drills completely useless. There are a few structural problems as well. The explanations of grammar are usually pretty good.

Here in Korea I found a book called "Basic Sentence Patterns in Korean." I can't find it on Amazon. If you know the basics about Korean verbs and have a vocabulary of a couple hundred words, that book is the best one I know about.

-----Update about a year later:

Another book I found that I recommend even more than "Basic Sentence Patterns" is "Korean Grammar for International Learners" by Ihm Ho Bin and others, published by Yonsei University Press. It's not a traditional textbook, but it has the most helpful systematic (contrasted to presentations for professional linguistics) presentation of Korean grammar I've seen.

Compared to the two books I've recommended, the book under review has a better introduction to conversation, although it's a bit formal and archaic. The perfect Korean textbook... still hasn't graced my desk.

Complete text
This title consists of 4 volumes which will help you master the Korean language. The author applies the latest teaching methods with many drills. The examples are very practical and real situation. Strongly recommended for serious students and grown up learners.

Good book for learning Korean, some things are lacking thoug
I have studied Korean for two years, and this(book 1) is one of the best books around.
However, it is lacking in some aspects. Some of the explanations are poorly written. Also, some of the drills are a bit lacking, most practice drills in Korean textbooks are poorly written and speaking Korean is no exception. Also Korean is a very fluid and rapidly changing language the book is ten years old and some sections are already outdated.
This book is no substitute for practicing the language with native speakers(I was a missionary in Korea for two years and I speak from experience on this).
If you live in Korea I would reccomend Korea university's Korean Conversation along with Yonsei University's Korean textbooks. Korea University's books for spoken grammer and some vocabulary, Yonsei's books for vocabulary(the grammer is lacking).
One of the advantages of the book though is that everything is taught in polite(yo) style, which effectively limits the number of social blunders you will make while speaking. Another advantage is that romanization is unused. This forces you to learn correct pronuncation early on(get a Korean to help you with this). The Romanization in Korean textbooks will always lead to incorrect pronunciation!
A good book for beginners, filled with useful information. However because of the availability of more recent textbooks that better handle intricacies of spoken Korean I can only give this book 3 stars. ... Read more