8 In Korean learning journey (:

Are textbooks really the best?

I’m not sure if it’s just my lazy self or that as I progress, I find myself less inclined to use the  ‘traditional’ textbooks to study. I’m now using the Integrated Korean Advanced II book and I’m pretty bored by it. D: not that it’s not good, just that I don’t feel like using a textbook.

So now I’m turning more and more towards unsubbed dramas to train my listening ability and see how Korean is spoken in daily situations. I’m now watching the OCN drama God’s Quiz and it’s good! I’m glad I’ve watched Sign with subs initially. Unconsciously, I’ve picked up all the medical terms and they prove useful now. I’m watching God’s Quiz unsubbed ^^

I’m starting to pay more attention to the slang, the casual language used etc. I can even understand the satoori accent! Of course, I’m sure they are not speaking the pure satoori. I won’t be able to understand that.

I’m unnerved by the fact that I can hear the urm engine(?) and the fan of my new netbook sometimes. Aren’t they supposed to be quiet? D: I have too much experiences with easy spoiling PCs. Mac is the only safe bet for me. I shall not overwork this netbook and use it just to access the daum dictionaries while k-studying. At least for now ^^

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8 Comments

  • Reply
    Jeanne
    10 June, 2011 at 11:18 PM

    I think that textbooks are good at the beginning, because you have to start somewhere and “real” Korean (dramas…) is discouraging. But after that stage, content for native speakers is more fun!
    Oh, I’m contemplating buying a Mac… I’m glad to hear that they’re worth it 🙂

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      15 June, 2011 at 9:45 AM

      haha go get! ^^ Macs last really long and they are fast. ^^ I think their screens are less straining on the eyes too.

  • Reply
    Philip
    11 June, 2011 at 5:34 AM

    Yes, I agree with you that textbooks don’t have to be the only resource for learning a language. I wrote an article once with the title “How useful are textbooks?” http://www.learnclick.com/blog/2011/02/05/how-useful-are-textbooks/

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      15 June, 2011 at 9:46 AM

      thanks for sharing! I agree with u on the points that make up a good textbook ^^ they are the best materials to build a strong foundation in that language

  • Reply
    lyrynne
    11 June, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    I have a bunch of books but I only use them when I want to learn new grammar. Learning 사투리 is fun! I know how to talk in 부산 accent because I kept on watching this girl who’s from Busan.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      15 June, 2011 at 9:47 AM

      ㅋㅋㅋ the intonation is amazing xD

  • Reply
    Andy
    18 June, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    When you get to your level, throw away the text books and pay attention to the language used in everyday life used in various situations. You will notice new grammar or vocab while you are listening all the time. Target those things which sound new, memorise them and try using them yourself. Textbooks sometimes tend to cover vary nationalistic topics and you end up with a whole lot of old, useless Korean words which are barely used unless you are a historian. However my mistake was that after about 5-6 years of learning, once you attain a certain level it is easy to stop forcing yourself to learn new vocabulary. When I was an under-grad a professor at my University once told us, language is just imitation, just stop, listen and try and imitate.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      19 June, 2011 at 11:10 AM

      I’m trying to pay more attention to ‘real language’ but I always get distracted with the subs and plot etc. LOL. I study better with written texts instead of speech. I find that I stop learning grammar instead. I’m sure I’m still not familiar with ALL the grammar points, but somehow I just stopped learning when i realise i have no problems with all the commonly seen ones.

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