FEATURES Essential Korean is a set of materials for learning Korean expressions and words. It consists of: 1) the full-color handbook; 2) the five CDs; and 3) the detailed, complete list of the CD tracks. Below is more detailed description of each: 1) Handbook: -Each English Expression and word are first followed by their corresponding Korean written in Han gul, the Korean writing system, and then by their romanization. -The full-color and the layout of the book make it easy to read for users notwithstanding the size. -The 31 select topics include Number, Classifiers, Time Expressions, Kinship Terms, Computer & the Internet, and more, plus bonus vocabulary sections on Politics, Law, Economics, Word & Cultures, and Fields Of Academics. -Detailed Table Of Contents and Topical Index can be used for easier look-up of expressions and words. 2) CDs: These are what set apart Essential Korean from existing books of the similar kind. The CDs contain recordings of entries in the book nearly in its entirety, in natural speech style and speed. Furthermore, expressions and words each are repeated three times with pauses between them. This provides the users with opportunities to practice without the burden of having to rewind the recording too frequently. People will learn to speak by actually speaking, not by reading off a representation of the spoken language from the book, which will more than likely result in mispronunciation. In fact, the author emphasizes in the introduction that the romanization in the book be used only as reference and that the users actively engage themselves in learning to speak by using the CDs. Tracks on each CD are divided into small sections so as to help the users find the section of their choice easily. 3) CD Track List: It would be most ideal if the user can listen to the CDs along with the book. However, in situations in which only CDs are being used, this detailed CD Track List will make it easy to find the section s/he wants to practice. PROSPECTIVE USERS -Essential Korean is ideal for those who are planning a trip to Korea. They would be able to interact with Koreans with help from conversation-starter phrases and words in the book and the CDs. It will also be an indispensable reference for those who will work and live there in near future with very little or no knowledge of Korean. (Note that the vocabulary in the book are not necessarily basic , but rather essential for people of different walks of life.) With useful phrases and essential words presented for each topic, it can serve as a quick reference: one can look up an expression or a word to say on the spot, or, just point out the word in Han gul, the Korean writing system, to the person with whom s/he is engaged in a conversation. It is also ideal for those who need to postpone more structured instruction to a later time but need so-to-speak a crash course on basic Korean right away. -Essential Korean can be an excellent reference for non-novice students as well. Those in need of a quick refresher for vocabulary can use it to review what they learned in the past AND those feeling lack of their command of vocabulary can enhance it using the book as well. Many Korean language students in intermediate level often find the vocabulary in several areas (like numbers, classifiers, time matters, kinship terms, etc.) very complex and yet too important to simply dismiss. The lists of vocabulary on these topics are quite extensive in Essential Korean. Also, it does a good job in noting particular aspects of such topics that are critical for native speakers of English to know. -Essential Korean will be handy for those who need a quick access to essential vocabulary on professional and technical areas: politics, law, economics, world & cultures, fields of academics, medicine, etc.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
KyungAh Yoon (a.k.a. Ellen K. Yoon) has taught Korean language and culture for twelve years to both college students and professionals. During that time, she taught elementary, intermediate, and advanced Korean language courses as a full-time lecturer at Columbia University for seven years, and instructed professionals as an adjunct at The Korea Society, New York City. Among the courses she designed and developed were Business Korean and Korean Through Films, both of which subjects are personal interests of hers. Prior to teaching at Columbia, she lectured at The Ohio State University and taught Korean culture and language courses.
Ms. Yoon holds an Ed.M. in International Educational Development with a concentration in Language, Literacy, & Technology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She received an M.A. in East Asian Languages & Cultures with a concentration in Language Pedagogy from The Ohio State University, and earned a B.A. in Asian Studies from Williams College.
Ms. Yoon holds an Ed.M. in International Educational Development with a concentration in Language, Literacy, & Technology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She received an M.A. in East Asian Languages & Cultures with a concentration in Language Pedagogy from The Ohio State University, and earned a B.A. in Asian Studies from Williams College.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best of All,
By Trotski "trotski" (Springfield, VA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Essential Korean (English and Korean Edition) (Audio CD)
As someone who has purchased or read just about all the Korean language books available on Amazon, I have to say that this is the best book/CD set that is available for the beginning student who wants to get acquainted with this beautiful language. While Essential Korean is designed for first-time and beginning students, I think students of the language at any level will find this resource useful mainly because of its excellent set of 5 CDs.
PROS: As mentioned above this CD set is superb. This CD set is the best organized, has best sound quality and is LOADED with content. While essentially a vocabulary-building resource, certain stock and useful phrases are included that are indispensible in every day language. The language is in the polite form and is consistent throughout the book. Unlike the awful Pimsleur CD set, this CD set does not waste time with a lot of filler and introduction and gets right to the point. Like it or not, repetition is the mother of all learning and this CD set has got this down perfectly. Essential Korean says the English translation once, then the Korean version twice. But here's the best part -- it moves quickly and covers a lot of ground. I find that this is a great way to learn vocabulary while driving in the car. During an hour commute you can hear about a hundred different words and then when you come home from work you listen to the same 100 words again. After a couple days of this there's a good chance that you might have most of the words memorized by heart, and for sure you'll be able to recognize the word if you were to hear it on the street. The very best part of the recordings is that there is no attempt to speak slowly to the listener in an unnatural fashion. The words are spoken as you would hear them in every day speech. That being said, the words are quite clear and comprehendible. Cons: Very little grammar. Actually, to be more specific -- no grammar lessons. This is not necessarily a con because this book and CD set is not designed for teaching grammar, parts of speech. The focus is on vocabulary and "essential" phrases and this book and CD does an excellent job of sticking to what it is good at. This is also only a general overview of the language and there is no pretense made (a la Pimsleur) that you will somehow be able to converse fluently in the language after listening to the CD set. Will will be able to communicate and get your point across which is what a beginning student, businessman or a tourist visiting Korea for the first time would want to be able to do. All-in-all, this is the best book/CD set for the absolute beginning student for the money. Even students who have been studying Korean for a while should find this CD set useful for pronounciation practice and because there is quite an extensive vocabulary on the 5 CD set, especially towards the end of the book and on the last CD. In the book all the words are given with a romanized version of the Korean word (for pronunciation purposes and for those who don't know hangul), the English translation and then finally the word in hangul. The book and the tapes are organized by subject starting from the very basic expressions and ending with a great glossary of terms. I found the sections listing law, political, and academic terms quite useful as were the listing of all the terms for the different animals, flowers and plants. This is an excellent resource even for an advanced student! Excellent quality. A superb attention to detail. Well planned and organized and at a decent price. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the Korean language.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Korean Language Resource,
This review is from: Essential Korean (English and Korean Edition) (Audio CD)
This is a very helpful and thorough reference work on Korean language. It covers a number of useful situations and words and expressions, both for living and traveling in Korea and for working there. The CD is extremely useful at speaking and hearing the language at a normal pace and can provide one with immediately useful tools. Unfortunately, it does include a number of English words with Korean pronounciation; it might be preferable to have only focused on Korean words and phrases, as most English speakers will recognize any words with a Korean pronounciation with no difficulty. Overall, a good value, especially for anyone contemplating spending some time in Korea, either for work or travel.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Buy for Anyone Who Wants to Learn Common Korean Expressions Quickly!,
By
This review is from: Essential Korean (English and Korean Edition) (Audio CD)
I highly recommend Essential Korean for anyone who has little or no prior knowledge of Korean but wants to quickly learn some commonly-used Korean words and phrases. This book is particularly useful for anyone who is thinking about traveling to Korea or anyone who plans to interact with Koreans in the near future. My mother is from Korea, but I was never taught Korean as a child. As an adult, I have become more interested in learning the language, particularly after I visited Korea with my mother. I was so frustrated that I couldn't even ask, "How much is it?" when I was at the store. Essential Korean was recommended to me by a friend who found it extremely effective. I'm so glad I learned about it, because after a few short days of listening to the Essential Korean CDs in my car while driving to and from work, I learned several commonly-used phrases and words (including "How much is it?"). I was so excited to be learning and remembering Korean expressions that I called my mother to practice my new Korean vocabulary. She was extremely impressed and told me that the words and phrases I had memorized were not easy expressions to learn. Essential Korean made it easy to memorize new words and phrases as well as pronounce them properly.
I have tried to study Korean language books in the past, but my busy life has always inevitably gotten in the way of studying consistently. And when I would come back to study, I'd find I had forgotten everything I had learned before. Essential Korean has made it easy to retain what I've learned because it encourages practice and repetition of Korean words and phrases. The narrator on the CD speaks clearly and says each word or phrase three times before moving on to another word or expression. Every day that I've practiced Korean with the Essential Korean CD's, I have learned a few more words and expressions. In just a few weeks I feel like I have the ability to say and understand some common expressions in Korean and would even feel confident enough to speak Korean to a stranger who is a native-speaker! One thing that I always worry about when I attempt to say something in Korean is that I might be using an impolite form of Korean. This book does a great job of teaching expressions with the proper honorifics so that you don't have to worry or even think about whether or not you are using a polite form of language when saying something in Korean. I am so glad I found this extremely useful tool to help me learn Korean. For those like me who become easily frustrated when learning a new language, and for those who think learning Korean is impossible, this book will really be perfect for you. You will find that you will be speaking Korean before you know it after reading the book and listening to the CDs. If you are short on time, you will still be able to learn each day by playing the CDs and listening and practicing while commuting. I strongly recommend Essential Korean for anyone who would like to learn some commonly-used Korean words and expressions in a short amount of time.
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