Quote: (01-14-2015 06:26 AM)minimal01 Wrote:
I started learning Korean several years back and have been through many resources.
The Rosetta Stone approach is complete bullshit as far as I am concerned.
You say you already know the alphabet, and even if not that can be learned in a few days.
Just start out with memrize or anki to learn vocabulary.
Also get a beginners book from a korean university (I think I used the one from Seoul National University).
This will give you a basic understanding of grammar.
Just build on that. After a year or so, get "Korean Grammar for International Learners". It's not great for studying in the beginning but perfect to look up grammar patterns you come across when you read or watch korean movies (which often are awesome and way better than K-Dramas).
It's not the most fun way to learn korean, but the fastest and most effective i've found.
Also, you say you know how to pronounce korean, but make sure to learn the exceptions here. Korean pronunciation can be a bitch. They constantly connect and change sounds depending on the situation.
I was using memrize for korean vocabulary. It works pretty well, almost any anki program would be good if you have the patience to spend 10 minutes daily flipping through cards at least.
I'm in Japan too and I've been trying to get a grasp on Korean since I travel there for fun fairly often and the inability to speak Korean hurts more and more with each passing trip. Have you had much luck meeting Korean friends here or even zainichis who'd be down to teach you the basics? That's my plan to try to get a solid grasp of the basics and pronunciation.