Korean as a second language podcast

Intro: This is the first of who-knows-how-many podcasts about learning Korean. At this point, I can't say that much about what future podcasts will cover but I expect they will include a sample conversation, possibly a vocabulary list, and a pronunciation guide. Naturally, the pronuncation segment will cover problems I know I have; there are likely to other problems I am unaware of. The first few 'casts will be a review of lessons a have already completed - I don't want to sound too terrible right away.

My expectation for these casts is that listeners review the shownotes while listening the first (or first few)time(s). Then, they will be able to listen again for review purposes anywhere. That's if all goes well. A more modest or reasonable expectation is that listeners will turn off and delete the podcast a minute after the intro.

After a few 'casts, I will reorder the 'casts each time a new one is made. In other words, if a future cast seems simpler in content than this one, it will be listed first.

I have some desire and even a need to learn Korean but a limited motivation. I own several Korean Language books and have completed a few units of each. The first few 'casts, including this one, will be based on a unit from one of these books. Today's cast is based on lesson 12 from 'Korean through English, book one' from Seoul National University. The title of the lesson is, "where are you going?" I will not repeat the complete unit here and I will only use one or possibly two units from any one book so I don't think I am running afoul of copyright infringement. If anything, perhaps I will encourage you to buy the book.

With me today is a student of mine, Bak Ji-min. She will read the conversation, we will repeat it and then work on alternatives. Then she will help me with the pronunciation. Today's pronunciation exercise involves pronouncing and recognizing some Korean vowel sounds. The modern transliteration of hangeul to english would spell these vowels as "a", "eo" and "eu". The closest English comparison would be "a" as in 'bat, 'o' as in dot and 'u' as in but. Again, the Korean sounds are not exact matches with the English letters they are represented by. For example, Koreans spell the english word "cop" - police officer - an 'a'.

In my translation of the conversation, I left out the subject a few times as Koreans typically don't use the subject if it is already clear.

If you do choose to listen more than once, the Korean starts at around 3:20

Where are you going?

A: 어디가세요? --Where are you going?
B: 학교에 가요. --going to school.
Alternatives:힉원, 운동장

A: 수업이 있어요? --Do you have a class?
B: 네, 수업이 있어요. --Yes, I have a class.

A: 몇 시에 시작해요? --When does your class start?
B: 열시에 시작해요. --Starts at 10.

A: 벌써 아홉시 반이에요. -- It's already 9:30.
빨리 가세요. -- Should hurry

Pronunciation

a.................... eo............................ eu
'아' .................'어'............................'으'
감........................검......................................금
Persimmon.......sword................................gold

사.......................서
temple suffix...west

차........................처
Tea....................Wife

가........................거......................................그
Go.......................'big' -Chinese...................He

상........................성......................................승
'Leaf' -Chinese...Castle..............................Buddhist monk




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Find the MP3 here.