Self Study Guide

Self Study Guide

Here I have included resources and tips on learning Korean on your own.    

Google Translate:

Google translate is a valuable tool for looking up words.  If you want to get the most out of it then I suggest configuring your operating system so that you can use your keyboard to type in Korean.  If you are using Windows 7 like I am, then you can Google to look up a tutorial on installing the "East Asian Language Pack" and configuring your keyboard to switch between your native language and Korean.  I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it's a lot easier then you think and it is definitely worth it.

How to install the "East Asian Language Pack" for Windows 7:
Configuring your Keyboard for multiple language support for Windows XP/Vista/7:
If you've gone through the trouble of setting this up you will be saving yourself a lot of grief by marking up your keyboard with the Hangul characters.  Otherwise you will find yourself constantly referencing a picture of the Korean keyboard layout. 


SharedTalk & KaokaoTalk:
This is my favorite resource because it allows you to interact with real people which is extremely helpful.
SharedTalk is a language exchange website created by Rosetta Stone.  It is a community of people sharing language and culture. 
Here's the link: http://www.sharedtalk.com/
So after you sign up and make some friends, you will need to figure out a way to talk to them.  Sharedtalk has its own messaging system but most people prefer to use E-mail or an IM client such as AIM.  A popular IM client that Koreans use is called KaokaoTalk and it can be downloaded for free on mobile devices.  I haven't met any Koreans on SharedTalk that do not  use KaokaoTalk so it's worth getting.
Here's a link for more information:  http://www.kakao.com/talk/en

Korean Language Websites:
If you don't have an actual book then don't worry because you really don't need one, especially if your just beginningGOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND.  There are plenty of free lessons and tutorials all over the internet.  I suggest using Google and Youtube to find them but I also recommend the following websites.
Talk To Me In Korean:
KBS World: 
Thanks for reading.  I hope this was somewhat helpful and interesting.  This is my first time blogging so hopefully in the future I will improve and make it more attractive.

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