How to study W elcome to the beginning of your Korean language studies. In order to learn any language, you not only have to understand the language itself and be able to speak it with other people. But rather the culture, customs, etiquette and ability of understand the deep internal aspects of the nation from which that language comes is the most important element of a given language. By understanding Korean, you can look forward to understanding these very things about the nation of Korea. The following message from KLI is you students who are seriously interested in studying the Korean language. 1. Please attend class regularly. The most important thing which will help you the most in reaching your goal of learning Korean, is your self-commitment to study hard. This applies not only to studying the Korean language, but is the same for studying any language. Therefore you should try as much as possible to remind yourself of your purpose by attending classes regularly. 2. Please keep in touch with your teacher regularly through e-mail. The KLI teachers will always prepare the most suitable material for you based on your personal development. This will be accomplished through the assessment of your progress communicated via e-mail with your teacher. Communicating with you teacher does not only require that you give and receive class progress reports or encouragement. Through your constant communication with your teacher, you can learn more specifically how to apply the conversation skills and expressions which you learn in the classroom. In other words, we will expect you to learn other aspects about the Korean language besides the classroom materials which you will be downloading from this site. 3. Please make a regular study agenda for yourself. The curriculum of Level 1 is divided into 10 weeks of studying. Therefore please carefully plan the next 10 weeks of your personal schedule with this in mind. Level 1, which begins by learning the Korean alphabet and centers upon reading and writing, is divided up into the following two parts: Part I - About Korean Language, and Part II - Conversation. We suggest that the simplest method for you is to follow a planned schedule which has been laid out by KLI. 4. Please visit the Korea Culture Center Website regularly. As we mentioned earlier, the most helpful tool for you in studying the Korean language is to also learn about the nation of Korea itself. The Korea Culture Center Website will select the best sites on Korea to introduce to you. All of this information on Korean ideals, history, culture, politics, education, etc.. will play a great part in understanding Korea. 5. Please practice listening and reading Korean regularly. Another important aspect of the Korean Culture Center Website will be to enable the students to practice reading Korean and listening to the Korean language. In particular for those students who find it difficult to find the right environment to practice using your Korean, the Korean Culture Center can be a very helpful resource. Please try to make it a habit to listen to Korean radio for 30 minutes each day. Even though it may be difficult in the beginning for you to understand, you will undoubtedly experience improvement after one or two months. If you can, please try to make it a habit to listen to Korean radio as much as possible, even if it is while you are doing other things. We also recommend that you make time in your schedule to watch Korean T.V. through your computer and read the Korean newspaper on a regular basis. Of course it is best if you can try to read the newspaper written in Korean, but if it is too difficult, it is also okay to gain information about Korea through newspapers written in English. 6. Please print out all the classroom materials. Level 1 contains a great amount of material. We suggest that the first thing you do is print out the classroom material and keep it all neatly in a 3-hole binder. As much as possible, try to carry it with you wherever you go. In the case of the writing exercises, please print out at least 1 page per exercise for your use. After you have complete the material in Level 1, you will have created a great book for yourself. 7. Please setup your computer in the place which is most comfortable for you. Since the classes will be run through the internet, it is important that you setup a good Browser. Click here to review system requirements. In terms of the font and font size in which you choose to view and print out your material, we are recommending that you use 11 or 12 pitch font. 8. Please use your Korean as much as possible. If you ever have the chance to use your Korean, please do so. If you ever meet Koreans, please use the Korean that you have learned. It does not matter if it is not absolutely perfect. Even if it is only one word or a simple greeting, please use it.