Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have been trying to self-study Korean for a fairly long time now and I definitely agree with the other reviewers that the currently available Korean language materials are not of the highest quality. This fact becomes particularly apparent when one wishes to learn the language on his/her own. Every publication that I have encoutered so far seems to have some severe deficiency ("College Korean" - not enough exercises and small vocabulary; "Teach Yourself Korean" - oversimplification; "Elementary Korean" - too many dialogs, not enough prose; etc.) The KLEAR series with "Beginning Korean" as its specific representative appears not to contain any of these shortcomings, as it provides a large (and useful) vocabulary to master, a wide selection of readings, and the workbooks provide ample practice in terms of the grammar as well as reading and writing. Furthermore, the book contains exhaustive cultural notes that provide a truly solid introduction to the intricacies of the Korean culture. However, the series contains one exceptionally annoying flaw - it does not have tapes coming along (at least as far as I know). In the classroom environment it may not be a problem but this deficiency makes the series quite awkward for self-study. Once one knows hangul it may be possible to cover the material but the sound of the language is necessary to reinforce learning and to reduce the accent - attempting to learn any language with a limited contact with its sound inevitably leads to an incorrect pronounciation, bad speaking habits, and additionally deprives the language learning process of its most fundamental and enjoyable dimenstion. To summarize, I find the KLEAR series to be the most thorough Korean language publication so far but have to agree with one of the previous reviewers that it is more appropriate for classroom use, and leaves self-learners nothing else but to grind and gnash their teeth.
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Integrated Korean: Beginning Level 1 Textbook (KLEAR Textbooks in KoreanThe Beginning Level texts and workbooks are the first of a four-level series (Beginning 1 and 2, Intermediate 1 and 2, Advanced Intermediate, and Advanced) developed collaboratively by leading classroom teachers and linguists of Korean. All series volumes have been developed in accordance with performance-based principles and methodology-learner-centeredness, contextualization, use of authentic materials, function/task-orientedness, balance between skill getting and skill using, and integration of speaking, listening, reading, writing, and culture. Grammar points are systematically introduced with simple but adequate explanations and abundant examples, exercises, and drills.Each situation/topic-based lesson of the main texts consists of two or three model dialogues, narration, new words and expressions, pronunciation notes, vocabulary notes, culture, grammar, task/function, and English translation of dialogues. The workbooks provide students with extensive skill-using activities based on the skills learned from the main texts.Integrated Korean is a project of the Korean Language Education and Research Center (KLEAR) with the support of the Korea Foundation. In addition to the four-level textbooks and workbooks, forthcoming volumes include instructor's manuals, Chinese Character Studies, Korean Composition, Selected Readings in Korean, Readings in Modern Korean Literature, Korean Language in Culture and Society, and A Dictionary of Korean Grammar and Usage.
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