Seogang University's Program

In all my studies in C-J-K (Chinese-Japanese-Korean) and Romance Languages (French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish), Seogang University has by far the best language program I have come across for any language.  They focus on quality rather than quantity, and their reputation proceeds them.  Undoubtedly, if you ask around, you'll find accolades and high recommendations for the program.

In the class, you'll find students constantly pushed to the edge through competition and the use of games.  Each lesson is exhausting, with memorization of 80+ vocabulary words for even beginner courses.  After the 3rd week though, I was able to start understanding people in the street and ask them basic questions.  Now in USA, when I speak with Koreans, they think I am fluent, as I am conversent and my pronunciation is accurate.  I shock them when I tell them I'm in 일급 (Level 1).

Now the books are something really special.  They are very well organized with related grammar and vocabulary organized through miniature dialogs that can be directly applied in the streets after practicing them.  This is sharp contrast to other Korean language programs, or even Japanese texts for Japanese, where one studies disjointed grammar rules with sparse vocabulary, and only polite formal speech patterns useful in speaking only to the teacher, or other esteemed persons.

The topics and patterns I think are a good model to follow for not only Korean, but Japanese as well.  So, if you have any Japanese background, the organization in these books are great for organizing Japanese studies as well.

Japanese Text Books = 悪い

I don't want to say Japanese books are bad, but they perhaps are not as mature as let's say textbooks for Spanish or French.  Often they follow the rigid philosophy that one must memorize tombs of grammar before speaking, enforce extreme formal polite pattern of speech useful to speaking only to sensei (teacher), and have topics used in perhaps 1% of situations one will encounter in Japan.  Sure, I'm sure going to the post office or hospital are important, but I don't see this as a common conversation topic useful in practicing grammar, especially for beginners.

An even greater problem is the introduction of grammar rules.  For one, they are not aligned to what you would take in JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Exams).  Secondly their introduction is both disjointed and incomplete, which limits their usefulness.  The grammar rules become little islets in these texts.  I think many might find it difficult to connect the scattered grammar rules.  (I'll show specific examples in future posts).

These texts like Genki and SFJ (Situational Functional Japanese) make learning Japanese difficult and inefficient.  Unfortunately though, these texts are probably some of the best text books out there.