Korean for Dummies Read Online Free PDF Page B

of Korean here and there in order to communicate with some Koreans around you.
    You don’t want to wake up in a cold sweat after memorizing tables upon tables of grammatical rules and conjugations.
    You want to have fun while learning Korean.
    How This Book Is Organized
    This book is organized thematically into four parts and a set of appendixes.
    Each part focuses on a particular theme, such as shopping, introductions, or eating out at a restaurant.
    03_037188-intro.qxp 6/24/08 11:05 PM Page 4
    Korean For Dummies
    4
    Part I: Getting Started
    This portion of the book introduces you to Korean pronunciation and gives you an overview of basic Korean grammar. If you can, make sure that you go through Part I carefully, because it will significantly help your understanding of what’s happening throughout the rest of the book.
    Part II: Korean in Action
    Here, you begin learning Korean — and Korean culture — for everyday life.
    Meeting someone? Eating? Shopping? Look through this section if you want to look for information and expressions that you can use with your friends.
    Part III: Korean on the Go
    This part of the book gives you more task-specific expressions to use when you want to travel. If you need to exchange currency, book a hotel room, or ask for directions, go through this chapter.
    Part IV: The Part of Tens
    Even if you’re really strapped for time, you should go through Part IV. Here I include ten ways to learn Korean quickly, ten phrases to make you sound more Korean, ten expressions that Koreans like to use, and ten things you shouldn’t do in front of Koreans. These sections are short and easy to remember, so go through them when you can.
    Part V: Appendixes
    This part contains various references that you may want to turn to while flipping through the rest of the chapters. You can find verb tables that show the conjugations of regular and irregular verbs, and a mini-dictionary for Korean-to-English and English-to-Korean words. In addition, check the answers to the Fun & Games sections at the end of each chapter, and look for the list of tracks that appear on the audio CD.
    03_037188-intro.qxp 6/24/08 11:05 PM Page 5

Introduction
5
    Icons Used in This Book
    Throughout the book, I use icons in the margins and sidebars to help you find information quickly. Here are the icons to look for:
    This icon highlights tips that make learning Korean easier.
    This icon is used to point out information that bears repeating and
    remembering.
    Avoid saying or doing things that have this warning sign icon. It marks the faux pas that you may make while speaking or interacting with Koreans.
    Throughout the text, these icons mark bits about Korean culture and travel.
    The audio CD that accompanies this book gives you a chance to listen to native speakers of Korean. You may have a few Korean friends at your
    disposal to pronounce various phrases, but when they’re not there, use the CD to learn Korean faster. This icon lets you know what’s on the CD.
    Where to Go from Here
    To get a sense of what’s going on behind the scenes in terms of grammar, read Chapter 2. Korean grammar is very different from English grammar. I don’t present all there is to know about Korean grammar, because that’s beyond the scope of this book. You can, however, find enough grammar info to figure out what’s going on and possibly figure out which words are playing what role when you listen to your Korean friends.
    Chapter 2 aside, listening and speaking are the focus of this book. And although I try to provide you with as much information on specific topics as I can, the best way to learn is by trial and error. Learning a language involves learning how to interact with people, and no book or language course — however well designed — can trump actual conversation with someone. Go on and read a topic that strikes your fancy, listen to the audio CD, try using a Korean phrase here and there, but most importantly try speaking with a Korean