5 Best Reviewed Language Schools in Seoul

Live in Seoul, Learn Korean

Are you learning Korean but there are a few obstacles you can't seem to overcome? such as lack of language levels at your home university, not having Korean language courses near where you live or learning but not feeling fulfilled, well come to South Korea and learn, practice and excel your Korean language skills!! Learning another language is always a difficult path but a great opportunity to meet new people, learn about other cultures and much more!! Therefore, we would like to give a few of the best reviewed language schools in Seoul, so you can analyze them and decide which one fits your needs the most!! Of course none of these are ranked and feel free to do more of your own research as well.

Rolling Korea Language & Culture School

The Rolling Korea Language & Culture School was founded back in 2012 and has been developing their unique educational contents and activities so students receive the most satisfying experiences. If you are one of those students who occasionally lose motivation (I know I am hehehe), one of their goals is to always maintain students' interests and desire to become experts in Korean through cultural contents, such as K-POP/K-Dramas and field trips to popular locations around Seoul!!

If you are concerned about grammar, don't worry since they use Visual Learning. Meaning where instructors use visual materials to facilitate the understanding of grammar and this method has shown that students understand quickly about the subject. Some of the materials include, YouTube clips, magazines, news articles, Powerpoints, music videos and song lyrics, so don't worry it won't be a boring class with just textbooks!!

If you are worried there won't be much opportunity to speak, don't worry since they focus a lot of time to give students to practice their Speaking Skills. After each grammar lesson there will be guided conversations students can use to practice their skills. Also each classroom has a few number of students, so everyone has a chance to learn and practice more freely.

This institution has Various types of courses, click HERE to read about them and decide which one fits best for your needs!!

Click HERE to read their Reviews!

Lexis Korea

If you are looking for a more modern and attractive facility, then Lexis Korea is just for you. This institution has ten air conditioned classrooms with floor to ceiling glass windows that overlooks the Gangnam district of Seoul, and the student common room and restaurant facilities are within the building which is pretty convenient for students. Lexis Korea goal is to provide the highest quality of a study environment to students.

Lexis Korea has 7 different types of programs to choose from with different focus of study, however each one are fast-paced and small to medium size classes. They also provide cultural activities that students can participate in and further immerse into Korean culture.

Visit their Official Website for more information! and click HERE to read their Reviews!

Easy Korean Academy

At Easy Korean Academy, they have written and published their own learning textbooks and they are the same ones that are used in classrooms therefore being very efficient and systematic. They have various types of classrooms and each floor is equipped with computers for students to use. Also there is a coffee machine in the lounge and a classroom students can go to self-study after school.

They have various Korean language courses such as TOPIK class, K-POP (dance and song lyrics), pronunciation class, weekend classes and online classes as well. Besides the courses they also offer cultural activities such as cooking classes, city tours, Hanbok experience and much more!!

Visit their Official Website for more information! and click HERE to read their reviews!

Sogang University Korean Language Program

Sogang Korean Language Education Center (KLEC) classes are student-centered and focus on Speaking. Students are able to improve their ability to speak quickly by learning vocabulary and phrases used in daily life while engaging in very realistic activities. Of course listening, reading and writing are also included in the course. This program is highly recommended among Korean language students, especially known for its results in achieving practical knowledge of Korean language, rather than strict grammar which is limited in real life use.

Each course has cultural activities to keep students engaged in Korean culture. There are 7 levels of Korean language learning that one can partake. However you will be tested through speaking interview, reading and writing evaluation and then placed to the correct Korean level you are at. In order to advance students need to score over 70% on the final exam in each class and area (such as speaking, reading, writing and listening).

Visit their Official Website for more information! and click HERE to read their reviews!

Yonsei University Korean Language Program

The Yonsei University Korean Language Program is an extremely popular choice for those wanting to learn Korean, especially among the younger demographics. Their program is also one of the largest Korean language programs in Korea!!

The University Korean Language Program at Yonsei is designed for foreign students who are either currently enrolled in a Korean university or are planning on applying to a Korean university. Their main goal is to cultivate high level of Korean ability necessary for studying at a Korean university by focusing on content related to university life as well as university courses and lectures. One thing to keep in mind is that this program is known to be really heavy on grammar rather than practical speaking or listening.

Visit their Official Website for more information! and click HERE to read their reviews!

We hope this Blog post helped you a lot on deciding which language program will be best for your needs and preferences!! Remember to read our other Blog posts about living in Seoul and click HERE to read about different kinds of accommodations you can stay!!

Also if you would like to know how to further practice your learning around Seoul, click HERE for a list of places where you can do Language Exchange!!!

Keeping Your Korean Home Clean

Recycling in Seoul 

Living in South Korea you can't just throw everything in one bag and call it good, there are rules and special bags for getting rid of the junk. 

Having the Right Bag! 

Each district has their own official bag, you can't use Mapo-gu in Seodaemun-gu district. 42SHARE accommodation halls are in Seodaemun-gu district, so please make sure you are using the right bags :) 

Food Waste Bag 

Again remember to have the right bag for your district as well as to know what goes and does not go into this special bag. Basically anything that is edible has to go into this bag, but DO NOT throw in egg shells, clam shells, onion or garlic paper-like skin, animal bones, tea bags or tea leaves; instead they are considered as general waste, the bag below. 

Notice that this bag is from Mapo-gu District which is pretty near from Seodaemun-gu, but generally food waste bags in Seoul will be of color yellow. 

General Waste Bag

In this bag you throw in the mentioned above waste that DOES NOT go into the food waste bag, as well as non-recyclable waste (further discussion below). 

To give an idea of what can go into this bag here is a list: 

      ⌗Used Tissue                                         ⌗Sanitary Pads                                ⌗etc. 

      ⌗Old Clothes                                         ⌗Toys

      ⌗Old Shoes                                            ⌗Pens or Pencils 

As a side note, if you have items or clothing that are still in good condition and would rather donate them, check out this link for a list of Drop-off Locations around Seoul: https://www.korea4expats.com/article-donations-clothing-household-goods-seoul.html

Seodaemun-gu District (서대문구청장) Bag

The highlighted blue on the trash bag indicates the district the bag is to be used in, use this image as a guide for those who will be staying at our accommodation halls! 

Recyclable Waste Bag 

Now here is where it gets a bit tricky for some people. This bag is meant to be even more environmentally friendly by having a separate bag to recycle paper, glass, vinyl, cans, and plastic. However for this area of waste you do not need a special bag, you can use any bag you may have from shopping and leave it at it's designated bin. 

Please use ONLY transparent bags and don't throw loose waste!! :) 

Waste that you can put in this bag are: 

• Paper
• Printing paper
• Magazines
• Newspaper 
• Boxes
• Cartons, etc. 
• Paper pack 
• Juice
• Milk
• Yogurt, etc.
• Glass 
• Vitamin or energy bottles
• Alcoholic bottles, etc. 
• Cans 
• aluminum 
• Iron
• Plastic 
• NO:
• Toys and stationary pens.
• Vinyl 
• Snack bags
• Dessert wraps 

Where to Buy??

Now that you know what kind of bags you need and how to use them, let's learn where to get them! 

Usually you can easily purchase them at any nearby convenience store such as GS25 or CU, as well as Chain or Local Marts as we talked about on our other blog post "Shopping, Banks, and SIM Cards In Seoul" Keep in mind tho that most likely than not you will have to ask the cashier for the bags and be able to tell them how many gallons (what size) you would like. 

For that we have a list of sentences you can use when purchasing your bags!: 

How to Ask:

⌗일반 쓰레기 봉투 있어요? (il-ban sseu-le-gi bong-tu iss-eo-yo?) = Do you have general waste garbage bags?

⌗음식물 쓰레기 봉투 있어요? (eum-sig-mul sseu-le-gi bong-tu iss-eo-yo?) = Do you have food waste garbage bags?

몇 리터? (myeot-li-teo?) = How many liters? 

   ⌗이 (i) = two                                                                  ⌗삼십 (sam-sib) = thirty

   ⌗삼 (sam) = three                                                           ⌗오십 (o-sib) = fifty

   ⌗오 (o)= five                                                                   ⌗칠십오 (chil-sib-o) = seventy-five

   ⌗십 (sib) = ten                                                                 ⌗백 (baek) = One Hundred

   ⌗이십 (i-sib) = twenty                     

Also keep in mind that not all locations possible to buy these bags will have all the sizes, mostly the bigger sized ones! 

몇 장? (myeot-jang?) = How many?

   ⌗하나 (ha-na) = one                                                                     ⌗여섯 (yeo-seot) = six

                                                

   ⌗둘 (dul) = two                                                                            ⌗일곱 (il-gob) = seven

   ⌗셋 (set) = three                                                                          ⌗여덟 (yeo-deolb) = eight

   ⌗넷 (net) = four                                                                            ⌗아홉 (a-hob)= nine

   ⌗다섯 (da-seot) = five                                                                   ⌗열 (yeol) = ten

My Waste Bags are full now what? 

At 42SHARE we have 3 waste bins to throw in your bags! 

The BLUE Waste Bin is where you will throw in your Recycle and Food waste bags, while the YELLOW Waste Bins are for General Waste. 

Please remember when throwing away your waste to put them in the right bag as explained in this post!! it is really important not only for the environment but for your pocket as well, since there will be a fine of ₩100,000 if recycling guidelines are not followed.

For more information go to: https://10mag.com/your-complete-guide-to-garbage-disposal-in-south-korea/

Once you get used to how to assemble your waste it won't be as stressful as it sounds!! We hope that you transition well into living in Seoul and don't forget to check out our other blog posts!!! 

Summer in Seoul

Surviving Seoul's Summer

The weather in Seoul during the summer can be a hassle for foreigners if humidity and rain is not common in your home country. However we will let you know some great tips to overcome this hot weather that can be overwhelming even for natives!! 

Clothing 

Last week's blog post we talked about how people living in Seoul dress pretty fashionably but how do we stay in fashion and fresh at the same time??? 

Of course it is recommended to wear breathable clothing that would absorb and cool your body. For some visual representation on how to stay cool here are some images: 

As for to shoes we recommend to wear sandals and you will also see that it is the most popular type of shoes to wear. If you do not feel comfortable on those any waterproof shoes should do the trick or slip on's as well according to the weather :) 

What to Carry Around? 

Of course when you are travelling you kind of already know what to carry around in your bag but in Seoul there are some items you will want as soon as possible!! 

One of them is a portable FAN!! these are great when you are making your way to the subway and already start feeling the heat. They come in slightly different sizes and prices, but it is common to find them at any subway station or chain stores such as Artbox (remember!). Prices range from ₩15,000 to ₩25,000 but it will be totally worth it!

You would also want to carry around some a handkerchief or tissue to dry off your face when sweating, because nobody wants to be seen as if they just ran a marathon when you are just walking by! 

Before you head out, you should check the weather if there would be any rain so you can carry an umbrella. Also remember from "Prepare to live in Seoul" blog post to where purchase one if you forget it!! Another thing to keep in mind is that rain in Korea does not last for long periods of time. Usually it would rain from 5 min to 10 min and then be fine for a couple hours more. 

Hope you prepare well when coming to Seoul in the Summer!! Remember to checkout our other posts about what to do in the Summer? 

Shopping, Banks and SIM Cards in Seoul!

Your Korean Home

Now that you are in Seoul, you should learn about where to find and purchase certain things in order to make your accommodation your new home! 

Where to...? 

Following will be a formatted list of certain items you can conveniently purchase for an affordable price! As you may have noticed, people in Korea take a lot of care on how they dress and look, and you may want to join in. For that following are a list of places where you can find fashionable on season clothing for an affordable price! 

Ewha University Shopping Area 

You may or may not have heard of this shopping area and how cute and stylish the clothing are. However when you plan to go there prepare to spend hours to decide which one to buy! Some of the perks of this shopping area is that you can do everything in one day. There are numerous of makeup stores and various hair salons to get a complete makeover. Also there are different clothing stores that slightly vary in style and a few number of shoe shops that cater all kinds of styles and sizes. 

Also is not just for women, there are options for men as well!! In clothing, shoes and care products so do not be discourage to look around!~ 

The map above illustrates the recommended shopping areas by locals since they are pretty popular and in reasonable prices. As you can see the purple line is known as "52 St." but is commonly not seen in the map, however is trendy for young women's clothes and accessories. The Yellow circle shows great areas to look for shoes and clothing for all genders also along your way you will see many popular makeup brand stores!! 

Hongdae Shopping Area 

Hongdae is one of the popular areas that you have heard because of their street dance, nightlife and food! Besides those great things to do, there are numerous clothing stores that you can explore around with a different style from Ewha Shopping Center. 

We also recommend to go shopping during the week or early in the weekend because of the popularity of the area!! 

Gangnam and Express Bus Terminal Stations

As you go around Seoul, you may notice that there are clothing stores in the subway stations so with older style and some not so. However we recommend to check out Gangnam for chic and classy clothing if that is more of your style. Keep in mind that you do have to scan out of the station to explore around~

Now for the Express Bus Terminal is the biggest underground shopping areas in Seoul and has a vast selections of stores to purchase clothes, shoes, accessories and even food!! The terminal is also known as GOTEO Mall (GOTEO in Korean means Express) which is popular for the ladies, to get there you go to any exit 8 and will eventually lead you to the Mall. 

Grocery Shopping!! 

We all love food! and would love to go out to eat everyday but sometimes miss to cook something at home or just getting some snacks while you study! In Seoul there are a few chain supermarkets that have many products but there are also local supermarkets that may have cheaper options! follow this link to learn the different options to grocery shop: https://www.korvia.com/a-newbies-guide-to-grocery-shopping-in-seoul/

Yonsei Hall 

For those who will be staying at our Yonsei hall location, there are some options for you to purchase your groceries! One of them is the Harmony Mart (하모니마트) which is across from the big street!! To get there just head towwards the big street from the Hall and cross, you won't be able to miss it!! Items are affordable and even cheaper than going to the convenience store!! 

The map illustrates how to get to the Harmony Market by walking in only 4 minutes!! The Blue point is where Yonsei Hall is located and the Red point is the Harmony Market location!! 

Sogang and Sogang Arrupe Hall 

As to Sogang Hall, a big grocery store is quite far from the accommodation but there are a lot of convenience stores to find snacks!! Also is good to know that cheaper fruit are found being sold by big blue trucks as the picture below. 

  

Banking in Korea

Going to a bank or using an ATM can be quite terrifying if you are not sure how to use one. However most ATM's in Korea accept Foreign Cards and have the option to complete your transaction in English and sometimes other languages as well! 

Personally for money exchange going to a Bank is the better option since they sometimes don't take additional fees for converting your cash! If you decide to do this make sure you bring either you passport or ARC with you as a form of ID! 

If you will be studying in Seoul, your school should help you to open up a Korean bank account in which you will be able to put money in and sometimes even use it as a T-Money Card. We can not guarantee that every bank will have English speaking staff but if you go to popular foreigner areas such as Itaewon, you will certainly have no problem!! 

SIM Cards in Korea

Depending on how long you plan to stay in Seoul, there are various options to which kind of SIM Card you would want to purchase as well as different options according to your travels. DON'T FORGET TO UNLOCK YOUR PHONE!! 

Pocket Wifi 

If you just want wifi and not having to deal with all of the SIM card options, another option for you can be a Pocket Wifi which can vary in prices depending on how many days you will use it. One of the cons about this option is that you will have to be carrying around the poceket wifi device but have better signal than a SIM card! Click this link for further details and different companies you can purchase one: https://pretraveller.com/best-pocket-wifi-rental-korea/

For an ongoing updated page about best SIM Card options click: https://pretraveller.com/best-sim-card-in-korea/

We hope you transition well into your new future home and find everything you need to feel comfortable! Remember to checkout our other blog posts about living in Seoul.