Korean Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Folktales in Korean and English (Free Audio CD Included), Paperback

The most enjoyable way to learn about an unfamiliar culture is through its stories--especially when they're told in two languages

Korean Stories for Language Learners introduces 42 traditional Korean folktales with bilingual Korean and English versions, presented on facing pages, together with detailed notes and exercises aimed at beginning learners of the language. The book can be used as a reader in first- and second-year Korean language courses or by anyone who wishes to learn about Korean folktales and traditional Korean culture.

This elegantly illustrated volume is designed to help language learners expand their vocabulary and to develop a basic familiarity with Korean culture. The stories gradually increase in length and complexity throughout the book as the reader improves their vocabulary and understanding of the language. After the first few stories, the reader is asked to use the vocabulary in speaking and writing exercises. By reading these classic stories, they also are given a window into Korean culture and learn to appreciate the uniqueness of the country--which provides greater motivation to continue learning the difficult language.

Cultural notes and discussion questions further reinforce one's understanding of the stories, and bolster one's language skills. Korean-English and English-Korean glossaries are included as well as an overview of the Korean Hangeul script.

Audio recordings by native speakers help readers improve their pronunciation and inflection.

About the Author:

Julie Damron received her B.A. from Brigham Young in English; her MAT in TESOL, from The School for International Teaching in Brattleboro, Vermont; and her Ph.D. in Linguistics from Purdue. She currently heads the Korean section in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young. Dr. Damron developed and teaches all of BYU's independent study Korean courses and BYU's new "BYU Online" hybrid Korean classes. She is active in the profession with regular presentations and publications.

EunSun You received her B.A. in Korean language teaching from Kyunghee University in Suwon, Korea. She later received her M.A. from Brigham Young University in second language acquisition and teaching. She has been a teacher of Korean as a foreign or second language for the past five years. Her teaching and research interests include teaching language through literature, discourse and cognitive linguistics, and language acquisition of multicultural children.