Survival Korean Crash Course

Welcome! Is it your first time at a Korean university?

√ A practical Korean language textbook written by three exchange students

from the Netherlands

√ An easy, friendly guide on essential Korean idioms and expressions for international and exchange students

√ A portable pocket-sized book

Survival Korean Crash Course is a practical Korean language guide written by three exchange students from Leiden University in the Netherlands, which runs the only Korean Studies major in Europe. As “Your Friendly Guide to Student Life in Korea,” the book is a friendly, fun read, like the writers are personally sharing their stories of life in Korea to a good friend. The book also contains frequently used Korean words and idioms. 

The three writers—Irene Schokker, Lauren Kies, and Rachel van den Berg—fell in love with life in Korea as exchange students at Yonsei University, where they met Korean friends, hung out at university festivals and student outings, joined student clubs and activities, and even raced against Koreans students in the fierce competition to register for classes.

They went through difficulties too, as they got used to the cultural differences. Before they learned to call out “Auntie!” at a restaurant or ring a bell on the table, they would wait ages for a server to finally come take their order. And they had no idea that, according to Korean drinking customs, they should have turned their heads away when drinking with their seniors.

Based on their own newbie mistakes and confusion, they put together this Survival Korean manual, featuring eight chapters organized by situation. The book lays out essential words and expressions commonly used in daily life and various situations that international students in Korea often encounter, including school classes, searching for a place to live, navigating the streets, ordering food at a restaurant, enjoying leisure time, shopping, and emergencies. 

Based on the first-hand experiences of the authors themselves, who have just finished their exchange semester and returned to the Netherlands earlier this year, the three students pass on their tips for the things foreigners living in Korea find difficult and the Korean expressions they find confusing. This book will be a useful guide for students who plan to study in Korea or are looking for a mentor on Korean life, with authentic advice and recommendations from real exchange students.    

<Author>Irene Schokker, Lauren Kies, Rachel van den Berg

Irene Schokker, Lauren Kies, and Rachel van den Berg are students in the Korea Studies masters’ program at Leiden University in the Netherlands. During their undergraduate years as Korean Studies majors at Leiden, they first visited Korea as exchange students at Sungkyunkwan University, and their love for Korea grew all the more. They returned to Korea in 2016 as exchange students at Yonsei University as part of their graduate studies. They are currently in the Netherlands, writing their dissertations on Korea after spending a year in the country. The authors wrote this book to share the real Korean language and culture they enjoyed with their first-hand experiences with Korean food, noraebang, and street performances.

Table of Contents

Authors‘ Note

Introduction to Hangeul

Chapter 1. Everyday Essentials           

Useful Words

Greetings

Useful Sentences

Countries

Question Words

Useful Verbs

Useful Adjectives

Useful Adverbs

Forms of Address

Numbers

Time and Dates

Miscellaneous

Seasons and Weather

Colors

Fun to Know

Chapter 2. University

Basics     

Facilities on Campus 

Majors    

Studying

Exams and Assignments           

Language Exchange and Campus Activities                  

Chapter 3. Housing

Housing Types

Housing Conditions

Rooms

Furniture

Amenities

Daily Necessities

Chapter 4. Navigation

Directions

On the Street 

Transportation

Verbs       

Tickets

Chapter 5. Food

Places and Service

Ordering and Paying

Eating

Flavors 

Drinking

Ingredients

Dishes and Fruit

Tableware

Chapter 6. Leisure Activities

Having Fun

Nightlife

Dating

Chapter 7. Shopping

Stores

Transactions

Prices and Sales

Clothes and Merchandise

Accessories

Chapter 8. In Case of Emergency

Police 

Fire Department

Hospitals

Word List