What languages do Koreans speak?

Hi,
I'm planning a month in Korea around October/November this year, and browsing through the guidebook I get an impression that Koreans generally don't speak much English. Would they speak any language other than Korean? I can manage a little Mandarin and a very little Japanese.
Regards
John

I'm also travelling between the 1st to the 15th of November....I have also been told that they don't really speak english but I suppose that will make the trip more interesting!!! I've got a korean friend and she said that there are more chances someone speaks english than mandarin or japanese...there is though a big chinese community in seoul..

regards
Seth

You're more likely to find people who speak English than Japanese or Mandarin.

Don't try communicating in Manadarin and definitely not Japanese (that would be insulting).

You won't have trouble at airports or train stations (look for the "I" desk), but it could be challenging at bus stations.

Look for taxis in major cities with door signs advertising free interpretation services. You can put on a headset and talk to an interpreter who will translate dirtections to your driver.

Many school students do speak English because it is a heavily emphasized part of their education, both in and out of the classroom. If you get lost, you might ask them for help.

The tourism services can really help ease your language concerns.

Visit their web page for information on free interpretation and free tour guides.

See: - http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto</strong>

On the left side of the page look under Essential Information.

Korea Travel Hotline 1330 - free 24/7 travel and interpretation.

Also see the BBB volunteer phone interpretation services. With a prepay cell phone it's like having a Korean interpreter with you anywhere, anytime.

Read more at: http://www.korea4expats.com/service-BBB---Free-Interpretation-Help-in-17-Languages-884.html.

Volunteer Tour Guides - after you have set your travel irtinerary, put in a request for a free tour guide who will show you around town.

E-Books - downloadable travel guides with essential travel expressions

Don't forget to check out some of the expat and esl teacher web sites for an insiders guide to Korea.

-http://www.korea4expats.com/
-http://www.koreabridge.net
-http://www.eslcafe.com
-http://www.lifeinkorea.com

Good luck!

Edited by: thehelpfultraveler

Edited by: thehelpfultraveler

Edited by: thehelpfultraveler

Edited by: emd_two on Jan 28, 2013 9:44 AM

I think #3 is right about Koreans being insulted if you tried to speak to them in Japanese or Chinese. I have a Brazilian friend who described the scorn with with he and friends greeted "gringoes" who showed up trying to speak Spanish in Brazil. The gringo was just trying to use his limited language ability to communicate, but the Brazilians assumed he was stupid enough not to know the difference between Brazil and the rest of Latin America. Koreans are proud of their separate-ness from their larger neighbors and will resent it if they think you are confusing their country with their neighbors.

Especially don't speak Japanese!! English is popular enough. Much higher percentage of English "speaker" in Korea than in Japan.

Here's a link to a fun site that will teach you quickly how to read and includes dozens of easy lessons to help you master travel expressions,

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/CU_EN_8_6_1_1_1.jsp

Just a quick question along the same lines: Is Korean a tonal language?

No it's not tonal.

Negative on other languages ... just Korean and some (not a lot) English..okay, a bit of Japanese here and there, but that's about it. Hardly any Koreans speak Chinese. My advice: Really, really try HARD to learn basic Korean communication skills in your first 2~3 months. Buy a study guide with CD. It will make your life immensely more pleasant and manageable.