Typing Practice (한글로!)

Links:

Language packs in Windows
 
한컴 타자연습 typing tutor (I have not tested this download--might have adware)

Korean keyboard stickers

Virtual Korean keyboard

(I get a lot of hits from people looking for info on typing in Korean, so I thought I'd list those links at the beginning. Now, on to the post!)



I've been using the IME pad to input Korean. If you write the character you want on the pad, it brings up a bunch of options that it thinks matches, and then you click the right one. If I'm writing a lot, I use my graphics tablet and pen. This has generally worked pretty well for my needs.

It is a bit clunky, though, and it doesn't always work the first time. Especially if I'm writing quickly, sometimes it doesn't recognize what I'm trying to say, and then I have to clear it and start over, more neatly.



A while back I exchanged a few messages with a guy on the Straight Dope board who disparaged my use of the IME pad and told me that touch typing was definitely the way to go. He said, "It's much easier and it's a blast to see the reactions of my students and other visitors to my office when they see me typing Korean quite rapidly on an unmarked keyboard!" While that did indeed sound like a blast, I did not have any particular motivation to put in the effort to make this happen. I was happy enough with my IME pad. It did the job.

Now I have motivation. Facebook chat.

Kim Sang Kyung, one of my old mission companions, is on Facebook now. I sent her an invitation about a month ago and she joined, but it took her a while to figure it out. This last Saturday I got to chat with her. It was so fun and not easy. The faster I tried to write, the more the IME pad wasn't giving me the right characters. And clicking back and forth between the IME pad and the chat window made things hang up a bit.

But it was a hoot. A great, frantic, shrieking bundle of exhilaration and frustration.

"Ack!" said I. "I need to learn to type in Korean. For real."

So I gave it a try. It's pretty easy to find images of the Korean keyboard layout. But I wasn't happy with trying to hunt and peck, and decided I needed a real Korean typing practice program. I asked Amanda and she referred me to a program called 한컴 타자연습 (which you can download here). It's exactly what I wanted. (Note--the download that I had before is gone now--I don't know if this one might include adware or other annoyances.  I will see if I can confirm or find a different one.)



This is a great program. (And cute! It's for kids.) I've been playing with it for a few days now. My speed is pretty lousy, but it's getting better!



At this point I'm touch typing on an English keyboard. Since I'm not a total masochist, I have ordered some Korean keyboard stickers that I found on Amazon. But I'll keep practicing while I'm waiting for them to get here!

열심히 연습할거애요! 재미 있어요.

I have a pretty good collection of Korean fonts, too. Let me know if you're interested!