안녕하세요!
Writing this from Seoul, South Korea! This is my first post from the Land of the Morning Calm.
I arrived in Incheon International Airport last Sunday afternoon, and now it’s another Sunday afternoon and I have a little bit of time before I go to 광화문광장 (Gwanghwamun Plaza) and 동대문 (Dongdaemun). I intend to use the coming week to share some things that I’ve seen or learned this past week. Today I’m going to talk about getting around the city. Continue reading
So, you’ve been accepted to that awesome study abroad program. You’re looking at plane tickets (nothing new, probably) that you might actually buy (that’s very new, actually). You’re googling the best places to visit in Seoul, the best way to travel to Busan, the top tasty spots in Myeongdong. You’re reviewing your vocab lists. You’re wondering if you can work in a trip to Jeju Island during Chuseok. What’s happening? You’re going to Korea!
But first, you have to apply for a visa. And the process is a maddening, confusing, difficult process.
But it’s a necessary evil. That’s why I’m going to explain how I did it, what went wrong, and how I survived the process.
Continue reading안녕하세요!
This summer has been full of preparations (mixed with far too much stress and madness) to go to Korea and almost no true, consistent studying of Korean. The one reassurance that my Korean abilities haven’t completely fled comes from my nightly manhwa time.
만화 (manhwa) – a glorious method of reading delightful comics for fun under the thin disguise of “studying Korean”.
When I began reading manhwa, I only really read Penguin Loves Mev because even that simple and sweet story was difficult for me to read in Korean. Each short sentence had a cute, comical illustration that helped me figure out the meanings of words I didn’t know – but I struggled through one chapter at a time, and I translated infrequently but with great effort, dissecting the grammar and asking my language partners about the usage of some words.
Sometime last fall, I got a new phone and discovered that Naver Webtoons has an app (I’d always read Penguin Loves Mev on my laptop). While I was exploring how to use the app, I became interested in trying other manhwa. As much as I loved Penguin Loves Mev, I wanted to challenge myself more (and I generally like fiction/fantasy/adventure). I bookmarked a few new manhwa to try and quickly became fascinated with 천년구미호 (1000 Year Gumiho).
There are lots of reason to read this manhwa. I absolutely love mythical creatures and legends, so anything about a nine-tailed fox (gumiho) from Korean myth – there are related legends in other Asian countries – is sure to grab my attention. I could also extol the virtues of the illustrations and plot….but this post is about language learning.
Time to put my study face on. And study James McAvoy’s beautiful face.
The other reason I love this manhwa is because of the language itself. It’s set in modern-day Korea, so there’s slang and modern colloquial conversations, but since it incorporates lots of ancient mythical creatures, these characters converse in old, historical Korean: very formal and often very different from what you’d hear a friend say to you. It’s an awesome mixture of old and modern Korean and I learn new things in every single chapter.
One of the best things about this manhwa is that the story is so interesting that I never can read just one chapter at a time. I often read at least five, even if it takes a long time, but this is a huge improvement from me struggling through one chapter a night (if that). I’m motivated to continue reading and practicing Korean because I want to know what happens next.
Don’t misunderstand; I definitely don’t understand everything in each chapter, but I’ve vastly improved since last fall when I began reading manhwa again. I can tell that my speed and comprehension has picked up enormously, and the more consistently I read, the better I am at Korean in general.
And, you know, it’s just so funny sometimes. The chicken is probably my all-time favorite character.
Yes that wondrously evil-looking face is the face of doom. A chicken. Technically a rooster. Ah, well.
There are beautiful moments of comedy that make me burst out laughing, scenes of angst and romance, and entire chapters full of action and danger. And then there are scenes where someone FINALLY MENTIONS that one of the evil guys has a hairstyle that makes his head look like a 송편 (songpyeon) which is a traditional Korean food. Check out the head of the guy on the left and compare it to the picture of songpyeon.
Do you read any manhwa? Let me know if you have a favorite or if you’ve also enjoyed reading 천년구미호. Woohoo for reading!
And 감사합니다 for reading this^^
지금 재생 중 (because 괜찮아, 사랑이야 (It’s Okay, That’s Love) is a fantaaaaaaastic new Kdrama that finally confronts the stigma about mental illness as not being worth the same care as physical illness. Also because this song is really pretty):
Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.
배움은 우연히 얻어지는 것이 아니라 추구하는 열정과 근면함의 결과이다.
– 아비가일 애덤스, Abigail Adams
If you want to be good at something, you’re going to have to work for it. It wouldn’t be worth it if just anyone could do it easily. Get on that language learning, now!
Courtesy of Hwangssabu on Twitter.
You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.
앞으로 할 행동으로 평판을 쌓을 수는 없다.
– 헨리 포드, Henry Ford
So get language learning, people! And reading, writing, running, climbing, LIVING! Now. Right now. The best time to start is now.
Courtesy of Hwangssabu on Twitter.
안녕하세요!
It’s been a while since I’ve updated my Miss Interpretation section. Not because I’m not making mistakes, but mainly because they’ve been relatively boring mistakes. I haven’t said anything really inappropriate or completely grammatically incorrect in a while, but I’ve continued to make little mistakes without advancing much. Sigh. I need to get down to business to defeat the Huns and actually get back into intense studying.
Actual photo of me. I’m secretly a muscular Chinese man, but don’t tell anyone.
I did, however, have any interesting conversation with one of my language partners on Skype Continue reading
안녕하세요!
I’ve been spending a lot of time watching endless clips of 나는 가수다 (Naneun Kasu-da. trans: “I am a Singer”) and Immortal Song 2 on YouTube. They are music shows that feature singers who perform their own renditions of Korean oldies and I think they’re absolutely phenomenal. I’m a music lover to my very core and these old songs and these incredible singers affect me so deeply.
But let’s be honest. Watching YouTube clips for hours at a time isn’t quite conducive to attaining Korean fluency – unless I incorporate a studious attitude!
The greatest boon of Korean broadcasting to language learners like myself is its penchant for Continue reading
Nothing will come of nothing. We must dare mighty things.
-William Shakespeare
무(無)에서는 무(無)밖에 나오지 않는다. 고로 우리는 강력한 일을감행해야 한다.
– 윌리엄 셰익스피어
Courtesy of Hwangssabu’s Twitter.
안녕하세요!
As an independent language-learner, I was both apprehensive and excited to be able to take a Korean language class once I entered university last August (2013). Although I took Spanish for over 10 years previously, I had no idea how my abilities in Korean compared with students who took language courses. I had never taken any test, and although Koreans who I spoke with always lauded my Korean, I felt like it was somewhat empty praise. Don’t misunderstand – I’m happy that people are happy that I study Korean; I just wish they didn’t hand down praise so easily when I say just a word or two.
I spoke with my Korean professor who told me not to take the placement test. I was already in the first level along with beginners in the language, most of whom did not yet know hangul. I realized a few weeks later that I really should have taken the exam anyways; I probably could have landed in second year very easily. However, I recognized that my speaking abilities were basically nil, and that I could focus on that and vocab as my goals for improvement.
I don’t blame my professor, either. I know that several other students approached her and said the exact same thing as me – “Oh, I’ve studied some Korean before.” Most of them meant – “I can kind of read hangul.” She found out later, and through my participation in her class, that I had studied for almost 2 years before coming there.
The main problem I found with taking first level rather than passing into second was mainly how slowly it went for me. First semester was so incredibly basic that I only really felt like I improved in counting and speaking slightly more confidently and fluently. There was nothing else new, and I knew almost all of the vocabulary.
Second semester went better, but I had yet to learn a grammar structure that I didn’t already know. Vocabulary started to be half and half with words I knew and words I didn’t know yet. Overall, we covered only 2-3 grammar points that I had never heard before or studied. I definitely improved with speaking, but my progress in everything else remained stagnant.
Looking back over the past academic year, I realize that I made two essential mistakes.
1. If you have studied Korean before, even just a little, I highly recommend testing to ascertain your level before you commit to a class. It may be more challenging to take a higher level class, but overall, isn’t your goal to challenge yourself by becoming fluent in a language?
2. Do not stop or lessen your independent studies. This was definitely my bigger problem. I was used to rapidly advancing through TTMIK lessons and making leaps and bounds with my comprehension of spoken and written Korean, but I spent almost a year of barely studying on my own. I also didn’t study much at all for my actual Korean class because I did so well in it without needing to. It made me lazy with my language studies, and I deeply regret that.
In conclusion, I have decided to never stop my independent studies. It doesn’t matter if I’m taking Korean at my university or even living in Korea and studying there. It’s pure laziness and nonsense to stop studying. I’m not going to magically become fluent by decreasing my studies. Independent studies coupled with other language learning experiences is like adding extra engines to a jet; you’re going to get there even faster if you combine rather than minimize.
Also, I’m not advising you to not take a Korean language course – I’m just advocating that you also continue your independent studies and take a placement test.
Have you ever taken a Korean language class or do you only do independent studies? Or do you combine them? Let me know in the comments about your experience! I’m also curious what it’s like to take placement tests…and TOPIK….
감사합니다!
Here’s some lovely music for a lovely day!
Summer’s almost here. My last final is tomorrow and yet I’m most overjoyed over the prospect of never seeing or hearing from my roommate or her boyfriend again. I’m going to truly miss the vivacity of campus life as the town empties of most of its students, but at least I know some of my friends will be here for a month or two longer. 가지마~~~ ㅠㅠ
I can’t fairly complain about people leaving me though, since I’m planning on spending the fall 2014 semester in Seoul. Yes, Seoul. Is it possible to miss a place you’ve never been? I think so. In the meantime, however, I need to get ready. And by getting ready I mean I need to immerse myself as completely in the Korean language as I possibly can over the next several months, because my goal is to return for the winter 2015 semester and test directly into the second semester class of 3rd year Korean. I’ve never been formally tested to see what my level of fluency or ignorance is, and so I’ve been taking 1st year Korean during my freshman year – a seriously entertaining choice because my comprehension of grammar points reaches into much of 3rd year Korean….yet my speaking abilities were basically nil when I entered the class in the last dog days of August almost eight months ago. Or nine. I’m not sure; math isn’t my strong-point and I definitely just counted the months on my fingers and still am not sure if it’s 8 or 9.
I’ll soon be writing up some posts about my experiences taking Korean this past year (this is a promise because otherwise I’ll conveniently forget to do it while reveling in summer sunshine, bubble tea, and the hopes that Big Bang might actually make a comeback within the next decade),but in the meantime I’d like to discuss some of my language-learning goals.
1. Complete review of all Talk To Me In Korean levels up until my current one. And of course, resume actively studying new lessons and leveling up. LEVEL UP. Oh wow, I feel my gaming days returning already….Ahem, and in doing these reviews, I’m going to focus on speaking practice – my biggest nemesis in language learning. Because who really wants to hear herself mispronounce things repeatedly?
2. Establish vocabulary studying regimen (alongside my best friend/language study buddy) of exchanging lists of at least 20 words each every week and then practicing with all 40 via italki posts and my own journaling.
3. Reach a fluency level enabling me to write short stories in Korean! This is a big one for me, since one of my biggest passions since kindergarten has been writing stories. I used to write intense murder mysteries about three detective fairies while I was in kindergarten. Yeah, you’re jealous.
4. Work my way through one Korean novel per month. Now that‘s slightly insane and also mostly possible. I’ve had a book from the library that I’ve been renewing for about 10 months now and I understand the entire first page easily. I just get a bit tired by the second page…but that’s just laziness. This is summer! And summer means….study….time. Actually, summer means finally reading the books I wanted to read all school year long but couldn’t because I had twenty-some novels for my classes to plough through first.
5. Confidence in Korean. This is a big one for me. I’m all fluent and wordy when I’m practicing alone or making small talk with two of my fellow Korean-learning friends, but when confronted with the sweet ahjumma at Arirang who is asking what I want to eat, or when greeting my Korean friend’s wonderful aunt who makes jokes in Korean to me, I freeze up and retreat into the fortress of my native language. This goal isn’t really something I can specifically practice for, other than by practicing and practicing and letting go of the safety-rail of English. Mistakes are okay. They really, really are. And I usually tout this belief quite strongly until my face is burning red from mispronouncing something or randomly swapping the ending to the verb from past tense to future because I’m so completely caught up in being grammatically correct that I forget what the meaning of my sentence was in the first place. So, confidence. Confidence in Korean.
Do you have language learning goals for the summer? 화이팅!!! 그리고 감사합니다!
서울드림 