This photo is completely irrelevant. I just miss putting photos in my posts.
I have been in Seoul for almost two months now, and was shocked to realize that I have actually learned very little Korean. For those of you who don't know (which is probably all of you, considering I never blogged about it), I have been taking the level 1A evening Korean class at Sogang University... even though I studied Korean previously.
Now, there is a bit of a story behind this. When I signed up for my classes as an exchange student I was told that only Korean majors would be allowed into the regular afternoon classes, which go at a faster pace (in that they are longer and more frequent) than the evening classes. As a result, I signed up for the evening class with the intention of taking a placement exam. I later found out that another non-Korean major exchange student had been let into the afternoon class, but upon asking whether I could move to that class I was rejected. After taking the placement test, I was told that the level 2A was full and that 1B wasn't being offered. So I was put into 1A.
Please don't misunderstand- Sogang's language program is a great program, but I have felt as if I am at a standstill in learning Korean. So I looked elsewhere to expand my language skills.
1.Language exchange partners are a great asset in learning Korean. I regularly meet with three different language partners. It is a great way to learn because we can meet for lunch or coffee and enjoy ourselves with the mutual benefit of helping each learn about the other's language and culture. Especially when studying independently, language exchange is a great way to practice speaking and to clarify any conceptual problems that arise.
2. Never doubt the power of online chatting and texting. I try to regularly send messages to my native friends in Korean whenever I have some free time, and to hold basic conversations. This is a bit easier than holding a conversation in person in that you can take your time in responding, and it really helps with spelling and grammar. Plus you get to chat with your friends and it's a more natural way of learning than just staring at a book.
3. Take advantage of free podcasts. There are plenty of websites that put out podcasts for learning Korean, which are useful when you are on the go and tend to help with listening skills. I usually put a few on my phone and listen to them when I am on the subway or waiting for class to start. I also have a tendency to listen to them on my computer when I am doing menial tasks, such as cleaning or... dare I say it? Facebooking.
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4. Take advantage of clubs and classes. I take a kpop dance class that is entirely in Korean. Even back in America I did a Korean yoga video with my friends on most nights. For these kinds of things, it is easy to follow along visually, and it is great for language immersion. There are also many clubs designed to bring together Koreans and foreigners. The friends you meet through these clubs are usually more than willing to help you with practicing Korean or answer any questions you have regarding Korean culture.
5. Watch dramas and movies... with and without subtitles! I have been watching Korean dramas for a looong time (think since middle school), and I am pretty sure that hearing the language so much made it easier for me to grasp the language once I started learning. Once you have some basic knowledge of Korean, try watching the television or going to a movie that doesn't have English subtitles. Whenever I am eating alone at a place with a television, I always try to watch and pick up any words or phrases that I know. I also watched a movie in Korean without subtitles for the first time last weekend (which I will blog about right after this! ^^) which enabled me to focus on what was being said. I really had to work to decipher what was happening during the movie, which I think made it even more enjoyable! XD
6. Do noraebang. At first, study beforehand. Print out just the Hangul lyrics and romanize them yourself. If you can, try to translate the lyrics and compare them to an English translation online. Once you are comfortable with doing this, try just bringing the Hangul printout with you and singing from that. Start with slow songs and move your way up to faster ones- reading off a printout will be easier than on the screen because the video can be a bit distracting and the font is harder to read! Once you can sing these without stumbling much you should be fine reading off the screen :) This can be great for vocabulary and grammar, but it also really helps with your reading speed!
7. Study Korean out of a book (or take a course in Korean). Although these other things help a lot, studying out of a book or through a course will give you the framework and the basics which are most important to learning Korean. These programs have been developed to really help you understand the language, and will make learning much simpler and much more structured.
8. Don't be afraid to speak Korean! I tend to get very nervous when trying to speak in Korean in a real life setting. Especially if somebody speaks to me in English first or doesn't understand when I say something the first time, I get nervous. When you get nervous, you are less likely to say things correctly. Most people will be happy to know that you are trying to learn their language. Especially if you have a coffee shop or restaurant that you regularly go to, try some small talk with the owner.
This is how I learn Korean. I take the 1A class three nights a week, and at home I study the 1B textbook. I am definitely planning on taking a Korean course over winter break, possibly at Sogang but I am also considering Yonsei. I don't regret continuing with the 1A class, because it helps me review and converse with other students in Korean for a few hours a week. The vocabulary is also slightly different than what I learned at home, so by taking the 1A course I know I won't miss out on anything. For a while I struggled with the fact that I wasn't learning as much as I thought I would and could not find the drive to really study on my own, but at least for now I think I have found a good place.
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