(Don't know if the last two sentences made total sense but basically I was trying to say Here is my Korean studying story and sorry for my bad grammar)
I started learning Korean because I got a job teaching English in Korea and over the eight years I lived there I studied on and off (to be honest more off than on). I left Korea in 2012 I think it was, but have recently started studying again. It's funny, before I moved to Korea I assumed I'd learn Korean to a pretty good level just because I'd be living there, and that it would be an immersion type of thing but I'm still only a high beginner or maybe, with a big stress on maybe, a low intermediate. What I found is that being an English teacher where my job was to be English I was kind of in a bit of an English bubble. Also since my mother language is English it was a lot easier for me to survive without a high level of Korean, subway stations all are in Korean and English, in many stores the workers could speak at least a tiny bit of English or in bigger stores there would be at least one employee with reasonably good English, my schools would always help with things like banking or whatever was needed, and then after all those excuses I'd often feel tired after work. The other issue is even though I would periodically come back to it I'm not the most disciplined person (a nicer way to say I'm lazy).
I'm actually embarrassed I'm not much better because I married a Korean woman a few years before leaving Korea. Her English is much better than my Korean so we are able to communicate pretty good in English. For much of the time when I lived in Korea I wished I was better at Korean than I was. I think with my lazy personality type, and partly due to living with depression for many years, I came to the impression that the only way I'd get beyond the plateau that I'd hit would be to actually take a University course and study it formally but didn't feel like I had the energy to study formally and work. Well the last few years since making a career change I've been a lot less depressed. A few years back I had done about a third of a year studying French on Duolingo since I'm Canadian and it's the second official language and can be an asset in getting good jobs here. I found the gamification aspect of it helped me do it consistently, but once I lost my streak I quit French.
Well, fast forward to 44 days ago and for several reasons it seemed like the right time to start studying Korean again. There are several reasons. My mother in law speaks no English. We get along good but I'd really love to be able to carry out a somewhat proper conversation with her beyond the basic mostly beginner functional type of things I can say. She is in a care home now and her memory is starting to go. Also, although my wife has pretty good English if I could become an advance Korean speaker it would make her life more enjoyable because speaking English all the time can sometimes be tiring.
Duolingo is good for some basics, for reading, vocabulary, and listening and it's good because it seems to motivate me to do it every day, but to go to another level adding other resources will be needed.
I found your blog because I was reading a Reddit thread about whether or not it's possible to actually learn a Language on Duolingo, and one poster recommended a site or app of something " ? . . . Ancient and Modern Languages" which I downloaded but it seems I downloaded something called "Substack" and just started clicking on all the Korean stuff. I forget the full name of what I first began looking for, so hope I can find it again, but it has stuff for about 40 languages, and Korean is one of them. I used to enjoy the "Let's Speak Korean" TV show years ago, so maybe I'll search for that again. Who knows, maybe I can find time and money to go to Korea and enroll in a semester or two at Sogang University, which is where I'd like to study if I had a choice because in my research they are the best if your goal is to be able to speak and be conversational, whereas some other universities I've read focus more on grammar. I don't mind if my grammar isn't perfect as long as I can get my thoughts and ideas across.
I am happy to have found your blog and look forward to more posts.
I really enjoyed reading your story—thank you for sharing! Living in Korea for eight years is amazing, and I can definitely understand how being an English teacher made it harder to immerse yourself in Korean. But it’s great that you’ve started studying again! 44 days of consistent learning is impressive.
Duolingo is a good start, but adding more resources will definitely help. Have you tried watching Korean dramas or YouTube videos? They can be great for improving listening and natural expressions.
You mentioned wanting to study at Sogang University, but how about studying online with me instead? 😉 It could be a great way to build your Korean skills while staying motivated!
Keep up the great work, and let’s stay in touch! ✨
I once had a Korean high school student live with me for a semester. She introduced me (ever so briefly) to Hangul. I want to write to her in Korean. I have just now started studying the language. Here is my first letter to her, but I do not know if my grammar is correct. I tried to keep the sentences short and simple, but they are still above my skill level. I'll show you in the reply what I have written. Do you think it is okay?
...and I am still studying and recognize so much more grammar points and am beginning to understand more of what I hear. The fact that Korean high school students arrive in the States with such good English skills is impressive.
That's a great motivation for learning Korean! I'm glad to hear that you're interested in Kdramas and BTS Run. As a Korean teacher, I hope that you will enjoy learning Korean and achieve your goals. Let me know if you need any help or have any questions!
안녕하세요 반갑습니다! 여기 네 한국어 공부 이야기를있어요. 나쁜 문법 미안해요
(Don't know if the last two sentences made total sense but basically I was trying to say Here is my Korean studying story and sorry for my bad grammar)
I started learning Korean because I got a job teaching English in Korea and over the eight years I lived there I studied on and off (to be honest more off than on). I left Korea in 2012 I think it was, but have recently started studying again. It's funny, before I moved to Korea I assumed I'd learn Korean to a pretty good level just because I'd be living there, and that it would be an immersion type of thing but I'm still only a high beginner or maybe, with a big stress on maybe, a low intermediate. What I found is that being an English teacher where my job was to be English I was kind of in a bit of an English bubble. Also since my mother language is English it was a lot easier for me to survive without a high level of Korean, subway stations all are in Korean and English, in many stores the workers could speak at least a tiny bit of English or in bigger stores there would be at least one employee with reasonably good English, my schools would always help with things like banking or whatever was needed, and then after all those excuses I'd often feel tired after work. The other issue is even though I would periodically come back to it I'm not the most disciplined person (a nicer way to say I'm lazy).
I'm actually embarrassed I'm not much better because I married a Korean woman a few years before leaving Korea. Her English is much better than my Korean so we are able to communicate pretty good in English. For much of the time when I lived in Korea I wished I was better at Korean than I was. I think with my lazy personality type, and partly due to living with depression for many years, I came to the impression that the only way I'd get beyond the plateau that I'd hit would be to actually take a University course and study it formally but didn't feel like I had the energy to study formally and work. Well the last few years since making a career change I've been a lot less depressed. A few years back I had done about a third of a year studying French on Duolingo since I'm Canadian and it's the second official language and can be an asset in getting good jobs here. I found the gamification aspect of it helped me do it consistently, but once I lost my streak I quit French.
Well, fast forward to 44 days ago and for several reasons it seemed like the right time to start studying Korean again. There are several reasons. My mother in law speaks no English. We get along good but I'd really love to be able to carry out a somewhat proper conversation with her beyond the basic mostly beginner functional type of things I can say. She is in a care home now and her memory is starting to go. Also, although my wife has pretty good English if I could become an advance Korean speaker it would make her life more enjoyable because speaking English all the time can sometimes be tiring.
Duolingo is good for some basics, for reading, vocabulary, and listening and it's good because it seems to motivate me to do it every day, but to go to another level adding other resources will be needed.
I found your blog because I was reading a Reddit thread about whether or not it's possible to actually learn a Language on Duolingo, and one poster recommended a site or app of something " ? . . . Ancient and Modern Languages" which I downloaded but it seems I downloaded something called "Substack" and just started clicking on all the Korean stuff. I forget the full name of what I first began looking for, so hope I can find it again, but it has stuff for about 40 languages, and Korean is one of them. I used to enjoy the "Let's Speak Korean" TV show years ago, so maybe I'll search for that again. Who knows, maybe I can find time and money to go to Korea and enroll in a semester or two at Sogang University, which is where I'd like to study if I had a choice because in my research they are the best if your goal is to be able to speak and be conversational, whereas some other universities I've read focus more on grammar. I don't mind if my grammar isn't perfect as long as I can get my thoughts and ideas across.
I am happy to have found your blog and look forward to more posts.
Hello! Nice to meet you. 😊
I really enjoyed reading your story—thank you for sharing! Living in Korea for eight years is amazing, and I can definitely understand how being an English teacher made it harder to immerse yourself in Korean. But it’s great that you’ve started studying again! 44 days of consistent learning is impressive.
Duolingo is a good start, but adding more resources will definitely help. Have you tried watching Korean dramas or YouTube videos? They can be great for improving listening and natural expressions.
You mentioned wanting to study at Sogang University, but how about studying online with me instead? 😉 It could be a great way to build your Korean skills while staying motivated!
Keep up the great work, and let’s stay in touch! ✨
I once had a Korean high school student live with me for a semester. She introduced me (ever so briefly) to Hangul. I want to write to her in Korean. I have just now started studying the language. Here is my first letter to her, but I do not know if my grammar is correct. I tried to keep the sentences short and simple, but they are still above my skill level. I'll show you in the reply what I have written. Do you think it is okay?
이 분은 당신의 고등학교 호스트 어머니이십니다. [This is your high school host mother, Mrs. J. T.]
나는 한국어를 공부하고 있어요. [I am studying Korean]
초보자입니다. [I am a beginner]
당신을 생각했습니다. [I thought of you.]
나한테 한글을 가르쳐 주려고 했던 거 기억나? [Do you remember trying to teach me Hangul?]
그건 14년 전이. [That was 14 years ago.]
당신이 건강하고 행복하기를 바랍니다. [I hope you are well and happy.]
PS - 내 편지는 내 언어 능력 수준을 넘어섰습니다.
My letter is beyond my language skill level.
나는 내가 무엇을 하고 있는지 당신에게 말하고 싶었습니다.
I wanted to tell you what I am doing.
I am learning a lot about Korea.
Sincerely,
제이 티 어머님께,
[Dear Mrs. J.T.,]
안녕하세요! 저는 한국어를 공부하고 있는 초보자입니다.
[Hello! I am a beginner studying Korean.]
요즘 어머님을 문득 떠올렸어요.
[Lately, I have been thinking of you.]
혹시 제가 한글을 배울 때 어머님께서 도와주셨던 거 기억하시나요?
[Do you remember helping me learn Hangul?]
벌써 14년 전 일이네요. 시간이 참 빠르죠!
[That was 14 years ago. Time flies, doesn’t it?]
어머님께서 건강하고 행복하시길 바랍니다.
[I hope you are well and happy.]
P.S. 제 한국어 실력보다 조금 어려운 편지를 쓰게 되었어요.
[P.S. This letter is a bit beyond my Korean language skills.]
그래도 어머님께 제가 어떻게 지내고 있는지 전하고 싶었습니다.
[But I still wanted to tell you how I’ve been doing.]
요즘 한국에 대해 많이 배우고 있어요!
[I am learning a lot about Korea these days!]
진심을 담아,
[Sincerely,]
...and I am still studying and recognize so much more grammar points and am beginning to understand more of what I hear. The fact that Korean high school students arrive in the States with such good English skills is impressive.
I have revised your letter in Korean to make it more natural. I saw your comment a bit late, but I hope this is still helpful to you.
I started learning Korean because I wanted to watch Kdramas without subtitles and understand what BTS was saying on BTS Run. Haha
That's a great motivation for learning Korean! I'm glad to hear that you're interested in Kdramas and BTS Run. As a Korean teacher, I hope that you will enjoy learning Korean and achieve your goals. Let me know if you need any help or have any questions!