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On November 25 2011 03:32 Chill wrote:I hate reading your blog. You're a Korean-learning machine, and it makes me sad  (because your pace is 100x mine).
On November 25 2011 03:53 Mysti_ wrote:Not only is he a Korean-learning machine, he also took the time to write detailed reports to help others, i just read again the two first updates and i can't wait anymore to start learning korean. That says it all, this blog is amazing. <3 Edit: Sent you some questions in pm. I'm gonna start tomorrow
I want to hug you both.
But Mysti, the word tomorrow gives me a bad feeling — How about you learn the first 4 letters from the site I sent to you already this evening?  Heck, even one letter is O.K. Today is the word of improvement.
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Rofl you're so right... the 3 dreamhack streams were retaining too much of my attention (hero was playing <3), but if I start this way I may end up finding excuses like this again.
The most important part is to do something every day and i already forgot it.
Busy day ? Learn something light,
Plenty of free time ? Learn something complex.
Now enough talking, i'm gonna set my notebook up and start the first lesson :p
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On November 25 2011 02:39 DNB wrote:Show nested quote +On November 24 2011 22:18 Mysti_ wrote:
Hello.
First i want to tell you that i love reading your journey! I think it's really inspiring and useful, it gave me so much motivation to do the same, seeing how you progressed through the weeks / months. Your blog is even in my bookmarks and i plan to start learning korean next summer!
Even if your rythm kinda slowed down for the past weeks please don't give up this blog, even if you don't update it often i'll still enjoy a lot reading about your progress! Just update it whenever you have time or want it and don't force yourself.
Thank you and lots of cheers for the future ! <3 What an uplifting reply, thank you. I am flattered, as I didn't expect anything like this. You are very right, I should not force myself, because learning a language like this is entirely by volunteering, so I might as well as make it as enjoyable as possible. I also wish you luck in case start Korean as well, and I hope I can provide you more inspiration through this blog later on. Show nested quote +On November 25 2011 02:35 A_Bandersnatch wrote:^^ that is a really cute post. I started learning Korean about two weeks ago, but have been really busy since. I have trouble pronouncing some of the words though, and I am learning from the site talktomeinkorean.com which is a really nice way to start I think. I'd like to learn more in depth though too. The pronunciation rules can be difficult at the beginning, and I find them not explained that thoroughly on TTMIK — If you have any questions, PM me. I'll gladly help you out.
Thank you very much! I will PM you as soon as my exams are over next week and I can resume my lessons fully! <3
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I think you misspelled 안녕하세요 in the op :x
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안녕하세요! 저도 한국어 공부하는중이에요 :D 영어 가르치기 위해서 부산에서 살고 있어요. 그런데 한국어 많이 얼여워요... Even with all the listening/speaking practice I get living here, it's really hard to get a firm grasp of the oral aspects of the language. As you mention in you blog, Koreans sure do a lot of wordplay/randomly shortening words, it's maddening. Plus in Busan, I have to deal with a different dialect. I always tell my Korean friends: speak Seoul dialect damnit! ㅋㅋ
Anyways great blog man, keep it up. Your crazy pace has inspired me to step up my Korean learning... plus I'm taking the basic TOPIK test in January so I have to get my ass in gear. I'm also going to check out Anki, it sounds great. I've been using Memrise lately and between that and my notebook I probably know about 600 words, not too shabby but as you say, I'm still terrible at Korean. And I also don't like it when they say: wow your Korean is so good! ha... because I can barely understand a simple conversation.
Anyways, I'll add you on Skype and if the opportunity arises, perhaps we could have a practice Korean convo? Not many foreigners out here are actually motivated to learn the language 
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On November 25 2011 16:27 Baobab wrote:
안녕하세요! 저도 한국어 공부하는중이에요 :D 영어 가르치기 위해서 부산에서 살고 있어요. 그런데 한국어 많이 얼여워요... (
저도 한국어를 배우는중이다. 유창하게 말하면 좋겠다. 아직 너무 멀어요.
영어를 가르치는게 어때요? 저도 졸업후에 한국에 가르치러 가고 싶어요.
Oh, but why did you spell 어렵다 like 얼여워요? ㅋㅋㅋ
Anyway, this is a really cool thread, the OP Seems like he is moving along quite fast. I've never heard of Anki, but I think I'll start using it. I think I know like 1000+ words, but in conversation I know a lot less lol.
Anyway, this is a really cool idea by the OP.
감사해요~ 행복하게 공부해요 ~ ㅋㅋㅋ
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Hey! Glad to hear you're still chugging along. I'm actually going to head to korea in a week! So excited ^^
One of my non-korean friends started watching High kick through the roof. iirc, it's a daily comedy drama. I've seen a few episodes, it's not bad. He seems to REALLY enjoy it though. It's finals week right now for us and he's watching like 20 episodes a day instead of studying -.-;; It's the first korean drama he's watching so maybe you'll like it too!
Are you planning on visiting korea again sometime? I forget if I already asked you...
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On December 11 2011 13:00 PharaohLarry wrote:Show nested quote +On November 25 2011 16:27 Baobab wrote:
안녕하세요! 저도 한국어 공부하는중이에요 :D 영어 가르치기 위해서 부산에서 살고 있어요. 그런데 한국어 많이 얼여워요... ( 저도 한국어를 배우는중이다. 유창하게 말하면 좋겠다. 아직 너무 멀어요. 영어를 가르치는게 어때요? 저도 졸업후에 한국에 가르치러 가고 싶어요. Oh, but why did you spell 어렵다 like 얼여워요? ㅋㅋㅋ Anyway, this is a really cool thread, the OP Seems like he is moving along quite fast. I've never heard of Anki, but I think I'll start using it. I think I know like 1000+ words, but in conversation I know a lot less lol. Anyway, this is a really cool idea by the OP. 감사해요~ 행복하게 공부해요 ~ ㅋㅋㅋ
I'm teaching in a public middle school, I have big classes (30+) but I really like it. With public though it's kind of a roll of the dice, they place you in a random school and you might end up in a terrible neighborhood/city. I got lucky I guess, super nice co-workers and a great part of the city :D
I wrote 얼엽다 that way because with the 다 at the end it's the infinitive form (although they use it the same as the conjugated form in speech, from what I've noticed). 얼여워요 is the conjugated form, polite style (as far as I know any verb ending in ㅂ is conjugated this way, for example 두껍다 [thick] is conjugated 두꺼워요). Past tense of difficult would be 얼여웠어요... that's my understanding of it anyways, someone correct me if I'm wrong XD
Taking the TOPIK test in January, gotta get back to studying. 안돼요! ㅋㅋ
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Awesome blog Favouriting this.
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On December 11 2011 18:22 Baobab wrote:Show nested quote +On December 11 2011 13:00 PharaohLarry wrote:On November 25 2011 16:27 Baobab wrote:
안녕하세요! 저도 한국어 공부하는중이에요 :D 영어 가르치기 위해서 부산에서 살고 있어요. 그런데 한국어 많이 얼여워요... ( 저도 한국어를 배우는중이다. 유창하게 말하면 좋겠다. 아직 너무 멀어요. 영어를 가르치는게 어때요? 저도 졸업후에 한국에 가르치러 가고 싶어요. Oh, but why did you spell 어렵다 like 얼여워요? ㅋㅋㅋ Anyway, this is a really cool thread, the OP Seems like he is moving along quite fast. I've never heard of Anki, but I think I'll start using it. I think I know like 1000+ words, but in conversation I know a lot less lol. Anyway, this is a really cool idea by the OP. 감사해요~ 행복하게 공부해요 ~ ㅋㅋㅋ I'm teaching in a public middle school, I have big classes (30+) but I really like it. With public though it's kind of a roll of the dice, they place you in a random school and you might end up in a terrible neighborhood/city. I got lucky I guess, super nice co-workers and a great part of the city :D I wrote 얼엽다 that way because with the 다 at the end it's the infinitive form (although they use it the same as the conjugated form in speech, from what I've noticed). 얼여워요 is the conjugated form, polite style (as far as I know any verb ending in ㅂ is conjugated this way, for example 두껍다 [thick] is conjugated 두꺼워요). Past tense of difficult would be 얼여웠어요... that's my understanding of it anyways, someone correct me if I'm wrong XD Taking the TOPIK test in January, gotta get back to studying. 안돼요! ㅋㅋ
I think he means that it's spelled 어려워요 and not 얼여워요. At least I think it is, that's how I spell it anyway ^^
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This blog is so inspiring :D
저도 한국어 공부하고 있는데요. 한국어 공부한지 벌써 8개월 동안 됐는데 한국 친구가 없어서 이야기를 잘 못해요. Skype에서 저랑 같이 이야기 연습하고 싶은 사람과 친구가 됐으면 좋겠어요. ^_^
I've been studying Korean for 8 months so far, and I've really been working hard at it but my speaking is pretty bad because I don't have anyone to practice with. So if anyone is willing to practice conversation over Skype, I'd really appreciate it. Feel free to chuck me a PM.
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On December 11 2011 18:32 Xenocide_Knight wrote:Show nested quote +On December 11 2011 18:22 Baobab wrote:On December 11 2011 13:00 PharaohLarry wrote:On November 25 2011 16:27 Baobab wrote:
안녕하세요! 저도 한국어 공부하는중이에요 :D 영어 가르치기 위해서 부산에서 살고 있어요. 그런데 한국어 많이 얼여워요... ( 저도 한국어를 배우는중이다. 유창하게 말하면 좋겠다. 아직 너무 멀어요. 영어를 가르치는게 어때요? 저도 졸업후에 한국에 가르치러 가고 싶어요. Oh, but why did you spell 어렵다 like 얼여워요? ㅋㅋㅋ Anyway, this is a really cool thread, the OP Seems like he is moving along quite fast. I've never heard of Anki, but I think I'll start using it. I think I know like 1000+ words, but in conversation I know a lot less lol. Anyway, this is a really cool idea by the OP. 감사해요~ 행복하게 공부해요 ~ ㅋㅋㅋ I'm teaching in a public middle school, I have big classes (30+) but I really like it. With public though it's kind of a roll of the dice, they place you in a random school and you might end up in a terrible neighborhood/city. I got lucky I guess, super nice co-workers and a great part of the city :D I wrote 얼엽다 that way because with the 다 at the end it's the infinitive form (although they use it the same as the conjugated form in speech, from what I've noticed). 얼여워요 is the conjugated form, polite style (as far as I know any verb ending in ㅂ is conjugated this way, for example 두껍다 [thick] is conjugated 두꺼워요). Past tense of difficult would be 얼여웠어요... that's my understanding of it anyways, someone correct me if I'm wrong XD Taking the TOPIK test in January, gotta get back to studying. 안돼요! ㅋㅋ I think he means that it's spelled 어려워요 and not 얼여워요. At least I think it is, that's how I spell it anyway ^^
Ahhh you're totally right, my bad >.< I always get confused with stuff like that
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On December 12 2011 09:36 Baobab wrote:Show nested quote +On December 11 2011 18:32 Xenocide_Knight wrote:On December 11 2011 18:22 Baobab wrote:On December 11 2011 13:00 PharaohLarry wrote:On November 25 2011 16:27 Baobab wrote:
안녕하세요! 저도 한국어 공부하는중이에요 :D 영어 가르치기 위해서 부산에서 살고 있어요. 그런데 한국어 많이 얼여워요... ( 저도 한국어를 배우는중이다. 유창하게 말하면 좋겠다. 아직 너무 멀어요. 영어를 가르치는게 어때요? 저도 졸업후에 한국에 가르치러 가고 싶어요. Oh, but why did you spell 어렵다 like 얼여워요? ㅋㅋㅋ Anyway, this is a really cool thread, the OP Seems like he is moving along quite fast. I've never heard of Anki, but I think I'll start using it. I think I know like 1000+ words, but in conversation I know a lot less lol. Anyway, this is a really cool idea by the OP. 감사해요~ 행복하게 공부해요 ~ ㅋㅋㅋ I'm teaching in a public middle school, I have big classes (30+) but I really like it. With public though it's kind of a roll of the dice, they place you in a random school and you might end up in a terrible neighborhood/city. I got lucky I guess, super nice co-workers and a great part of the city :D I wrote 얼엽다 that way because with the 다 at the end it's the infinitive form (although they use it the same as the conjugated form in speech, from what I've noticed). 얼여워요 is the conjugated form, polite style (as far as I know any verb ending in ㅂ is conjugated this way, for example 두껍다 [thick] is conjugated 두꺼워요). Past tense of difficult would be 얼여웠어요... that's my understanding of it anyways, someone correct me if I'm wrong XD Taking the TOPIK test in January, gotta get back to studying. 안돼요! ㅋㅋ I think he means that it's spelled 어려워요 and not 얼여워요. At least I think it is, that's how I spell it anyway ^^ Ahhh you're totally right, my bad >.< I always get confused with stuff like that
Hahaha, he was right, thats what I meant lol. Thanks for the Info, thats what I've heard, it is kind of a roll of the dice. Oh well, I got a couple years left until I plan to go. GL on the TOPIK test 열심히 공부해요~
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쪽지는 이렇게 늦게 도착해서 미안합니다. 사실 요새 온갖 종류의 문제가 너무 많이 나와서 시간과 자극도 굉장히 모자라게 됐는데요. 어떤 이유 때문에 Amazon은 제 시킨 교과서를 취소하는 바람에 그 책들을 다른 사람을 통해서 시켜야 될 것 같습니다.
I'm sorry for replying so late. To be honest, I've had a lot of problems lately so I've really ran out of time and even motivation.
Apparently Amazon canceled my book order due to some problems with my debit card, so I'll have to order the new books from through someone with a one that works on the site.
그 문제밖에 다른 것도 있는데, 자극이 모자라서 진행이 1달 동안이나 중단됐고, 모두 제 게으름때문입니다. 아마 핀란드에 있는 거의 하루종일 지속된 어둠때문에 기분이 점점 나빠지는 모양이다. 운 좋게, 수준이 전에보다 악화하지 않았는데, 아무래도 아직 희망이 있습니다. 제가 뒤로 있는 잘못을 돌아보는 걸 그만해야 되고 이때에만 집중해야 합니다.
That's not the only problem though, I've been short on motivation, my progress has been stalling hard for a month or so, mostly owing to my own laziness. I've generally suffered from passiveness and lack of motivation for things during this time of the year in my country, maybe due to the darkness that lasts almost for the whole day. Luckily, I haven't found my level to be worse from before, so that's at least something to give me hope. I just need to stop dwelling in my shortcomings and focus on the moment.
I've also had a severe lack of any Korean media — My account got freezed on asiantorrentz.com because I apparently didn't seed enough, but the movies I downloaded weren't too popular in the first place so trying to seed them now will be way too slow. If anyone can recommend a good site for downloadable Korean media, I'd be glad.
For anyone who's added me on Skype, please send me a PM of your address.
On November 25 2011 16:27 Baobab wrote:안녕하세요! 저도 한국어 공부하는중이에요 :D 영어 가르치기 위해서 부산에서 살고 있어요. 그런데 한국어 많이 얼여워요... Even with all the listening/speaking practice I get living here, it's really hard to get a firm grasp of the oral aspects of the language. As you mention in you blog, Koreans sure do a lot of wordplay/randomly shortening words, it's maddening. Plus in Busan, I have to deal with a different dialect. I always tell my Korean friends: speak Seoul dialect damnit! ㅋㅋ Anyways great blog man, keep it up. Your crazy pace has inspired me to step up my Korean learning... plus I'm taking the basic TOPIK test in January so I have to get my ass in gear. I'm also going to check out Anki, it sounds great. I've been using Memrise lately and between that and my notebook I probably know about 600 words, not too shabby but as you say, I'm still terrible at Korean. And I also don't like it when they say: wow your Korean is so good! ha... because I can barely understand a simple conversation. Anyways, I'll add you on Skype and if the opportunity arises, perhaps we could have a practice Korean convo? Not many foreigners out here are actually motivated to learn the language
Baobab님은 벌써 한국에서 살고 있다면 국어 공부를 위해 진짜 대단한 상황이군요. 저도 그럴 수가 있다면 참 좋겠는데, 영어 국적이 없으니까 할 수가 없는 것 같습니다.
Since you already live in Korea, you'll have a truly great environment for learning the language. I'd also be glad, but since I don't have an English nationality it's not possible for me.
On December 11 2011 18:51 Jasarn wrote:
This blog is so inspiring :D
저도 한국어 공부하고 있는데요. 한국어 공부한지 벌써 8개월 동안 됐는데 한국 친구가 없어서 이야기를 잘 못해요. Skype에서 저랑 같이 이야기 연습하고 싶은 사람과 친구가 됐으면 좋겠어요. ^_^
I've been studying Korean for 8 months so far, and I've really been working hard at it but my speaking is pretty bad because I don't have anyone to practice with. So if anyone is willing to practice conversation over Skype, I'd really appreciate it. Feel free to chuck me a PM.
저한테 Jasarn님의 스카이프 주소를 메시지로 보내 주세요 ~ 아무 문제 때문에 저 지금 다른 사람들의 초대를 볼 수가 없느라고 이렇게야 될 겁니다.
Send me your Skype address and I'll add it, because due to some problem I'm unable to see other people's invitations.
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I wish it was possible to beam motivation towards you, maybe holding up my hands a la spirit bomb will help.
Either I'm helping you get motivation that way or I am helping some devious mastermind collect energy to destroy the universe, I'll take that risk :D!
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On December 26 2011 07:30 Chaosvuistje wrote:
...or I am helping some devious mastermind collect energy to destroy the universe, I'll take that risk :D!
What an... interesting analogy. Thank you either way.
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DNB i have a couple question for you - seeing as you have mastered more of the Korean language than I, and in less time to boot! I'm not sure if you are still learning Korean, but I just wanted to know your methods for improving your listening and speaking skills, as well as vocabulary.
From reading your blog it sounds like you use just anki for memorizing vocaulary words, is this true? I have anki, but I haven't used it much at all - would you recomend it?
Also, I find that I can read and write a lot more Korean than I can speak or listen to. How do you improve your listening skills? Recently I've just been listening to really simply vocabulary CD's a bunch of times.
Also how many hours do you usually spend a day on Korean studying? As a full time student with a part time job I find I can get around 2-3 hours in a day, but I really wish I could devote like 6-8 a day.
Anyways, if you respond to this that that would be cool! 화이팅!
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On February 09 2012 11:17 PharaohLarry wrote:
DNB i have a couple question for you - seeing as you have mastered more of the Korean language than I, and in less time to boot! I'm not sure if you are still learning Korean, but I just wanted to know your methods for improving your listening and speaking skills, as well as vocabulary.
From reading your blog it sounds like you use just anki for memorizing vocaulary words, is this true? I have anki, but I haven't used it much at all - would you recomend it?
Also, I find that I can read and write a lot more Korean than I can speak or listen to. How do you improve your listening skills? Recently I've just been listening to really simply vocabulary CD's a bunch of times.
Also how many hours do you usually spend a day on Korean studying? As a full time student with a part time job I find I can get around 2-3 hours in a day, but I really wish I could devote like 6-8 a day.
Anyways, if you respond to this that that would be cool! 화이팅!
As with any language learning outside the country, in most cases the listening and speaking comprehension will lack behind the rest of the learning aspects. Unless you live in the country, I would suggest emphasizing the importance of learning to read, write and pronounce well, but on the other hand still not excluding the vocal part of the language entirely. (Note that I'm separating pronunciation here; they are two different things, therefore not always mutually inclusive. Getting your pronunciation good early enough will get your voice-producing muscles more adjusted to the language, while neglecting it long enough will be counter-productive. Delaying speaking is not as much of a loss, since if you have a solid understanding of listening and reading, the information is in your head already, and at that point just a few weeks is usually enough to bring up your speaking, assuming you (finally) reach an environment where the language is commonly spoken.)
I take it you live in Canada — I don't know which city you live in, but I nonetheless know that there is quite a number of Korean immigrants over there, most in the Vancouver area though (I presume). If you happen to have any possibility of meeting up with Koreans, do it. Preferably with a group, since English-speaking Koreans are inclined to speak English with you if you are alone with them — With a group, you are forced to listen and make out patterns of what they are saying, and many Koreans will politely give you the time to muster up any Korean sentences you might want to say.
If you can't or don't want to find a group, it's fine. You can up your listening by using different kinds of Korean media, most commonly movies, dramas and music.
Also, the internet is abundant with Koreans, you could use Skype or something else, but the group-aspect affects this one too: For Korean group voice talk, I recommend TalkOn, which has many chat rooms varying by different categories (I mentioned this in my blog earlier). There is a category for Koreans learning foreign languages (외국어) with many English language rooms where people are accepting and often surprised to do exchange with you, usually several Koreans in the same room applauding and being curious about you if you can muster up something in Korean. Most of the time I just listened though, because putting up the sentences on the fly felt so clumsy. If you don't have an ego like me however, just talk talk talk.
Again, trying to learn to speak fluently without living near other Koreans might often feel quite inefficient, so I'd personally recommend making it the smallest priority out of the five (reading, writing, listening, pronouncing and speaking). But this depends on the learner as well — Some people learn better by getting straight into the action by speaking and listening, but if you don't have the required environment for that, I find learning by passive understanding (reading and listening) is probably the most efficient way when it comes to results — Writing and speaking will slowly but steadily follow, writing being a bit ahead.
For time? As in my case, I studied around 2-5 hours per day, but I completely lost my drive already 2 months ago. I'd say it's better to do 1 hour a day for a long period of time than to make a rush like I did — Try to make your study sessions like a treat. In the end I made them more like a responsibility, and I started to beat myself over it if I did not meet the expectations I set for myself.
As for me, luckily my Korean has not downgraded too much, since every now and then I keep contact with Koreans and communicate in it, but I lost my almost maniac-style drive for it. Maybe I'll return to it one day — It's still my dream to live there for a few years possibly some time in the future (although this one has always sounded ridiculous for me since I'm not an English native, therefore not eligible for the most common foreigner job, teaching English), and I'm going to travel there again next June. I have just suffered from general passivity over the last 3 months — Not depression, just plain laziness and procrastination. I'm someone who does something either 100% for a while or nothing at all. I lack the skill to balance activities in my life, and although I get good and fast results with my full motivation drive, it won't last long due whatever underlying reasons. I will have to find that fifty-percent-line, otherwise I'm sure I will fail at anything I want to do in the long-term.
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