Learning Korean

@gloryacam (5540)
Philippines
July 11, 2012 7:32pm CST
I've started watching Korean soaps again. I looooovve Love Rain! And, this year, we are traveling to South Korea. So, I thought of learning the language again - because I started to learn it back in 2006. I can read hangul now and so I guess I'm on the right track. I used to teach ESL to Korean students and that's how I actually got hooked on anything Korean. Oh, yeah, I love their food. My target is to be conversational in Korean by November (our trip). Could that be possible? Any one here can give me tips? Any one here who could help? Have you ever done something like this? Preparing for a trip to the point of learning the language? Oh, I like Japanese anime, too, and have started learning a bit (I had lessons when I was in grade school - a long time ago. ), and I was thinking of booking a trip to Japan next, so, right I'm learning Japanese next. Any body else here who has a passion for languages and travel?
3 people like this
7 responses
CTHanum
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
12 Jul 12
Have you done watching the love rain series?? I know about the drama but never get chance to watch it. I am so sure that we will soon have it aired on tv~(^^)My sister is Jang Keun Suk's fan so she might end up buying the DVDs.Anyway about hangul, I know a little bit and since you already learned the language I am sure you will be able to speak the time when you are there. Same goes to japanese. Since I learned it myself, I just know bit of it.(^^)(^^)
gloryacam
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
12 Jul 12
It's pretty easy learning hanggul. Compared to Kanji ang Katakana of Japan. So, with Japanese I think I will stick with the romanized version. I don't know if I'll be able to write. Hiragana I was able to learn, but, I have a hard time with the other two. Oh my goodness, you have to tell her to watch Love Rain!!! I watched it over at Dramacrazy.net and Mysoju.com. I may be ajumma to Jang Geun Seok , but I'm still a fan!!!
gloryacam
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
12 Jul 12
That's right. I find learning Korean easy because of TTMK! Well, I'm 33 so I feel old. Just don't call me Ajumma. (Ajumma rago hajima!!!) Just Onni perhaps.
CTHanum
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
12 Jul 12
I feel the same way too.Hiragana is fine..learn hiragana is just when we learn hangul. Yes, its pretty easy. But having a hard time to learn katakana and more with kanji--exactly like the chinese character and I too have problem to learn chinese characters as well~(^^) She is so busy so perhaps she is taking a break of watching the soap korean dramas.I know about the websites but I prefer not to watch online as the data quota is limited. How old are you anyway??(^^) One more thing, talktomeinkorean website is daebak! they make it so easy to learn hangul!
Sam
@anachroniSaM (191)
• Philippines
23 Jul 12
My interest in learning the Korean language was somehow an influence of getting addicted with the Korean dramas, as well. After getting hooked with Jewel in the Palace (Dae Jang Geum or The Great Jang Geum), I began having thoughts of learning Korean, even through self-study. I had some attempts in doing it. Fortunately, I had been able to know some basic greetings and stuff. I also learned to read and write Hangeul. However, due to some reasons, I had to stop studying, and so my knowledge for this language still goes on the basic level. But I am still hoping that I could go on and improve my little knowledge of the language... sooner. Anyway, as for your question... I have some passion for learning a new language. I have begun with this inclination way back in my first year in high school. I am somehow much interested with the Romances (French, Spanish, Italian, etc.), but then again, any foreign language will do. I am not really sure what made me interested with this field. Maybe there must be something real cool with having some knowledge about a foreign language, and that was what attracted me into delving more about it. But just like what had happened in my attempt with the Korean language, I always end up with the basics with the other languages. :( Despite all these, I am still planning to learn more, given the proper opportunities and BUDGET, as well. :D I also have this interest for travelling. I would love to go to different places here in the Philippines and in other places in the planet, as well. It has been one of my life-long dreams, seriously. I am only having a hard time to do this travelling stuff because of BUDGET, again and again. Luckily, I found some way to travel without spending too much, and that is by joining as a volunteer for a certain camp. So, as of now I am gradually beginning to fulfill this part. Just last summer, I had been to the province of Isabela. We stayed there for 10 days... I think I could go for another of this 10-day camps for the next years, as well. :)
gloryacam
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
26 Jul 12
You could always self-study (like I do), but that would take an amount of time and effort and some degree of self-discipline and dedication. But, I believe that one can learn other languages even without having to enroll in a language class. In fact, if you speak other local dialects (I do), these were not learned from class but those are just things we've picked up from our environment (that's why we can learn languages fast, because we're exposed to so much dialects that learning is just easier for us). I also like the romance languages and have a little knowledge in Spanish (I'll go back to that one after Korean and Japanese). You have to see the different places in our country! Traveling gives you a sort of education that can't be learned just by reading about those places and the people that live there and their language and culture. Traveling has been an eye-opener for me. And the good news is that one can travel even on a budget. Like my friends and I hunt down air fare/seat sales (piso fare!!!) and then we look for budget accomodations (which is practical since we use that just for sleeping anyway). It's great that you have found an activity that allows you to travel while being of help to other people. I hope you satisfy your curious soul and I hope to see you somewhere in our travels in the future!
gloryacam
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
6 Aug 12
I certainly wish you fulfill your dream of traveling to places. I really love traveling and there is so much to see out there. Like I said, see you somewhere, someday!
Sam
@anachroniSaM (191)
• Philippines
26 Jul 12
Yes, I agree, you could do it by self-studying. I know some people who managed to learn some foreign languages by themselves. Still, it's a bit different if you can get to learn in quite a more formal manner, and that is by means of the classes being offered in some institutions. By the way, I happen to be fluent to a dialect, which is the Kapampangan, being a native of the province of Pampanga. I could say that this certain ability does serve as a perk for me. I also agree that it could serve as an advantage for us to learn new languages faster... In a seminar I previously attended, one speaker admitted that she admires the linguistic abilities of the Filipinos because we are usually bound to be fluent with three languages since birth, and those are Filipino, English and the native dialect we are born with. As of now, I am still on the wishing and hoping stage of traveling, since I don't have enough income to actually plan on doing it. But indeed, it really is great to discover the kind of camp I have previously mentioned. That is why I am certainly looking forward to the succeeding camps to be held on the years to come. Meanwhile, I think I had to entertain myself with the picturesque views of different tourist spots here and in abroad I could see in photos and read in books. Because I know that in the not-so-near future, I will finally be able to see those places in flesh. :D
jazel_juan
@jazel_juan (15746)
• Philippines
12 Jul 12
I have a friend who is also addicted to Rain, my office mate she would watch him non stop, his movies..lol i could not understand the addiction. i have a friend who also learned Japanese.. how are you doing this? i mean do you have audio books where you follow? or through online?
gloryacam
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
12 Jul 12
Sorry a misunderstanding. I was not referring to the singer/actor Rain, but the series Love Rain (Sarangbi). I think it's not shown in the Philippines yet, but I heard that we've already bought rights to that series. It stars Jang Geun Seok (from He's Beautiful/You're Beautiful). But, yes, I also liked Rain, the singer/actor especially in Ninja Assasin (oh but it was an American movie. ) There is a site that I go to where I downloaded their lessons. It's free so I guess there's no harm mentioning it here - Talk To Me in Korean http://www.talktomeinkorean.com/ * Not a referral link!
1 person likes this
jazel_juan
@jazel_juan (15746)
• Philippines
12 Jul 12
ok that really got me confused hhahaah! i thought that was the Rain actor.. lol.. i will see if i could learn Korean too lol..
gloryacam
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
12 Jul 12
If you watch korean series in the orginal (with subtitles, of course) you could learn a bit. That's where I test my listening skills. It's easier learning with a Korean, though. Just like when I was still teaching. Because they could tell you if you're saying it wrong or what.
sweetloveforeve
@sweetloveforeve (13120)
• Portugal
29 Sep 12
i would love to go to korea ^^ the guys there are so cute. the movies are really sweet. and the language is great. i wanted to learn it but i never had the chance too. actually it seems hard to learn. i think you should try to go to a school and have a korean teacher if possible. the best to learn a language is to have a teacher that was born in that country^^ also you can practice by talking with korean people online^^ i wish you have a lot of fun in korea.
gloryacam
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
30 Sep 12
The language is not really that hard to learn. For an Asian language, it's easier for me to learn it than Chinese or Japanese. I guess that I've been more exposed to it having taught ESL to Korean students in 2005-2006. And yes, I go to this website that teaches the language. I've already managed to read and write their characters so, it's really just more practice for me, and learning vocabulary and some grammar. You're right, the guys are cute and their movies and tv series are really sweet. And the language sounds really sweet and charming, having a sing-song tone to it.
jobfindonline
@jobfindonline (1744)
•
12 Jul 12
Oh well Jang Geun Seuk is a great actor, I appreciate his soap in Marry me Marry.. I love the story. I recently studied the korean languange.. I downloaded the audio file of the common phrases and also tried to learn how to write Hangul. I am also learning other languanges but my greatest enemy is my time. If ever, I will continue what I have started.
gloryacam
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
12 Jul 12
I will watch just the same. And I will watch all his movies and series and download all his songs, even his Japanese songs. I even saw he released a Japanese cookbook, Love Recipe. Wonder where I could get a copy of that! He looked very thin in He's beautiful.
gloryacam
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
12 Jul 12
That's right. Time is a problem. But, even if you spend just 30 minutes everyday, you would eventually learn in time. And, if you're really into learning other languages, the task is more fun and so it becomes a bit easier compared to when you're forced to learn. I have heard that Marry Me, Mary is good, too. So I have that in my list.
CTHanum
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
12 Jul 12
Have watch Marry me Mary and I could say that I don't really like the story. Too many stereotype scenes and the monotonous parts. The impact is less than He's beautiful..Talking about Jang Keun Seuk's movies, I love to watch Beethoven's Virus, He's beautiful, DoReMiFaSoLaTiDo and as the bad guy in The Case of Itaewon Homicide.(^^)
Shavkat
@Shavkat (140119)
• Philippines
22 Aug 12
Going to a trip is in a fast phase to learn the language. I never done learning language ahead of time, I learned the language when I worked in China. The time spend for learning is 3 months at most to learn the basic language, basically you can be conversant at that time.
gloryacam
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
22 Aug 12
Well, that is the goal, to be conversant, at least, in that language. Unfortunately, I've stopped studying for 2 weeks now. Maybe our November trip won't happen, and the trip will be rescheduled next year or something. But, I would still like to learn the language, but, now I'm not in so much hurry to learn it.
bhabycatch013
@bhabycatch013 (9150)
• Philippines
12 Jul 12
hi glorya, Really? may you have a wonderful and safe trip I love Rain too.....but not much with this koreans stuff now a days I even rarely watch Korenovela now. Well I like to travel and learn different culture and language hope one day I can happy mylotting
gloryacam
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
13 Jul 12
Hi Bhaby! Thanks! I really love traveling and I go out yearly. Well, I was talking about the series Love Rain. I like Rain, the singer/actor but not as much as Jang Geun Seok, the lead in Love Rain. Traveling is fun, I hope you will be able to do it one day soon.