Sofie to Korea

I had originally planned on enrolling in Sogang Korean level 7, but unfortunately, there was only one sign-up aside from myself, so they had to cancel level 7 this fall semester.

Well, each cloud has a silver lining and in this case, it means almost unlimited time for self-studying Korean. And in all modesty, I actually find that even more effective. I definitely enjoyed the Sogang classes, but now that I know how the classes are run, it’s so much easier for me to recreate that learning style in the comfort of my own office. One of my friends has lent me her notes from level 7, which she took last semester, and I’m really enjoying learning with the materials.

This time the focus is on Korean literature and culture, and I’m learning a lot from the essays, poems, and the videos. I’ve even managed to find most videos for the course on youtube, so with the script and exercises in hand, I’m ready to take on level 7 on my own! I realized that I might need a little extra element of motivation, so to make sure that I will stick to my learning schedule, I signed up for the TOPIK written exam to be held at Daejeon University on November 19. Yes, it’s on a Sunday, and I know it’s out of town, but hey, I’m sure it’ll be fun. I’m obviously aiming for a level 6 score (the highest) on the test, but I also realize that it will require some hard work starting now. I have just over 10 weeks to complete the challenge. Wish me luck!

P.S. For those who are interested, I highly recommend the web drama called 야근 왕 김보통. It’s part of the level 7 curriculum, and aside from many great expressions, it offers interesting insights into the Korean corporate culture. If you liked 미생, you’ll like this one. I’ll post the link to episode 1 out of 5 below.