Language exchange
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How to start learning Korean
I’m frequently asked how best to learn Korean and how difficult it is to learn, so I thought I’d post a quick Q&A for all of you who may be interested. Is Korean difficult to learn? No, but it is very different in both grammar and sounds compared to English and other Western languages. That…
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Still studying Korean? (feat. BTS)
I took a break from active Korean studies following my intense preparation for the TOPIK exam in mid-November. I thought I deserved to do so, and it felt great to just not focus on constantly learning new Korean. The thing is, though, that it’s been pretty difficult to get back on track with my studies.…
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Awesome Korean slang expressions
I’ve started to become a regular guest at the Playground café in Hongdae. (If you look through their facebook pics, you’ll see proof that I was there.) This café is an awesome place where Koreans and foreigners can get together and exchange languages. This week, I went there on Tuesday and met a couple of…
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How I improved my Korean writing
누가 도와준 거예요?! “Who helped you write this?!” Those were the words greeting me as I picked up the phone when my LP called to give me feedback on an essay I had sent to him. 제가 알아서 썼거든요!!”No one, I wrote this alone!!” I exclaimed, not knowing whether I should feel offended at his accusation that I would “cheat”…
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When, how, and what to memorize?
Teaching is a significant part of my job and naturally, I want my students to do well when they enroll in my courses. That requires learning a lot on their own. After all, the four hours they spend with me every week is not going to cut it. I once heard a thought-provoking and even…
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Emphasizing in Korean
Whenever you speak a language you know well, you will usually put a lot of emphasis on certain sentences to make things sound more natural. For example the sentence “I don’t know anything about this” is less strong than “I don’t know anything about this at all“. Other words or phrases in English, which may be…
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A Korean culture lesson
Last Friday turned into one of the longest language exchanges I have ever had. While my head was spinning at the end (for more than one reason, since it involved a fair amount of beer) it was also one of the most fun exchanges since we got around so many aspects of our cultural differences. We…
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On my own… But everyday I’m learning
Okay, maybe my situation is not as hopeless as Éponine’s in Les Misérables (Yes, I’m a huge theater/musical fan), but I couldn’t resist using some of the lyrics from “On my own” to introduce this post. Today, my über-awesome language partner left for a two-week trip around Europe so for the time being I’m on…
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Struggling with my passion and love for Korean
A week ago I accepted the most anxiety provoking challenge so far in my Korean learning history. Kindly (and adamantly) prompted by koreanlearner I signed up for a Korean speaking contest to be held at the end of October. According to the contest guidelines my speech must be 3-5 minutes long and cover the topic “To me Korean…
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News in Korean to be cancelled
I just learned that TTMIK will be cancelling their subscription service to News in Korean soon. The service has been running for a full year, and I have been a subscriber since March. All people with a subscription will get a $30 coupon for My Korean Store + free access to the brand new News in Korean…
Sofie to Korea 