I mentioned in a comment the other day that English is getting in the way of my Korean learning. I’ve noticed that especially with this first lesson of Sogang’s Novice II level.
Rather than focusing on the Korean, I sometimes find myself criticizing the quality of the English translation. “Is that really the right way to say that in English?” I think (not that I really know, but I wonder), before I pick my mind up and move back to the left column. To avoid the distraction, I’ve begun covering up the right column.
It’s a constant tension. I can’t study without a 영한/한영 사전, and when that’s no help, I turn to 인선, or here, and I get my answers in English. In last night’s lesson, 인선 and I worked through about half of scene 84 from 러브홀릭. Without some explanation in English, most of what I learned would have remained a mystery. Any idiomatic usage is still is a bit of a mystery, as there’s always a disconnect between the literal and the actual translations.
No questions, no answers, just the state of my mind.
Read Less...
Posted by kangmi on May 6, 2005 at 8:44 AM0 comments
인선 wants me to write a diary in Korean. As an incentive, I promised that I would do it here. I told Blinger that I understand his reluctance to reveal more about himself in Korean, because I was figuring that was what I was going to have to do, but upon further reflection I admitted the truth to myself: I’m a little lazy. Now I have to learn how to say “I’m a little lazy” in Korean. 인선 gave me this assignment a week ago, and you can see how much progress I’ve made.
Here’s today’s diary line in Korean: 지난 월요일에 감기 걸렸어요. I’m resting comfortably now, but I left work early and cancelled this evening’s Korean lesson.
(I get twice as much typing practice in Korean because I forget to switch the keyboard over to 한글, or I use the wrong switch.)
I finally had a chance to watch the video Antti referenced. I found it to be an interesting window into a part of Korea many foreigners never see. The English subtitles are helpful but by no means complete.
Jun-Gang continues his interesting series on 동물 의성.
And finally, I’m pleased to live in the kind of small American town in which I can make a quick 빼빼로 run. 아몬드 빼빼로, anyone?
Posted by kangmi on November 11, 2004 at 8:25 PM10 comments
- The gingko leaves background is used with the kind permission of artist Wendy Brockman. She’s got some beautiful botanical prints at her site.
- The last episode of 아름다운 유혹 was broadcast on Saturday, and I watched it on Sunday. All ended mostly well. In a few weeks I hope to start watching another program. Suggestions are welcome.
- Just in case, 인선 loaned me her 주민등록 번호. However, I was able to register at Daum without it. I’m working on Naver, but I’ve run in to a glitch that I need to identify. For good measure, I registered at EBS yesterday.
Posted by kangmi on November 1, 2004 at 2:52 PM0 comments
I passed a couple of Korean 아줌마s this morning on my way to work. Even here (thousands of miles from Korea), it’s easy to spot them from behind: the visor, the 파마, the pants, the pace. I mused on the nature of being an 아줌마, wondering if the view that I have meshes with the perception that Koreans have.
Helen Sung’s Am I An Ajoomah? was the first step in convincing me that they do (my apologies to the Korea blogger who first referenced this article...I can’t remember who you are). This evening’s 인삼차 and chat with 인선 was the second. She says that now that she’s 29, she may as well be proud of her age, so being called 아줌마 is not so stressful any more.
Me? I still resist it, but I am starting to accept my 아줌마ishness. It’s almost too late to deny it.
But you’ll never catch me in uniform.
Posted by kangmi on August 31, 2004 at 10:50 PM2 comments
Alert readers may have noticed that I figured out how to display post time and date in 한글.
Posted by kangmi on August 19, 2004 at 2:00 PM
• Back in early 2002, I encountered what was not only my first Korean blog, but the first blog I’d ever read (cheeken.org, but he’s no longer in Korea). Only I didn’t know it was called a blog (yes, I know he mentions it in the first post, but I started reading long after). I just wished I’d had one when I lived in Korea.
• One of the great benefits of maintaining this blog is reading and meeting and discovering other bloggers interested in Korea. Reading you has affirmed my own Korea experience, opened up new vistas, and stretched my intellect in so many (good) ways. Thank you.
• I do most of my blog reading at Bloglines. My Korean blogroll is here. Those of you without RSS feeds get sent over to Blogarithm (if you must know, sites (not just blog sites, either) with RSS feeds are much easier to keep up with than those without. Get one if you can).
• Check out The Beige Report, a newer entry to the Korea blogosphere.
• So far, I’m reading only a couple of Korean language blogs. Well, it would be more accurate to call it skimming, but reading will come. I’m not even ashamed to say that I like the ones with pictures best.
• Someday I intend to start a separate blog for my own Korean language blogging.
Posted by kangmi on July 21, 2004 at 2:00 PM2 comments
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강미 | learning korean