kangmi: learning korean

목표 (II)

I’ve been thinking more about 목표들.

Language goals can be vague and elusive. I could say that I want to be able to argue well in Korean. I remember an Australian friend of mine having a shouting match with a Korean shopkeeper once, and I admired his ability to exchange rapid-fire words.

However, I don’t want to get into shouting matches. Spirited discussion, perhaps. Spirited discussion in which I am organizing my thoughts and words without having to wonder, “How do I say that in Korean?”

That is perhaps one of the most frustrating parts of language acquisition. During the process, it’s hard to be the person I already am. I have to become this other person.

In Korean, I cannot be witty, or make a pun. I cannot analyze myself or another person. When a friend asks for advice, I do not know how to ask, “What are your options?” I cannot read the newspaper. I cannot blog. I cannot pray.

To avoid falling into the deep dark pit of despair, I should add “yet” to each of those sentences.

But the road to myself is long enough in my English-speaking mind. In Korean, it stretches to the far side of the world.

Posted by kangmi on March 31, 2004 at 1:06 PM7 comments

Korean language meetups

Click here for a list of Korean language meetups worldwide. I’m the sole member of my local meetup (and I have been for months). However, with a quick check of the list you may find yourself more fortunate than me.

Posted by kangmi on March 1, 2004 at 5:47 PM3 comments

More on study courses

John Freehling makes an excellent point about the different foci of Korean language courses.

And thanks for the kudos, John!

To all...suggestions for linking to additional resources will be taken under advisement.

Posted by kangmi on February 18, 2004 at 8:41 PM0 comments

Which Korean language study course is best?

One of the reasons that I have a shelf-ful of Korean language study books is that I was always looking for the “magic” book, the one that would instantly transform me from a monolingual American to a bilingual expatriate.

Never found a book like that, nor a web site, nor audio materials. Although one may debate the merits and demerits of a particular course (and you’ll find that I’m capable of such debate), I have finally come to the conclusion that the best Korean language study course is the one that you use.

I came to this conclusion after participating in the uproar surrounding the abrupt transition from the old Let’s Speak Korean course to the new Let’s Speak Korean course. I had become fond of host Ahn Chak-Hee and teacher Ji Seung-Hyun (if I met them in the street there’s no guarantee that I wouldn’t ask for their autographs), and I liked the structured format of the show. The new Let’s Speak Korean provided no familiarity...different hosts, no apparent structure, and what were those students doing on the show?

However, as I continued to watch the program, I realized that I was still learning new things, and that’s when I had my study material epiphany. I haven’t reached the same level of fan-girliness (which is probably a relief for the current hosts), but every day I know a little more than I did the day before. Which, in the scheme of things, is the only way anyone learns a new language.

Posted by kangmi on February 18, 2004 at 9:53 AM0 comments