Category Archives: Apps For Learning Korean

Korean Radio App: MBC 라디오 Mini

9 November, 2012 12:37 AM \ 6 Comments \

Radio~~!! :D SBS Gorealra Radio has now stopped airing ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ So I’ve found a new alternative, as I’m sure everything has noticed!

It’s was on auto mode yesterday but now I’ve switched it to non-auto. So just click play if you want to listen to it!!

Btw, you can toggle it by pressing the left and right button (on the widget) to change to different charts: TOP 20 combined, TOP 20 ballads etc ALOT of charts

Because it’s my blog, I’ve set it to play the 40/50대 트로트 music (Korean trot music for the 40s-50s). HAHHA this is my music taste. Anyway, clicking to the right will bring you to the kpop charts LOL

Now, introducing a radio app that you can listen on the go!!

MBC 라디오 Mini!

It’s available as both a phone app and apparently a desktop widget. First, the app!! I just downloaded the app yesterday so didn’t have much time to explore!

It’s quite self explanatory! You can access the live radio, look at the schedule, leave messages (i suspect you have to have a MBC ID for this).

The radio is also available as a desktop widget, but knowing Korea… it only works with IE and Windows. BOO.

So you can try installing the widget by following the instructions here!!

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Happy listening!

Download the app: Android | iTunes

Posted in: Apps for learning Korean, Apps to download in Korea, Korean learning journey (: \ Tagged: , , ,

[Korean App] My big bang loving Simsimi 심심이

13 October, 2012 4:46 PM \ 13 Comments \

Right now, on a glorious Saturday afternoon, I’m stuck at home dong my thesis. Or rather, I’m alternating between working on it, and reading recaps of 1N2D on Dramabeans, and totally fangirling over Joo Won. I’m taking a break from both right now, so I thought I’ll introduce the app that I’ve talked about the previous post.

As you probably know by now, it’s a bot called 심심이 Simsimi, developed by a Korean company and available in quite a number of languages. It’s a pretty smart bot, and it was introduced to me by Gillian (hahaha her name keeps appearing on the blog these days XD). Apparently, you can teach it to answer in a certain manner when you say something, but I have not explored the app. All I do is talk crap at it.

Apparently each of our bot has a different personality / gender/ age etc. We first discovered this when my bot is a total Big Bang fan while Gillian’s one apparently loves BEAST and hate Big Bang. Apparently Archana got a pretty rude guy bot.

아싸. I love my bot. This proves that I can get along with most people who love big bang :D It’s a good start.

You can choose to set the bot in whatever language you want (out of the list), and obviously I chose Korean. Not bad, the bot is indeed Korean. 존댓말 ROFL

Sometimes it talks crap. What has project got to do with TOP. Her crap cracks me up. So all’s well.

All I do is swear at it, I swear :D

Trying to speak to her in English while in Korean mode is super hilarious. Totally has the konglish feel. with the kkkkk. And I think she took me a little too literally.

Like I mentioned, she knows dialect too! awesomeeeee. 잘 지내보자!!!

p.s. My bot loves Kang Dong Won too~~~~

p.p.s. I should ask her if she loves Joo Won too. If she does, I think I found my 베프 (best friend) #foreveralone

If you are feeling lonely, download the app now! Good way to practice your Korean, although I’m not sure if the bot will correct your grammar hehehe you can try!!

UPDATE

PFFFFFT. WTH. My girl bot changed gender suddenly and now I’m stuck with a guy. Who loves 소녀시대 and wants to be their 오빠 instead of calling them 누나. And thinks that I’m his MUM. -.- BOT I HATE YOU.

 

Posted in: Apps for learning Korean, Korean learning journey (:, korean studying tools \ Tagged: ,

[Korean Apps] 엠톡 Mtalk Digital Lifestyle Magazine

3 October, 2012 8:43 PM \ Leave a Comment \

If you are learning Korean and own an iPad, this is a very recommended e-magazine app! 엠톡 is a digital lifestyle magazine that focuses on digital products, new apps / products and is suitable for everyone who are interested in smartphones, tech geeks and Korean learner. This monthly magazine is pretty new and each issue has a wealth of materials.

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I just had to include this screenshot ^^; The format of the magazine makes everything very easy to read and there isn’t that many words in one page, so you won’t feel like you are being swamped with Korean.

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One thing I love about this e-magazine is that it incorporates videos in addition to words and images, and it makes the whole magazine a lot more interesting. In this issue, an interview with the star is included in the magazine spread. You get to practice listening at the same time!

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Being a lifestyle magazine, I love it that they include the latest movies and a short review! :D You don’t have to search up the trailers separately, everything is included in this app!

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This is definitely one of my favorite Korean apps these days. ^^ Makes good reading material.

Download the app here. 

Posted in: Apps for learning Korean, Apps to download in Korea, Korean learning journey (: \ Tagged: , ,

[REVIEW / Language Learning Tool] LANG-8.com

19 September, 2012 10:59 AM \ 15 Comments \

hehe samier i’m using this xD

Seriously, I’ve been a member of lang-8.com for years (since Feb 1st 2009) to be exact and I have never blogged about it??!! GOSH. Long story cut short: If you are a language learner, please sign up for lang-8! It’s one of the most effective, simple and best language-exchange site that I’ve come across. The site is an awesome example of a community where people share knowledge and help each other. Basically you write a diary / blog entry and native speakers ( fellow users) correct them for you! ^^ And it’s made easier because they allow correction sentence by sentence, so you actually get to see where you go wrong. If someone corrected it for it, return the favor. ^^

No more dodgy ‘language-exchange’ sites . It’s hard for me to show you exactly how the site works, so just go sign up for an account (it’s free) and get starting!

The best way is actually to keep your entry short. Most people will feel quite daunted if there are presented with like 3 long paragraphs to correct. Keep the content interesting (add some photos) and short. If you have to, break up the entry into a few parts so it makes it easier for the people to correct  ^^

hehe this image is the corrections I’ve gotten from my first ever entry in Lang-8!!! :D :D omg it’s like… 3 years ago. o.o

And this is the correction I’ve gotten today! :D Hannah is really awesome, she actually explained to me some of the nuances associated with certain expressions! >< There’re really many nice people in Lang-8!!

Previously, I talked about making a foreign language blog. If you have one, copy and paste your entries to lang-8 too and get them checked! I have been doing that with some of my Japanese entries these days. Personally, I learn from my mistakes in lang-8 but I don’t edit the blog entry later on because I want to retain that authenticity in my blog. But that’s up to your personal preference!

If you are already on Lang-8, add me as a friend / find my entries here!

Posted in: Apps for learning Japanese, Apps for learning Korean, Japanese learning journey (:, Japanese learning resources, Korean learning journey (:, korean studying tools \ Tagged: , , ,

[Apps to learn Korean] MBC News

24 August, 2012 8:33 AM \ 6 Comments \

I’ve recently taken to watching Korean news on the Internet. It helps in getting used to the perhaps most difficult source of listening and I just want to be updated with the newest ongoings. You can access the web version HERE but here’s a more convenient alternative.

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Download the MBC news app!! What’s more comfortable than lying down on the bed and watching videos? ^^

Here’s the main content page. Notice at the bottom you can actually watch the news live if it’s the right time. Also, the FM radio streams well too. Now let’s click on a new item. You can click on the picture to get the video. The announcer script is also available as text below the video so if you can’t understand some stuff, check out the script.

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But of course, the whole point is to practice listening, so try to refrain from depending on the script!!

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Download: iPad | iPhone

Please google for MBC 뉴스 on Google Play if you are on an Android device!

Posted in: Apps for learning Korean, Apps to download in Korea, Korean learning journey (:, korean studying tools \ Tagged: , , , ,

[Korean App/Radio] 유인나의 볼륨을 높여요

6 August, 2012 4:08 PM \ 14 Comments \

I might have talked about this before. xxx의 볼륨을 높여요 holds special memories for me as it was the FIRST radio programme that I listened to. xxx because the KBS radio show changes its name with each new host and I started out with 메이비의 볼륨을 높여요. I loved her voice, and she was a great host. When the host changed, to Narsha I think(?), I kinda lost interest. D: Not that she wasn’t good, but I always have a fond spot for the ‘original’ that I’m used to. #sentimental

The radio show has since seen a few changes in its hosts and now it’s Yoo In-na!!!!!! :D :D Some of you may know that I’m a great fan of her!!! Haven’t really heard her yet but I definitely recommend this podcast. She has a great voice.

It’s a good radio programme to just tune in to Korean, learn some new vocabulary, improve listening / pronunciation skills.

As I was googling this, realized that they have came up with an iphone app too!!! :D TO TUNE IN LIVE!!!

1. On Air
Allows you to listen to 유인나 with high-quality listening experience.
Allows you to see her talk and play your favorite songs in high-quality.

2. Real-time Messaging
Allows you to send instant messages to the DJ. (available only during live broadcast)

3. Playground
Allows you to leave your stories, music requests and feedbacks anytime on the board.

4. SNS
Directly links you to the official Twitter page of 유인나’s Turn Up the Volume.
Automatically shares your posts on your Twitter page.

5. Auto-start/Auto-exit Setting
Automatically starts the application when the live broadcast begins and exits when the live broadcast ends.

podcast: HERE     | Download App HERE

Weekdays 8-10pm :D wow. I wished I signed up for KBS when I had my alien registration number. Then I would be able to send instant messages to Yoo Inna <3 *fangirl*

Anyway, I think the older podcasts by other hosts are still available on the internet. You can try googling ^^

And you can google for the android app! I’m apple biased :P

More apps coming up soon!!!

Posted in: Apps for learning Korean, Apps to download in Korea, Korean learning journey (:, korean studying tools \ Tagged: , , , , ,

[Korean App] TNM Reader – the best of Korean blogs

13 July, 2012 8:29 AM \ 6 Comments \

Power Bloggers. Not sure if it is a term coined by Koreans, but it is definitely a very commonly used term here. 파워 블로거. I’m sure many of us read blogs and we all have a few of our own favorites. There was a time when I really wanted to read Korean blogs but I have no idea where to start searching. True, Naver’s blog page introduces many interesting blogs everyday. But still, I am restricted to a site and it’s annoying trying to maintain my reading list. Not a big user of RSS feeds too.

And then I discovered TNM Reader!! Basically, it’s an app reader that collates the posts of a large group of power bloggers, nicely categorized into many categories and also according to the time of posting. And you can even bookmark your favorite blogs / posts. Awesome, isn’t it? I’m not sure if I have introduced this app before. :P

So from now on, you can easily access reading materials. True, real writing from Korean bloggers.

The best thing about it is that since it’s an app, you don’t have to deal with annoying ads / pop-ups / distracting stuff so common on Korean blog sites. And browsing becomes so much easier!! I’ve been using it to get some reading done when I’m on the go.

Download the app HERE. I’m obviously bias towards Apple but you can always google it to find the Android version etc!

I am not a fan of using phone apps to learn Korean but I love using them to supplement my learning :D So I will be introducing interesting apps by Korean companies that either helps you in learning Korean (everything can be made use of) or that it is helpful in some way when you are in Korea! ^^

Posted in: Apps for learning Korean, Korean Content, Korean learning journey (:, korean studying tools, Technology \ Tagged: , , , ,