Instead of the usual ‘omg I realised I have no time to study Korean’ opening sentence that I’ve been using these days, I shall try to turn this into a more productive post and share how I try to keep myself immersed in Korean even though I have no time to study it proper. XD
1. Listen to Korean radio stations while studying
(I’ll be doing another detailed post on radio programmes)
Favourite: 메이비의 볼륨을 높여요
Personally, I find this the most effective method of all. Compared to listening to kpop, radio programmes are more interesting and you get to learn the correct intonation and pronunciation. Even though you may not be concentrating on the show to understand what’s going on, it helps you keep you ‘immersed in Korean’.
Nowadays I find myself gradually being able to understand the programme and yet make progress in my study ^^ Practice helps!! Another good point is that you won’t be tempted to ‘watch the programme’ unlike listening to variety shows. (I tried doing that and I end up watching them ㅠㅠ)
2. Build up on your vocabulary
This actually depends on your learning style. For those who like vocabulary lists, it’s great if you can carry them around with you and perhaps learn a few words or two in the bus or during your free periods. (never underestimate the power of accumulation). I have my own version of vocabulary lists (difficult words that I come across when reading articles), so sometimes I’ll bring them around with me to revise.
On a side note, I don’t like vocabulary lists categorized by subjects – eg. lists on occupations/colors etc. How about you??
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Actually the whole point is to keep immersing yourself in Korean! If you totally have no time, just listen to kpop XD
10 Comments
spike*
15 October, 2009 at 1:20 PMI agree, as I basically do the same as well. Even though my Korean understanding is wayyyyy below yours probably, I do the same as well. When I’m studying, or even taking a nap, I have on either a radio programme, or kpop songs, or even an uninteresting show on any Korean channel haha – honestly, it kind of helps. Sometimes I find a word interesting, especially when they repeat it a few times, and I look it up. It kind of helps. Word recognition also kinds of sticks during that time.
I haven’t had time to set up vocab lists, but I agree, I don’t like categorizing them. Haha.
Playlist has got to be 미남이기네요 OST and SNSD’s Chocolate Love (as well as replaying Taeyang’s WHERE U AT over and over on YT haha). What about you? Any obscure artists that you’d recomm?
hangukdrama
15 October, 2009 at 11:35 PMyeah it really helps in word recognition! which radio station/programme do you usually listen to? I used to listen to some mbc 95.1FM but i can’t find the stream anymore ):
haha Taeyang’s new track was on repeat mode the entire afternoon today XD Others on my playlist are Lee Seung Gi and Bada. I love Bada’s recent album, especially the title song ‘Mad’. Have you heard it before? A really really obscure group will be Biuret! (k indie band) Give it a try if you have time! ^^
lyrynne
15 October, 2009 at 5:20 PMI do this as well but most of the time I listen to 신동 & 심영의 심심타파 and it’s hard for me to concentrate on learning because they’re way hilarious but at least I understand them^^ Before I use to list words on a small memo pad and try to memorize and use them in a sentence but because I’m a lazy bum I don’t do that anymore.
From today I’ll try to focus on studying and memorize new vocabs!! Thanks for this Shanna^^
hangukdrama
15 October, 2009 at 11:38 PMoooh i haven’t listened to that before. Shall try to find it online!^^ Thanks~
I haven’t done much for the past few weeks too! Can’t wait for this semester to end so that I can start concentrating on Korean again!! ^^
즐거운 주말 되세요~
alodia
26 July, 2010 at 5:59 PMWhat I do, I listen to audio grabbed from dramas. Yeah I tried playing dramas on the background while doing something else, just so my ears can hear korean, and probably pick up words, etc. However, like your predicament, I end up watching them. So what I did, I grabbed the audios from the video and play it on my itunes. That way I have no choice. At least I have to open my Video player and open the folder of my drama videos.
I also have a small notebook that I carry around. I write new words I encounter from my lessons/books/dramas and memorize it during travel/free time.
I also listen to Korean songs on my ipod.
Anno
22 September, 2010 at 3:33 PMWhat do you do nowdays to get 메이비의 볼륨을 높여요? It changed to 나르샤 볼륨을 놀여요 and then the online place I was using to get the podcasts from stopped so I’ve been very sad because I listened to it a lot every day.
Is there another way to access it?
hangukdrama
25 September, 2010 at 9:08 AMThe place where i got access was shut down last month due to a legal request from KBS. i guess it’s hard to find podcasts of the radio from now on ):
lz_bumz
25 September, 2010 at 2:26 PMif u have ipod touch/iphone u can download mbc mini radio app (shimshimtapa etc) or download fstream and put in this url for kbs radio (leeteuk/eunhyuk sukira, narsha etc)
http://eunion.pe.kr/kbsradio.php?id=hot&channel=2
Anno
28 September, 2010 at 11:02 PMlz_bumz, Wow, thank you for that information. My ipod touch should come this week so I’ll use t hat link first thing!
alodia
4 February, 2011 at 10:04 PMas you know I extract audio from dramas. I’m not really into radio (even if it’s on our native language or in english). and i also carry a small notebook of vocabulary list. full of words from dramas that i watch.
On my playlist right now is Secret Garden’s OST. But I’m starting to get tired of it now. I’ll switch back to a shuffle of all my songs again – all of the songs I have on my itunes are Korean. ㅋㅋㅋ