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[Korean Video Diary] #1 제일 좋아하는 소설 – 빅뱅의 세상에 너를 소리쳐

Another new video! ^^ I think making videos/audio clips is a really effective form of self-practice. It requires you to think on the spot (unless you happen to have a pause function for recording!) and you can playback as many times as you want to check your pronunciation. Although you won’t get direct feedback, you will at least know which words you are pronouncing wrongly.

I was talking about my favorite book in Korean, and somehow ended up fangirling over Big Bang and T.O.P ^^

The facebook page for our language meetup is up (link at the right hand column). For those who have expressed interest, I’ll probably email you to work out a common time but hopefully we can organise this through facebook next time! Feel free to post anything (relevant) on the wall~!

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[Update]

I’m really glad I have people who are willing to point out my mistakes. Instead of being nice and telling me that my Korean is really good. My friend commented that I still sounded very 어색하다 (awkward) and I guess that’s because I don’t really speak like a Korean. Most of the phrases I use are more ‘textbook’ like and I attribute that to my lack of exposure to Korean ): I still have problems with pronouncing certain words.

Mmm school is starting again next week and I’ll probably be swamped with loads of work again. Hopefully the meetup thing can work out, we’ll see how things go! >,<

I’m going to spend more effort to become more fluent. This is the most difficult part –

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19 Comments

  • Reply
    mishmash
    18 January, 2011 at 11:36 PM

    I don’t think I would able be able to do a video diary like that. *must work on this*
    But yea, it’s better when people point out our mistakes otherwise we would never improve!

    You sound really cute voice though! Do you sound the same speaking in English as well?

    I have a husky sort of voice, or rather, I don’t have a very girly voice so I always feel very conscious speaking in korean.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      19 January, 2011 at 9:03 AM

      i think i sound abit more girlish speaking Korean 😛 But I dun sound like those classy Korean ladies. My voice is on the low side too, so sometimes my friends say i sound like an ajumma 😛

  • Reply
    Warp3
    19 January, 2011 at 6:22 AM

    Is the video flipped or is the text actually mirrored like that on the book cover?

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      19 January, 2011 at 9:01 AM

      hahaha the video is flipped 😀

  • Reply
    Nora
    19 January, 2011 at 3:34 PM

    You know at times i was wondering about being able to speak n think like a korean…my teacher often encourage me to think like the natives to improve my proficiency lvl….but the thing is how do i achieve this if i’m not even a korean n didnt live in the country?
    Anyhow, i hope someday with due dilligence, i will be able to read, speak and write fluently, just like you..fighting ^^

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      19 January, 2011 at 8:37 PM

      haha i’m nowhere near fluent >,< I think language is very much tied to culture. You can 'think like a korean' if you understand their culture. it's much easier to navigate the different politeness levels etc if you understand the basis/reason behind their existence. Watching dramas help too, it's the closest you can get to being in korea. ^^

  • Reply
    Anna
    19 January, 2011 at 8:50 PM

    Hey Shanna ^^ you’re so sweet in your videos!

    Do you have any plans on going back to Seoul? I think staying there for a longer period of time will really help make your Korean more colloquial. Make friends with native Koreans and catch some (slang) phrases and words from their everyday language. That’s exactly what I’m going to do this spring. I’m moving to Seoul for 1 year to take an intensive language course for 2 semesters and travel around the country ^^

    I also find KoreanClass101 very helpful in improving my pronunciation as well as teaching me colloquial words and phrases that you won’t find in regular textbooks. When I first started learning Korean I wanted to save money so I just bought textbooks instead but I over time I found it really tiring because I didnt’ know how to pronounce the words correctly. I’ve learned a lot of grammar by reading in textbooks but the podcasts at KoreanClass teach me how to listen and speak both standard and informal colloquial Korean. By listening to the natives speak you kind of get the feel of the pronunciation and how ‘logical’ it is (such as how the final consonants become nasal if the next syllable begins with a nasal sound, etc.). So I dished out my money on their Premium membership (oh my I sound like a spokesperson which I’m not!) I don’t use KoreanClass101 alone. I also have the textbooks from paradigmbusters.com (You Speak Korean-series) which in my opinion are super-fun and colorful, making Korean easier to understand. I did Elementary Korean for a few weeks but gave up because of the confusing explanations and ‘dry’ language (their vocabulary sections were good though).

    I’m not a pro but my Korean friends have been complimenting me on my pronunciation and intonation, and I’ve been studying since September. I just have trouble finding the right words to put in a sentence which is a sign that I need more practice speaking it (and not least an expanded vocabulary). That’s why actually living in Korea can help make you more fluent because it forces you to think in (and like a) Korean ^^

    I think your Korean is already great despite that it’s ‘textbook’-like, even though you haven’t lived there and despite the lack of exposure to Korean ^^

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      19 January, 2011 at 8:59 PM

      Hi Anna! ^^

      I’m still an undergraduate but I definitely have plans to be in Korea long term next time. Which uni will you be taking your korean courses in? (:

      I used to listen to koreanclass101 and now I’m also listening to korean radio, podcasts, dramas, variety shows etc. Pronunciation is my weakest link despite listening to so much Korean. I think I’m not attentive enough and it took me very long to realise some of my very glaring mistakes. Trying to work harder on it right now 😀

      I’m much better with textbooks and hence my reading and writing ability is the strongest >,< heh I agree about the Elementary Korean book. I've tried their 2nd book (continuing korean) and it's really dry. Not to mention expensive!! 😀

      • Reply
        Anna
        23 January, 2011 at 10:17 PM

        Sorry for my late reply (: are you planning on studying or working in Seoul? I’m planning on taking the courses at Kyung Hee University. It’s not as popular as Yonsei or Sogang but I’ve heard that the Korean language course there is great too 🙂

        I’m still a newbie so I rely a lot on koreanclass101, especially because they do several rounds of pronunciations – you know, where they say the words in fast, normal speed and then take another round slower. I feel this has helped a lot. And especially when you listen to the podcasts with headphones, everything sounds so clear 🙂 Dramas and variety shows are awesome too but a bit advanced for me hehe. I watch dramas with English subtitles.

        I think it’s admiring that you can understand Korean and you can speak it well too. No need for subtitles 🙂 With more practice, I’m sure you’ll perfect your pronunciation in no time! By the way, what are you studying? Ever considered taking parts of your studies in Seoul? ^^

        I feel the same way as you – I know how to write Korean and put together sentences but I kinda get stuck when speaking it. I got to know a Korean guy when I was in Seoul last summer and he wrote text messages and emails in almost perfect English but when you saw him person you were stumped because he could barely speak English (he got nervous as well)! He complained that he lacked practice in speaking English and blamed it on heavily grammar-based classes in school 🙂 so I guess practicing speaking Korean is quite crucial if you want to master the language.

        Oh man, Elementary Korean was tiring…!! Yeah, and expensive.. so I bought the You Speak Korean-series because of all the cute pictures and explanations. I LOVE their pronunciation guide! Lots of practical explanations and notes there. Even Ross King (the author of Elementary Korean) recommended the books.

        Fighting! ^^

      • Reply
        hangukdrama
        25 January, 2011 at 10:32 AM

        I heard the courses at kyunghee are good. more of the middleman between grammar intensive yonei and conversation-focused sogang! Do tell me how the classes are like when you start them (: (:

        I’m studying linguistics now. Thought of going for an exchange in Korea, but highly doubtful that I’ll get to go (long story here xD)

        haha alot of my korean friends are the same! Good written english but they get so nervous when speaking to a native! I agree about the need to practice speaking!

        I haven’t seen the you speak korean series yet. i know that there is a book solely focused on pronunciation of korean. it’s abit technical though, very linguistics >,< if i remember correctly, its called 'the sounds of korean'. I remember blogging about it before (:

      • Reply
        warp3
        26 January, 2011 at 2:23 AM

        Yeah, “Sounds of Korean” (from University of Hawaii Press) is probably the one you mean (I have that book as well). Like you noted, it covers pronunciation well, but it almost goes too indepth sometimes (especially in the later part of the book when it starts covering some very rare sound shifts that I still don’t think I’ve come across in the real world yet). The early chapters (and the included CD) are good for pretty much any level, though. It even has mouth diagrams to show tongue placement for many of the letters, which is quite useful.

  • Reply
    Anna
    19 January, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    Oh my gosh, I just saw how long my post was (:

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      19 January, 2011 at 9:09 PM

      hehe it’s alright 😀 it’s nice to have a discussion!

  • Reply
    josh!
    24 January, 2011 at 11:20 PM

    shanna, i have such a huge crush on you.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      25 January, 2011 at 10:28 AM

      *blush* hahahahaha 😀 thanks! ^^ glad u liked the video!!

  • Reply
    Kevin Wong
    30 January, 2011 at 11:46 PM

    Wow! This is very brave. I would probably benefit from doing the same in French, but i don’t know if i have the guts. Haha.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      30 January, 2011 at 11:53 PM

      you should try! i think it’s really rewarding, plus you may get to know others who are really interested in French or even native speakers who can help you improve too ^^

      • Reply
        Kevin Wong
        31 January, 2011 at 12:03 AM

        Hmmm… I shall think about it. Practical issues, mostly. Haha.

  • Reply
    HanBooks « 반짝반짝
    9 March, 2011 at 5:55 AM

    […] the Korean novels that I bought online last week just arrived in the mail a few days ago!  On Shanna’s recommendation, I bought Big Bang’s biography 세상에 너를 소리쳐! I’ve already paged through […]

  • Leave a Reply to Kevin Wong Cancel Reply