자기소개서 / About Me

Hi! I’m Shanna, a Singaporean in her early thirties.

First, I have to talk about the name of the blog, which might have caused some confusion (and perhaps disappointment!). This is not a blog on Korean dramas, although I’m happy to have a discussion on it! At some point, I used to write quite a bit on Korean entertainment, but over the years, this has grown into a space for me to talk about learning foreign languages, starting with Korean.

I’m born and raised in Singapore and hence grew up speaking both English and Mandarin Chinese. I wasn’t really a language lover until I acted on a random decision to pick up Korean back in Jan 2008. It was a life-changing decision. Foreign language learning has brought SO much to my life. Doing an internship in Seoul, being a freelance translator, using it in my work and meeting so many like-minded friends are just a few examples!

Besides Korean, I’m also learning Japanese (since 2012) and started learning Thai in April 2020. In between, I had dabbled a little in Russian and am also interested in Danish.

This is a space where I share my love for the languages I know (and learn), as well as tips / methods / resources for self-studying languages. Over the years, the language learning community has grown exponentially, and with the advent of technology (and also much more free resources online), self-studying languages doesn’t seem like a feat anymore, which I’m happy to see.

Korean learning journey in a nutshell

2008 Everything started on 8 Jan 2008. Took beginner 1 & 2 classes at SKIS. Apr – decided to self study. Oct – passed KLPT Level 2

2009 Oct – KLPT Level 5 & TOPIK Level 4

2010 June – Advanced 2 (Level 6) Korean classes in Yonsei Summer School

2011 Apr – Able to watch Korean dramas unsubbed. Spent a semester in Korea University in fall

2012 May – Internship in Seoul. Jun – TOPIK Level 5. Dec – Read my first full-length Korean novel!

2013 Passed TOPIK Level 6

2015, 2018, 2020  Passed TOPIK Level 6 again

Japanese learning journey in a nutshell

2009 – 2011 Took basic Japanese classes here and there. Didn’t get anywhere and soon forgot all basics

2012 Jan – restarted Japanese (self study). Apr – reading Japanese articles online. Dec – able to read short-length romance novels

2013 Jan – Able to read Japanese novels (白夜行 and ストロベリーナイト), passed JLPT N3 (165/180)

2016 Passed JLPT N2 (144/180)

2019 Passed JLPT N2 (141/180) in July, failed N1 in Dec

I am super grateful to meet so many wonderful people through this blog and I appreciate each and everyone who has motivated me, one way or another, in my language learning journey.

I ❤ reading comments and I do reply to every single one of them.

I love receiving emails too. Feel free to contact me via the contact form. And I do reply.

If you are reading this, share something about yourself and your language learning journey too!

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    277 Comments

  • Reply
    Edward
    13 June, 2008 at 3:31 PM

    hey it’s quite impressive to find someone who is this passionat about learning Korean…you have the same goal as me. what i’m tarketing at is that i watch american movies without subtitles….i wanna be fluent in English…your korean looks quite good.

    if you add me in msn, i might help you some korean in online.

    respect4nas@hotmail.com

    hang in there!

    • Reply
      푸인이
      15 November, 2012 at 6:01 PM

      Kinda bumped into your blog while searching for some korean resources on google. Love your passion in learning Korean. I just started my beginner level somewhere in July this year. At first it was just for fun, but I kinda fell in love with this language and now I really want to move on with this…currently at beginner level 2… hopefully I could achieve a new journey in life like you did. Admire your motivation and your blog.. Might need some advice from you, how you DIY your own studies ^^

    • Reply
      Clayton Wong
      2 April, 2013 at 5:17 AM

      Hi! I stumbled upon your website when your korean dialect article was reposted on Facebook. I found the piece very interesting, and as a result many more questions came to mind (maybe I’m over thinking this lol). About me – I started self-studying korean about 9 months ago – I got tired of reading subtitles for dramas and movies. I study while I workout at night, so my retention level is rather low, but I find it fun and interesting. Thanks again!

      • Reply
        hangukdrama
        5 April, 2013 at 6:43 PM

        Hi Clayton! Thanks for reading 😀 😀

  • Reply
    MIRANG
    1 July, 2008 at 2:38 PM

    wow, i’m surprised.
    surching internet web site, I draw your home.
    Nice to meet you,

    I’ll help you with pleasure.
    and so…. what’s your name?

    introdusing for me,
    my name is Eom mi-rang.
    I’m 22 years old, live in Bu-san of korea.
    glad to meet you,
    and I expected your e-mail i

  • Reply
    E.S-jung
    18 August, 2008 at 12:29 PM

    you are great.!
    you write korea laguage very well.!
    I hope to write english very well. too.
    ah.!
    Let me introdus myself
    My name is Eui Sung Jung
    I’m 25 years old man. I live in suwon of Gyeonggi-Do of Korea
    May I be your friend??
    if It’s ok, send message E-mail or add me msn messanger.
    msn ID : lovename@live.co.kr
    Looking Forward to hearing from you.
    see you later~

  • Reply
    E.S-jung
    18 August, 2008 at 12:33 PM

    당신은 정말 대단해요.
    한국어를 정말 잘하시는군요!
    나도 영어를 잘하고 싶어요.
    아.!
    제 소개를 할께요.
    제 이름은 정의성입니다.
    25살 남자이고 한국 경기도 수원시에 살고 있어요.
    당신과 친구가 되고 싶어요.
    만약 괜찮다면 이메일을 보내시거나 msn 메신져에서 친구추가를 해주세요.
    msn ID : lovename@live.co.kr
    답장 기다릴께요.
    담에 또 봐요!
    ———————————————————————–
    그러고 보니 한글로 글을 써도 이해할 것 같아서 한글로 씁니다.
    당신의 글을 보고 처음에는 한국에 유학온 외국인의 블로그인줄 알았습니다.
    하지만 잘 읽어보니 싱가폴에 살더군요. 정말 신기하고 놀라웠습니다.
    한국에 한번도 안왔는데도 불구하고 한국어를 그렇게 잘하다니..
    그리고 한편 부러웠습니다.
    제가 당신의 한국어 도우미가 되고 싶은데.. 괜찮을지…
    물론 당신도 저의 영어 도우미가 되면 서로 상부상조 아닐까요? ^^

  • Reply
    owbEe
    19 October, 2008 at 12:59 AM

    Hi there. How long have you been studying Korean? I wanna learn that language too. I’ve been studying on my own but I need someone to help me.

    I hope you can help me.

    btw, I have this blog about my ventures in learning korean.

    http://mylinguistics.wordpress.com

    Hope to see you some time.

  • Reply
    hangukdrama
    21 October, 2008 at 2:11 PM

    Was just re-reading the comments again. Really touched by everybody who left comments.

    Even though I didnt reply here, I did sent private emails to everybody. (:

    그래서 코메드 많이 남겨 주세요. ^^

  • Reply
    정은영
    8 December, 2008 at 11:52 AM

    안녕하세요? 친구되어 드리고 싶어요!!
    한국어 정말 잘하시네요~^^

  • Reply
    Jungsoo Kim
    18 December, 2008 at 9:39 AM

    이메일 잘 받았어요..

    답장 감사합니다….

    제 research에 참여하셔서…

    한국어에 scrambling이 되는 것을 배웠다니….

    다행이네요…—

    전 영어학을 undergraduate 때 부터

    현재 MA 코스까지 공부 중인데요….

    뭐….재미있어서…하는 거겠죠??

    하하…

    싱가폴에 Korean linguistics가 없다니 유감이네요….

    정말 general linguistics에 관심이 있으시다면……

    언제든지 환영이예요….

    welcome to th helll—!!!

    하하….

    좋은 하루 보내시고…

    다음에 또 연락해요———

  • Reply
    Pineapple
    20 December, 2008 at 12:43 AM

    Hi hangukdrama,

    I’m currently learning Korean too. My dream is to watch Kdrama one day without sub.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      20 December, 2008 at 1:29 AM

      To Pineapple (:

      ㅋㅋ 안녕하세요^^ 아.. 정말 반가워요. It’s nice to meet people interested in Korean too ^^
      So how long have you been studying Korean?

      Drop by often, hope to keep in touch ^^

    • Reply
      bluelion001ena
      23 February, 2012 at 9:32 PM

      @Pineapple: I have the same dream! It would make my life a lot easier. No I always have to way until they sub it, and to be frank, it’s dreadfull waiting for subs. The episode is already in raw so I really wanne see it but I don’t understand it.

      @ Hangukdrama: I LOVE your blog! I’m studying (?) Korean since over a year now. I started it first because I wanted to know some basic words for our honeymoon in Korea and it became a passion. I first started online but frankly … I’m such a lazy person … I just don’t have the discipline to study on my own without somebody pushing me although I really love Korean. So since a year I have a private tutor (there are no public schools that teach Korean here in Belgium, weird hé!) which costs a fortune!! I pay about 40euros (52 dollars) for 2 hours, that every week. I write 2 journals in a week (like a diary), have homework for 2 hours and still try to learn on my own as much as possible. I also watch a LOT of K-drama’s and listen to K-pop. Allthough I can speak a little korean I’m still to shy to speak it with anybody that isn’t my teacher. How did you get over that fear? I think I would improve more if I could write more with other people without having to fear they just laugh at my mistakes.

      This is my e-mail address: lena.scheers@hotmail.com.
      You can send me an e-mail if you’d like, I don’t know if you still check your blog, but I only just found it now. You know whatever you put on the internet, it’s eternal! 🙂

  • Reply
    pororo
    28 December, 2008 at 5:02 PM

    Hello! I am Korean but I live in Singapore for learning English.
    How fun!

    I am happy to read your blog. When I searched NUS Extension, I saw your homepage. Your Korean is very nice and surprising to me!

    Also it motivates me to study English hard. Anyway 정말로 반갑습니다.

  • Reply
    pororo
    28 December, 2008 at 5:22 PM

    And I’d like to be your friend. I think maybe you already have a lot of Korean friends -In Singapore, there are so many Koreans.ㅋㅋ
    But also I’d like to!!

    I am from Seoul, Korea and I was born in 1988. female.

    I hope you send e-mail to me. ^^

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      29 December, 2008 at 7:36 AM

      안녕하세요^^
      정말 반가워요. 이메일을 보냈어요 (:
      i will like to be your friend too

  • Reply
    Vanessa
    12 January, 2009 at 11:56 AM

    Hello! I chance upon your website while I was doing some research on learning Korean. I’m starting my first Korean class tomorrow. I’m excited yet apprehensive. Most of my friends took up Japanese and there seems no room for conversational practice except during class.

    But you’re an inspiration to me. =)

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      12 January, 2009 at 9:39 PM

      Hi Vanessa! (:

      wow that’s really cool. hope you enjoy your lessons, I’m sure its gonnna be fun.
      Drop by often, hope we can converse in Korean together soon (: 화이팅!

      Feel free to ask any questions you have ~

  • Reply
    sweet
    1 February, 2009 at 3:17 PM

    hey i chanced by your site while searching for korean lessons (ehem curious about other cultures, but on the shallower side it’s merely so i can watch more of my favourite korean shows (!!) ) and i think it’s really sweet to know that you’re doing this. so im bookmarking this!

  • Reply
    hangukdrama
    1 February, 2009 at 9:45 PM

    Hi Sweet (:

    I started learning korean due to the influence of k-dramas too! 😀 anyway thanks for appreciating my blog!

  • Reply
    MounTurtle
    16 February, 2009 at 12:15 AM

    hey~! was surfing the net abt where to get some books to self learn korean and i happen to saw ur blog…. although i have not started korean yet but well gonna do so soon! love it! simply love the language!

    next time if i need some help in the language can i seek help from u too???? O_o

  • Reply
    hangukdrama
    16 February, 2009 at 8:01 AM

    hello MounTurtle! (:

    you are planning to self study Korean too? ^^ nice to meetyou!! haha it really feels good to meet people who love Korean (:

    of course I will be glad to help you out (: Just drop me a comment anytime.

    just curious, but what got you interested in Korean.. dramas? haha 😀

  • Reply
    MounTurtle
    16 February, 2009 at 8:07 PM

    yuP~! exactly! it’s the korean drama… i used to think that korean drama are so draggy and boring… but i was wrong! lolx… oh yeah i went to nus extension they say public is not allowed to buy the books… T_T
    any idea where to buy some books on sth like…. teaches u how to construct the sentence properly??? cos all i have is a phrase book… heex

  • Reply
    hangukdrama
    17 February, 2009 at 7:48 AM

    Hi MounTurtle! (:

    hmm i think the public is only allowed to buy the KLPT practice books from nus extension. For good textbooks, i featured a few in the ‘korean language resources’ page. Some of them are more expensive (over $100), so I prefer to borrow them. Try starting with ‘Beginner Korean’ by Ross King ^^

    If you really wanna buy the books, go to taka kino’s language section. they have a pretty good selection of textboks there.

  • Reply
    MounTurtle
    17 February, 2009 at 3:30 PM

    oh thanx…. cos i went nus extension the receptionist was like if u are not student u are not allowed to buy anything… -_-“~!

  • Reply
    hangukdrama
    17 February, 2009 at 8:49 PM

    serious?? hmm maybe they decided to change their policy. ><
    haha anw have fun in learning Korean!! 😀

  • Reply
    twinnystar
    21 February, 2009 at 7:07 PM

    I am also interested to learn korean too, any suggestion how i should start?
    Thank You.

  • Reply
    hangukdrama
    21 February, 2009 at 8:03 PM

    Hi Twinnystar! (:

    hmm if you are a total beginner, it’s good to enrol yourself in a beginner korean class. In that way you can build up a good foundation even if you choose to self study later on.

    If you are from Singapore, Singapore Korean School offers korean classes. (: once you get the basics, koreanclass101.com has alot of great podcasts ranging from newbie lessons all the way to advanced lesson. it’s really interesting and you get to learn about korean culture too.

    ^^ you can take a look at my ‘korean learning resources’ page for more info (:

    thanks for dropping by!

  • Reply
    David
    24 February, 2009 at 1:43 AM

    Hi my name is David. I am also studying Korean as well. I have been studying for a little over a year now and created a blog as well. It seems like you have a good grasp on the Korean langauge. Maybe we can chat sometime in Korean. My e-mail is genki619@hotmail.com. Talk to you later.

  • Reply
    hangukdrama
    25 February, 2009 at 2:55 PM

    Hi David!

    wow nice to meet you. Could I have your blog add as well? I wish to link you. anyway I’ve added you in msn. hope to chat soon (:

  • Reply
    rcpcooper
    25 March, 2009 at 4:34 PM

    Hello hangukdrama,
    I really like your blog, congratulations. I have a language blog as well, http://www.abroadlanguages.com/blog/ and I have created a group in blogcatalog.com for people that own language blogs, so that we can share ideas, links and improve our articles.
    Here is the invitation if you would like to join us.

    rcpadgett has invited you to join the BlogCatalog group: Language Learning Blogs

    BlogCatalog.com is the fastest-growing social network for bloggers on the Internet. This is a community where bloggers connect, share ideas, and make things happen.

    To join BlogCatalog, follow the link below:
    http://www.blogcatalog.com/signup/

    To view the group, follow the link below:
    http://www.blogcatalog.com/group/language-learning-blogs

  • Reply
    Daytona
    30 March, 2009 at 5:21 PM

    YOYOYO How’s it going everybody..i’m trying to speak fluent English as well and learn more.Everybody seems so friendly and it’s kind of like encourage me to push myself further to archieve my goals..I’ll work hard and feel appreciated often in every single day of my life.I hope all of you will work hard as well and wish u all dreams come true.. I’m a 16 years old Chinese boy. Feel free to add me as friend.

  • Reply
    Weebee
    19 April, 2009 at 7:47 PM

    Hie~ went over to your naver cafe to take a look..im pretty much a newbie in having a naver blog and stuff but im actually keen on helping out in your cafe.. 사실은 저도 한국어를 너무 좋아해서 열심히 공부하고 있거든요~ ^^ 그래서 만약에 괜찮으면 저도 도와주고 싶은데.. Do add me on msn at crimsonbell@hotmail.com~

  • Reply
    hangukdrama
    19 April, 2009 at 8:04 PM

    안녕하세요 weebee님!

    wow I’m really happy to hear that you are interested in the english cafe. I’ll be more than happy if you can help out. It will be fun managing the cafe with you.

    그럼 msn에서 만나요! ^^

  • Reply
    세나
    5 June, 2009 at 3:53 AM

    우와

  • Reply
    세나
    5 June, 2009 at 3:59 AM

    님 한국어 실력이 장난 아니내 정말 대단하다 온지 얼마안되었는대도 뭐라 해야 할지 말이 안 나오네요 ㅋㅋ 친구하고 싶은뎅 메일 보내줘여 글구 난 한국인이 아니고 몽골인이야 ㅋㅋ 대학생이고 정치외교학과 4학년이야 좀 있으면 졸업하겠다 ㅋㅋ 학교 하고 사는 곳은 전라남도 광주 전남대학교 고 ㅋㅋ 제가 말이 많자 암튼 메일 보내줘 친구하자.. 다른 한국인이나 와국인하고 핀구하고 싶다 …

  • Reply
    Cathy
    13 June, 2009 at 7:53 PM

    Hi! 🙂
    Your blog´s really nice and useful as well (I´m planning to take up Korean soon ^^). Keep it up and good luck with your studies!!!! 😀

    Cathy
    PS: Thanks for adding a link to my blog, wow!

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      14 June, 2009 at 8:04 PM

      hi cathy! (:

      i’ll like to try taking up other languages too. Japanese and spanish are at the top of my list right now! do try korean~ it will be fun (:

  • Reply
    JAEZEL
    20 June, 2009 at 1:43 PM

    annyong hasEo!
    i’m a korean lover and i do practice how to write and how to speak in korean language little by little =] and im from here in the philippines.. i hope we can be friends? =]

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      21 June, 2009 at 8:42 AM

      hey nice to meet you too! (: how long have you been learning korean?

  • Reply
    huangsy
    24 June, 2009 at 6:03 PM

    정말 대단해요 !
    저도 싱가포르사람이에요.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      24 June, 2009 at 7:39 PM

      안녕하세요! 반가워요 ^^ 사실은 님의 블로그에 몇 번 방문한 적이 있어요!

      한국어를 공부한지 얼마나 되었나요?

      앞으로도 자주 오세요~

  • Reply
    jaezel
    25 June, 2009 at 9:38 AM

    helo! 🙂 im just a beginner.. but it’s been a month when i started learning it by my own.. im super interested learning korean.. so i decided to surf on internet and print out some stuffs and meaning/words of korean.. until i saw your blog.. i was WOW.. as in WOW! 🙂 now im 16 yrs. old, i think it’s about time to learn more, to learn how to speak fluent in korean language.. can you speak korean?? 🙂 im sorry, i was just being open to you so i tell to you my story behind loving korea.. and i hope we can be close friends or even sister? :)) and im hoping we can have contacts to each other..im too emotional, my apologize =]

  • Reply
    dlimpid
    21 December, 2009 at 1:18 PM

    Your the latest post is 99% perfect! 🙂
    I envy you! I am also interested in learning languages, English and Japanese, but there is no progress in my English in these days :'(

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      21 December, 2009 at 2:56 PM

      hello~! haha are you Korean? ^^ Your english is really good too!

      • Reply
        dlimpid
        21 December, 2009 at 4:41 PM

        No, no. I spend so much time to write these sentences, to google to check whether my sentence is right or not. 🙂 Last summer I visited US first time in my life, and 90% of my word was “sorry, what?” 🙂

      • Reply
        hangukdrama
        21 December, 2009 at 4:55 PM

        haha the first time I talked to a Korean, I only dare to say ‘안녕하세요’ >< if you have any questions on english next time, feel free to ask! ^^
        I still think you are really good! ^^

  • Reply
    Christiana
    23 January, 2010 at 6:50 PM

    Hi Shanna!
    I’m a kpop, korean obsessed uni student from singapore too 😀
    recently, i’ve been inspired to get serious about learning
    Korean and am contemplating taking classes from nus extension!
    i just wanted to ask you something though. did you take
    your first KLPT after just two elementary courses in Korean?
    if you did, then i’m really inspired because i don’t think i want
    to take so many basic courses before taking the test. i’m sure you
    know that the classes in nus extension cost a bomb :S

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      23 January, 2010 at 7:48 PM

      hey Christiana~! ^^
      I did self study after the 2 elementary courses~ ㅋㅋ Are you from NUS? haha if so, you get 20% discount right? but I do agree that the classes are ex there! ):
      Since you are in uni, why not try the korean electives offered in your school? it’ll be free XD

  • Reply
    Squire Starsquid
    21 February, 2010 at 11:17 PM

    Ok thats way too advanced Korean for me to understand in your intro haha, anyways, I decided to take a peek at your blog and here I am! 😀 Love the new theme! Lets see what K-drama you recommend… 🙂

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      25 February, 2010 at 10:31 AM

      haha i’m gg to write a new english intro soon 😀 hmm time for me to update that page too! XD

  • Reply
    Herena
    25 February, 2010 at 12:03 AM

    우와. 한국말을 너무 잘하셔서 한국분이신지 알았어요.
    전 싱가폴에서 살고 있어요. 이제 5개월이 다 되어 가네요. 얼마전 구정에는 Yu Sheng을 먹었어요. 얼마나 특별한 기억이었는지… 예전부터 싱가폴을 좋아했지만 갈수록 더욱 더 정이 깊어지는 곳인걸요?

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      25 February, 2010 at 10:30 AM

      오! 안녕하세요 ^^ 네~ 싱가폴은 참 좋은 나라예요. 그렇지만 저는 한국을 더 좋아해요 ㅎㅎ
      herena 씨는 혼자서 왔어요? 아니면 가족들과 함께 왔어요? ^^

      • Reply
        Herena
        16 March, 2010 at 4:10 PM

        사이트를 즐겨찾기에 저장했는데 안한지 알고 한참을 찾았네요.
        전 신랑과 함께 왔어요. 싱가포르가 워낙 인연도 많고 추억도 많은 곳이라 제가 간절히 바랬더니 이렇게 결혼 후 이 곳에서 살게 되었어요. 결혼 전에는 친구들 만나고 뭔가 항상 새롭고 재미있는 곳이 한국이었는데 지금은 싱가폴 같이 조용하고 평화로운 곳이 더 좋네요. 근데 중국어를 배우려면 어디에서 수업을 듣는 것이 좋을까요? 괜찮은 곳이 있으면 추천해 주실 수 있으세요?

      • Reply
        hangukdrama
        16 March, 2010 at 8:38 PM

        이메일을 보냈어요! ^^

  • Reply
    hwa young
    26 February, 2010 at 6:22 PM

    hi i accidently visit your blog your nick it’s so funny ^^
    i scan your blog
    it is so impressive that watching your korean skills getting improved from your first pages of this blog
    recently, i selected as a Exchange student to NUS 10-2 from KU(korea univ.) hope we can share our language in onlie and offline soon ^^

    안녕하세요 우연히 방문했네요. 제가 영어가 짧아 글이 엉망이죠? 죄송합니다ㅋㅋ 저는 고려대학교 학생이고여, 올 가을학기부터 싱가폴국립대에서 교환학생으로 공부하게 된 오화영이라고 해요. 제가 싱가폴에 갔을때, 서로 언어공부하는데 도움이 된다면 좋을거 같아서 ^^ 이렇게 글 남겨요.
    그냥 구경 목적으로 블로그 보고 있었는데 한국어 공부하시는 과정을 쭉 지켜보면서 정말 감동?받고 이렇게 글 남겨요. 한국말 하시는 것 보면 제 영어는 정말 부끄러운 수준이네요
    싱가폴 너무 기대되요 자주 연락해요^^

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      26 February, 2010 at 9:59 PM

      hello~! wow NUS! so you will be here for a semester? yes, it will be great to be language partners ^^ your english is good! haha anyway I bet I still have alot of mistakes in my korean~ let’s help each other!

      영어 글을 고쳐 드리면 괜찮으세요? 그리고 제 글에 틀린 말이 있으면 가르쳐 주세요~~ ㅎㅎ

      • Reply
        hwa young
        27 February, 2010 at 1:02 PM

        아니에요 한국어 수준이 정말 장난아니세요~~~ 정말 대단하세요. 제가 조금 더 고쳐드릴 수 있는 부분이 있는데(사실은 저는->사실 저는, 기대해요->기대되요)이런 것들은 정말 사소한 거라서 지금 공부하시듯이 좋은 글, 뉴스 계속 읽으시며 공부하시면 충분하실거에요 아니 완벽하실거에요^^ 여름에 연대오시는군요 연대도 좋은 학교지만 고대도 나쁘지 않은 학교에요ㅋㅋ summer school인지도 면에서는 연대가 확실히 우위에 있는 듯 하지만.. 아 연대는 신촌에 위치하고 있는데 그 앞이 술집들이 장난이 아니에요,금요일 토요일은 밤새 사람들로 바글바글하죠 ㅋㅋ 신촌이 최고지만 한국대학들 앞은 다 그렇답니다. 놀라실 거에요 ^^ 고대도 놀러오세요

        지금은 준비중인 큰 시험이 우선이라,우선 열공하고

        6월말 이후로 영어공부에 올인

        shanna씨는 한국어로 저는 영어로 서로 안부 묻는 건 어떨까요?! ^^

        그럼

      • Reply
        hangukdrama
        28 February, 2010 at 3:56 PM

        ㅋㅋ 아~ 그렇지 않아도 고대를 한번 놀러갈 생각이 있어요! 건물들이 참 아름다워요~ 한국에 있을 때 가고 싶은 곳이 참 많아요 ㅎㅎ

        혹시 msn을 쓰시면 메일 주소를 알려 주세요~
        그럼 다음에 화영 씨는 영어로 쓰세요! ^^

        시험 잘 보세요!

  • Reply
    xliSh
    11 April, 2010 at 2:29 AM

    After reading your blog, I’m OTL. haha
    Gosh your Korean is good. I’m still learning Korean too haha! I saw ya following me on twitter and came around this blog ^^ Korean is still so foreign to me though T_T I can only read. And understand. But writing and speaking is a big no-no for me. T_T Working hard!

    Oh yeah, imma link you to my blog~ Do link me too ^^
    http://loveshouldgoon.wordpress.com

    Korean studies hwaiting! ♥

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      18 April, 2010 at 4:56 PM

      sorry for the ultra late reply! >.< how long have you been learning korean~? I'll definitely link you! (:

      speaking korean is still foreign to me too! (:

      화이팅!

  • Reply
    cclia
    12 May, 2010 at 1:44 PM

    Hi!
    Chance upon ur blog when i was bored out of my mind at my attachment, saw my friend ^ xlish comment above, wat a coincidence! Haha, i took korean classes at community centre with her and i can read at moderate pace and cant speak really well, all my words get jumbled up…haha.Wow your korean is so good!너무 부럽다~ㅎㅎ…wat’s ur twitter? i cant find it in my frien’s list…email?

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      14 May, 2010 at 10:19 AM

      Hello! (:

      반가워요~! heh this is such a small world 😉 my twitter is ‘hangukdrama’. do add me! Are you still taking korean classes now~?

      • Reply
        cclia
        14 May, 2010 at 1:50 PM

        I’ve added you! 🙂
        I’ve stopped cause 선생님 did not have enough students for level 3 class and community centre dont allow her to open another class…wat a shame hor T__T. Now i self studied haha…where do you getTOPIK papers?

      • Reply
        hangukdrama
        14 May, 2010 at 6:20 PM

        ohh! yeah that’s too bad ): they should open higher level classes!
        http://www.topik.or.kr/ –> you can get the papers from here!

  • Reply
    Crazekorea
    26 June, 2010 at 1:24 PM

    Hey there, I am tinking of studying korea and came upon your webby.
    Any recommendations? And you are really good to type a whole para of korean script!

  • Reply
    Byeol_in_Autumn
    2 July, 2010 at 8:34 AM

    I’ve been reading your blog for over 5-6 months. You really gave me a lot of inspiration in learning Korean language. By the way, I’m from Malaysia and my family name also TAN and I’m really sure I’m an 언니 to you ^^…. I just started learning Korean around February this year and will take either KLPT or TOPIK or maybe both ( like you did hehe ) by next year. I don’t know why… But I’m feel happy for you ( and jealous at the same time ^^ ) because you are now in South Korea =)

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      12 July, 2010 at 10:00 PM

      언니~! 안녕하세요~! thanks for supporting my blog!
      ooh what made you interested in korean? ^^

      hope to see you here more often~!!

  • Reply
    Rin
    4 July, 2010 at 11:53 AM

    안녕하세요~!

    I’ve been following your blog and you are really an inspiration to all fellow Korean language learners! The enthusiasm and everything..plus the chunks of Korean texts..you’re cool.=)

    I’ve just started self-learning Korean.*woohoo* Thinking of trying the TOPIK paper for this year. Do we need a Korean name and a special marker pen for it? O_O Hoho.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      12 July, 2010 at 10:01 PM

      sorry for the late reply~! thanks for the compliment 😀
      you dont need a Korean name for TOPIK. they will provide the marker pen 😛

  • Reply
    Miko
    14 July, 2010 at 3:29 PM

    Hi, know about you from TTMIK. I am learning Korean @ TTMIK. Just finished the lesson 1. ^^ How good if I can speak korean as fluent as you ^^

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      14 July, 2010 at 11:31 PM

      Hi Miko! ^^

      haha i am nowhere near fluent 😀 let’s work hard together! what got you interested in Korean? (:

  • Reply
    Jericho
    15 July, 2010 at 1:38 PM

    Hey, I saw your interview on TTMIK. I’ll be moving to Seoul next month and starting the regular program at Yonsei KLI. I think it would be great if we could talk a bit. You’re blog is really an inspiration ^^

  • Reply
    스테판 기쉬
    28 July, 2010 at 6:14 AM

    샤나 씨,

    와우! 나도 한국말 배우고있는데 난 아주 부러워요. 한국어 실력이 아주 높은 것 같아요. 나도 한국어 능력 시험에 4급을 받고싶잖아요! ㅠ_ㅠ 어쨌든, 계속 열심히하세요.

    스테판

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      10 August, 2010 at 3:26 PM

      ㅋㅋ 답장 늦어서 죄송해요 ;;; 이제 싱가폴로 돌아왔어요 ㅠㅠ
      스테판 씨는 한국어를 공부한지 얼마나 되었나요? ^^

      힘내세요!

  • Reply
    darksphere
    10 September, 2010 at 11:34 PM

    hi.. i was browsing through my bookmarks and found you in my KoreanBlogs folder.. apparently i have come across your site one time or another during my 2 years or so in learning Korean. but unlike you i’m not that good in writing, understanding, and speaking korean yet (w/c makes me jealous of you..) haha! but i really like your blog and i think i’m going to visit here as much as i can to motivate myself in learning korean more seriously.. i’m a follower of Hyunwoo oppa’s lessons in TTMIK too but i’ve been so lazy these days.. i’m still stuck at the first 3 lessons of level 3 i think.. plus i don’t have korean friends to practice with these days.. reasons. hehe!

    but really, your blog inspires me a lot. i hope i’ll be better in speaking korean someday too. :]

    ps. congratulations (very late) on your visit in Korea! i can see in your blog posts that you had loads of fun in your stay there! :]

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      11 September, 2010 at 6:58 PM

      hello! ^^ thanks for leaving a comment! I’m not that good yet, still learning and enjoying every moment of it 😀 korea was loads of fun, have you been there before?
      heh hope to hear from you again~~~

  • Reply
    juhikaru
    26 September, 2010 at 11:41 AM

    hello~ I am interested in learning Korean too. In fact, yesterday I went down to Singapore Korean School. The campus is now near to Bukit Timah Road and not too accessible. 🙁 But it was highly recommended by friend. Hope to befriend people who share interest in Korean language, culture, food etc etc.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      27 September, 2010 at 6:26 PM

      Hey! nice to know more singaporeans who are interested in korean too! ^^ i haven’t seen the new campus yet, but the old one wasnt too accessible too. especially on rainy days ):

  • Reply
    Yuki
    28 September, 2010 at 6:25 AM

    Hi,
    I came across your site from talktomeinkorean.com. Just like you, I started my interest in Korean around 2 years ago and I’ve never wanted anything so bad in my life except for being able to speak Korean fluently. My dream is actually to visit Korea and study over there. It’s kind of hard for me now, since my parents don’t really want me to go there. So, I’m currently saving some money and hopefully I can go there by next year :DD.

    Anyway, I’m just wondering if you can help me with some questions that I’ve got. Which school do you recommend to go? If you’re wondering abt my Korean level, I think I’m on intermediate. I can understand when people are talking in Korean but when it comes for me to say sentences, it’s really hard for me to put it out. I know you studied in Yonsei, so what’s your opinion on that school? How about Sogang? Oh, and one more thing can you tell me more about TOPIK and KLPT?

    Thanks!!

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      28 September, 2010 at 7:32 AM

      Hi Yuki! ^^

      I understand what you mean when you said you nv wanted anything so bad in your life! it’s the same with me. some of my friends don’t reallly understand my ‘obsession’ with korean though >,<

      anw I hope that you willl be able to go Korea next year! It's an awesome place~ I'm planning to return there and I'm saving up too!

      Yonsei's regular program will be better than the one in summer! Summer is playtime (: The most common comparison is that Yonsei focus more on grammar while Sogang focus more on speaking. I think that's true. I don't really get to speak up much during my classes in Yonsei, but I'm absorbing loads ^^

      http://hangukdrama.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/klpt-vs-topik/

      here's a post that I wrote, comparing between TOPIK and KLPT. If you have any more questions, you can leave me a comment over there ^^

      • Reply
        Yuki
        29 September, 2010 at 3:58 AM

        Yay, *high five, Shanna*!! I’ve never actually ashamed to admit that I’m obsessed with Korean, I mean like sometimes I even talking by myself in Korean lol … Anyway, thanks a lot for your advice, really appreciate it.

        In terms of location and facility, which school do you say is better? and how about the school dorm? Are they good? and price-wise?

      • Reply
        hangukdrama
        1 October, 2010 at 9:31 PM

        mm location wise, sogang and yonsei are both in the sinchon area (very accessible). yonsei dorms are really nice and i think price wise they should be comparable ^^

  • Reply
    Felicia
    7 October, 2010 at 1:20 AM

    Gosh…You’re such an idol to korean language learners like me and me and me~~~and you’re so young~~ haha..

    I “self-studied” for 2 years (so to speak :P) before I realized I’m too slow so I joined NEX for the next 1 year..just stopped recently so I can revise and catch up on all the homework back log 🙂

    You’re amazing…TOPIK, KLPT…nothing beats you down huh? I’d say I’m just like you in terms of the strangely fuelled passion towards learning Korean..except laziness overtakes that sometimes 😛

    It’s also no wonder why your blog’s awarded top 100 language blogs~~ I’m soooo gonna learn from your notes during my break now..

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      9 October, 2010 at 10:16 AM

      Hey Felicia! ^^

      haha thanks for leaving a comment! yay korean ♥! hahaha. i’m also lazy sometimes, it’s hard to be motivated to study all the time xD

  • Reply
    yuen
    12 October, 2010 at 12:25 AM

    hey shanna..i found ur blog when im syudyin korean using the TTMIK..wow u gave me so many ideaaa on how to improve my koreannn…how long u spend to study korean in a week?

    by the way im interested to study linguistic..do you know if i study that course what can i do as a career in my life later on?im worried that i might be joblesss…

    yeahh please do keep udate ur bloggg…hihi

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      12 October, 2010 at 8:04 AM

      Hi Yuen,

      thanks for the comment! I dont really spend a fixed time studying korean per week. It varies according to how busy I am. The career path for linguistics is quite wide ranging, from going to teaching, research to translation etc.

  • Reply
    min
    14 December, 2010 at 11:25 PM

    hello, shanna. i’m visiting here from your naver blog. and I have sent a message u.
    nice to meet you.
    my name is 김민영. just call me Min.
    I didn’t know that many ppl are studying Korean like you all over the world. haha.
    and I also did studying Japanese by self-study for 8 years like you so I can sense you how much you want to be fluent 🙂
    If you don’t mind, I will help you studying Korean when you need some help.
    and I’m in SG now. here is Bukit batok. it just became a month since I came here.

    만나서 반가워요! 🙂 나이가 달라도 친구 할 수 있나요? 그렇다면 친구가 되고 싶은데.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      15 December, 2010 at 8:18 AM

      hello! ^^ I just saw the message at naver and I’ve replied you! nice to meet you 😀 😀

  • Reply
    sara
    10 January, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    hye shanna! 안녕하세요! nice to meet you. im very impressed with you and you possession. well i got to know about you from TTMIK. and i did some ‘stalking’ throughout your pages and wow i am so jealous because you are such a good learner. im from malaysia and i am interested in learning korean as well. i even wish to go there someday (/^o^)/. by the way what are those thing all of u mentioned above about TOPIK and KPLT?? i dont really know we have to take test to study korean. i started to fall in love with korean language and culture last year and i did some self studying through online but it doesn’t help that much. i am a medical student so it will be very difficult for me to spend time studying korean. did u know any other site that provide free online teaching? bt the way, 고마워요. 즐거운 하루 보내세요!! ^^

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

      안녕하세요~ 반가워요! ^^ TTMIK is the best site so far, sogang has a good online website though. you can find the links on my korean resources page ^^ TOPIK and KLPT are proficiency tests for foreigners. You don’t have to take them, but if you wanna study/work in korea or you wanna test your own proficiency, they are the tests to take ^^

  • Reply
    sara
    10 January, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    oh really? thank you for your reply. ^^ im looking forward to your next post on your journey learning korean language. 반갑습니다! 🙂

  • Reply
    JASMIN
    12 January, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    hi..

    i love korea too!!! watchin drama then the food caught my attention! the music i love too!! ha ha!!planing to go there stay n work in 3yrs times if i can make it in time. end of this month going to start taking korean lang classes. i dun hv much self discpline so i cnt self study! i envy u!your levels for TOPIIK & KLPT is super good!! i went korea,seoul 4 times. free and easy. THIS MARCH I AM GG FOR 10DAYS! i cant wait man!!! was quite hard talkin to ppl there but some basic lang i know.but at singapore my korean friend she always said she will teach me but i find it hard coz her eng is not very good so is kinda hard! so are you going to stay there too?
    when are u planning to go korea?
    i think i type way too much! sorry! too excited when talk abt korea! ha ha!! hope to hear from you SOON!!! take care!!!

    Cheers
    JASMIN

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      12 January, 2011 at 3:37 PM

      Hi jasmin! wow i envy you!! i have only been to korea once 😀 no concrete plans yet, but i’m planning another trip this yr! hehe i want to stay in korea too 😀

      what’s your fav music? (:

      • Reply
        JASMIN
        12 January, 2011 at 4:56 PM

        hahaha!!! yeah!! i love korea! i miss jjangjungmyeon!! i envy u more!! u cn speak well!! i cant!! lol!!! i gg this march!! meow!!! cant wait man!! ohh.. i planning to go there work! i have a few korean friends and they tell me once i am ready let them knw so thy can intro me jobs! ha ha!!
        i love alot of songs but lyrics is important!! but i love DBSK for 4yrs! lol..LYN songs all i love! i love her!! and i love Davinchi! Lena park!
        and many more!!! LOL!!! cant name all in here man!!! ha ha!!!
        i love yoo jaesuk!! lol!!
        anyway.. maybe we can chat in MSN. add me..jaunty21jas@hotmail.com

      • Reply
        hangukdrama
        12 January, 2011 at 6:06 PM

        hahaha i dun use msn much >,< you can always drop me comments or an email! ^^ i love davinchi too!!! their voice are awesome 😉

  • Reply
    alodia
    23 January, 2011 at 1:20 AM

    안녕하세요. 만나서 반가워요!
    저는 디야라고 해요. 필리핀 사람입니다. 26살입니다. 필리핀 대학교 학생입니다. 저도 한국어를 배우고 있습니다. 제 전공은 영화학인데 다음 학기에 언어학과로 바꿜 거예요. ^^
    I’m really glad I stumbled into your lovely blog! I was inspired once more to continue working harder in my Korean because of you. ^^
    I’m currently towards the end of my upper beginner classes in my university, but I started self-studying Korean as well for a few years (but I was not as diligent as you are with my lessons). And still am self-studying lessons outside our class. I currently hold 2급 in TOPIK (last September 2010).
    Thanks to your blog, I’m more inspired again to keep studying. I was also inspired to start blogging now (i acutally usually start a blog, but end up not updating it, but this time I guess I will be able to keep up with it now).
    I’m starting to read your blog. At least a page or 2 before I sleep. I’m starting from the very beginning and it was so inspiring to read your old entries and see how great you have improved sine then. I’m looking forward to reading your blog everyday. ^^

    반가워요~

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      23 January, 2011 at 10:24 AM

      안녕하세요~ 반가워요!

      Thanks for the lovely comment~! 😀 blogging does help to keep your interest in the language. when you feel tired/unmotivated, re-reading your past entries help to remind you why you love the language so much in the first place. i’ve met many like-minded people through this blog (you are also one of them hehe) and I hope you will be the same ^^

      haha not all my entries are very positive though >,< i had my ups and downs too!

      • Reply
        alodia
        23 January, 2011 at 10:31 AM

        which is good, that way we will be more inspired by you. ^^

  • Reply
    geri 이리영
    28 January, 2011 at 3:54 PM

    Hi! Happened to chance upon here and I just want to say I am very inspired by your passion for learning Korean! I am from Singapore too and I went to Korea for a short exchange last year as well. That experience reignited my interest in Korean Language! Looking through your blog entries makes me want to start blogging in Korean again.. to keep practising in order not to lose the language! ^^

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      28 January, 2011 at 7:11 PM

      Hi! Thanks for leaving a comment ^^ It’s easy to lose a language (especially if we dun use it normally) so i think it’s a great idea to start blogging in korean again!

  • Reply
    HyunWook
    3 February, 2011 at 10:04 PM

    About me:
    .. .. hi everyone. let me introduce myself. my real korean name is hyun wook. I want to speak English well but it’s still difficult for me. Can you help me? I like speaking English with all kinds of various people so anybody is welcome. Take a look at my Blog and add me as your friend if you are interested. You want to know anything about me just ask me. by the way, do you know well about south korea? korea is a an awesome country and has got some nice scenery. it would be a good choice for you to come to korea. i like talking with various friends all arond the world.and I would like to meet with many foreigners meeting a new people is cool. i’d love to hang out with friends. because you can learn about their culture, teach them about our culture, and have deep conversations with them.
    I’d like to invite you to my korea Blog
    http://cyworld.nate.com/hyun2208..
    Who I’d like to meet:
    i have a msn if you want to talking about with me. you can request me then.

    my msn : hyun2208@hotmail.com

  • Reply
    GenLiu
    7 February, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    Hi Shanna, I’m from France and learn Korean too. You did a really good work on your blog, I still don’t saw a lot from it but for the all I saw, this is pretty interesting.
    I’ll follow you on twitter if you don’t mind to do that.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      20 February, 2011 at 4:02 PM

      i just realised i forgot to reply u >,< I'm glad to know you!

  • Reply
    Judy
    20 February, 2011 at 2:46 PM

    Hi Shanna, I’m preparing for immersion programme in Seoul. May I know where did you stay while you were in Seoul?

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      20 February, 2011 at 4:02 PM

      Hi Judy,

      I was studying at yonsei then so i stayed in the SK global house in yonsei

  • Reply
    stephysw
    6 March, 2011 at 9:06 PM

    Hi there!I am Stephanie!Can I be your friend?I am self-studying Korean now and I have a lot of questions to ask you.If you don’t mind,please add me:stephanie_0122@hotmail.com

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      7 March, 2011 at 12:16 AM

      hello~! ^^ I don’t usually go on msn. If you have any questions, feel free to email me 😀

  • Reply
    isaberuchan
    7 March, 2011 at 7:08 PM

    Hi Shanna! Just wanted to tell you that I listened to your interview in ttmik.
    Last week I was reading “syzygy on languages” blog and found out that you had written a book with other language learners, and now, I’m in ttmik and found your interview. I keep finding you everywhere! XD It was so interesting, btw. I didn’t know that there were four character idiomatic expressions in Chinese and Korean too, like in Japanese. I’ll look for them 🙂
    As for the comment you left in my blog about “노래방의 18번” I was wandering, is there anything similar in Chinese?

    see you~

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      7 March, 2011 at 9:58 PM

      hahaha i’m really everywhere xD Forgot about my contribution to the book until u reminded me. I didn’t know Japanese has those idiomatic expressions!

      mmmm i dun think there’s a similar expression in chinese

  • Reply
    Jeanne
    20 March, 2011 at 10:28 PM

    고마워요!
    I read your entries diligently, and your blog definitely inspired me to create my own! 🙂

  • Reply
    elfira
    21 April, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    hi Shanna!

    Thank you for sharing your amazing journey learning Korean! I’m interested in summer program and I read that you do a month in Yonsei. Could I ask you about this? If you don’t mind, I’ll send you an email. ^^

  • Reply
    z9byeol
    13 June, 2011 at 4:04 PM

    Although I am learning English, the exact opposite of you, I like your blog.

    It’s also helpful for me because you mativate me to learn Languages!

    Bye~

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      15 June, 2011 at 9:45 AM

      thanks alot! Good luck with ur english learning ^^

  • Reply
    Lucie Dvorakova
    28 June, 2011 at 8:47 PM

    Just discovered your blog yesterday and really like the reviews you provide for books and links for studying. I’ve been self-studying Korean for about a year and hope to take the intermediate exam sometime next year. I’m not sure how much I can achieve since I’m not always consistent in studying.
    I was wondering, was it difficult to achieve the level 4 TOPIK? You say you started in 2008 and have the exam from 2009, so I was wondering how intensively you prepared.
    Thanks a lot. 🙂

    Good luck on achieving the Level 6 exams.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      28 June, 2011 at 8:52 PM

      Hi Lucie!

      I don’t really think it’s difficult but I did spend quite alot of time on korean over the 2 years. U can try out the TOPIK past year papers and gauge your level and how much you have to prepare to hit your target ^^

      have fun learning korean (: and do drop by again ^^

      • Reply
        Lucie Dvorakova
        3 July, 2011 at 6:33 AM

        Hi,

        Thanks for your reply. I’ve gone a bit through your blog and find quite a lot of the information useful, especially when looking for resources to study from. I’m currently looking into what kind of book would be most useful, since I find a lot of grammar and vocabulary online. I’ve been quite an inconsistent learner for the past two years, so I especially lack vocabulary. But I try to study a bit everyday (not always successful especially in times of uni deadlines).
        I’ve also downloaded some of the TOPIK papers and hope to look properly at them. I was surprised that you mentioned that Level 4 tends to be the minimum requirement to study at a university in Korea. 😮
        With my current knowledge I assume I would be able to achieve level 1, maybe level 2 with a bit of luck.

        Thanks again. 🙂

  • Reply
    신톈
    16 July, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    Hello! I’m Singaporean too, I just started learning Korean in March (I take classes at a CC) and recently found out that my teacher teaches according to the TOPIK syllabus. She said I could start taking the TOPIK next year. I googled the TOPIK and found your site, I think I will learn a lot from your blog posts ^_^

    Good luck for your TOPIK! ^_^

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      16 July, 2011 at 11:07 PM

      Hello!! ^^ thanks for visiting~~! Hope you have loads of fun learning Korean while preparing for the TOPIK too! ^^

  • Reply
    Jes
    23 July, 2011 at 1:02 PM

    Hi Shanna, i was wondering if i can add you to my blogroll list ^^

  • Reply
    Jerry Nam
    26 July, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    아 이렇게 글 남길수가 있네., 한국에 관심을 갖고 한국을 방문하는 사람들이 늘어서
    그런사람을 대상으로 조그만 사업을 시작한 사람입니다. 허허허..

    오랜시간 여행하는동안 사귄 수많은 외국 친구들이랑 교류하는것이 그저 너무 재밌고 그사람들 돕는게 너무 좋아서 그 열정 하나 가지고 시작한 사업이에요.
    우리나라에 이런 관심을 갖고 우리말을 공부하고있는게 전 엄청 감사하네요 괜히
    제가 뭘 한것도 아니지만… 그저 좋네요 ㅎ.

    서로 도울 수 있는 좋은 친구가 되고싶슴다.
    저 알고보면 완전 재밌거든요ㅋㅋ

    블로그 보니까 부러운점도 배울점도 참 많은 사람인것 같습니다.
    좋은 영향 미치는 친구가 됩시다. 응? ~ ㅎㅎ 바이바이~
    Ah~ i”m pretty sure that u can understand all them… however… by any chance..
    If there is anything u don’t get it.. then just skip it.

    It just a word.. can not possiblly give you what i relly feel about you.
    I am just saying that i am happy to know person like you and thanks for interesting
    Korea. wanna b ur friend. probably i’m little bit older than u though,,, ㅠㅠ

    ^__________________________^ -Jerry-

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      26 July, 2011 at 10:11 PM

      안녕하세요. 글을 남겨 주셔서 감사합니다. 어떻게 제 블로그를 찾겠 되셨어요? 요즘 한국에 대해 관심이 가지고 있는 외국인들이 많아요. 저도 문화와 언어교류에 대해 관심이 있습니다.

      이렇게 블로그 통해 많은 사람들을 알게 되어서 참 기쁘네요.

      • Reply
        Jerry Nam
        26 July, 2011 at 10:19 PM

        외국인들이 가지고 있는 한국에 대한 생각을 아는게 엄청 중요하니까요..
        이리저리 찾아 보다가..들어왔는데 완전 놀랬죠 ㅋ
        님 좀 쩔음.
        그리고 그냥 한국사람 대하듯이 하고 한국애들이랑 말하듯이 할래요 ㅋㅋ

        암튼 전 자주올래요. 마음껏 귀찮게 해드립죠. 근데 이거 뭐
        제가 뭐 대단한 사람은 아니지만 그냥 한국인에 한명으로서 꼭 감사하다고 말씀 드리고 싶슴다.

        요새 한국으로 아예 오는사람들도 종종 있던데 말배우러…
        집이 강남역 근처인데 많더라구요.

        근데 도대체 어쩌다가 한국이라는 놈한테 관심이 생긴겁니까?

  • Reply
    Jerry Nam
    26 July, 2011 at 10:25 PM

    아 그리고 문화와 언어교류에 관심이 많으시다고 하셨는데 궁금한거 있으면 언제든지 말씀하십쇼 뭐 물론 마음껏 물어보라 해도 그렇게 쉽게 마음놓는 사람 별로 없지만… 뭐 그냥 옆집에 아는사람이라고 생각하고 ㅋㅋㅋ 걱정마세요 귀찮으면
    기분 좋게 거절할거니까.. 님도 귀찮으면 기분좋게 절 무시하세요 ㅋㅋ
    그저 편안한 친구됩시다.

    저도 여행 좋아하는데 전 유명한 관광지 같은데 잘안가거든요. 사람들이랑 이야기하고 사람들 생각듣고, 그런걸 좋아해서 여행 좋아하는데 언어배우고 다른나라에 대해서 이해를 하고 느낀다는게 참 세상에서 제일 큰 재미중에 하나가 아닐까 싶슴다 ㅎ 암튼 ~~~

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      28 July, 2011 at 9:42 AM

      ㅋㅋ 처음에는 그냥 한국 드라마를 좋아하고 그때 시간이 많아서 한국어를 배우기 시작했는데 이제 정말 그 언어에 빠졌어요! ^^ ㅋ 외국어를 배우는 것 정말 신기해요. 새로운 세상이 열릴 것 같은 느낌이 들어요. 언어뿐만 아니라, 다른 생각, 문화 등에 대해도 많이 배웠어요!

      아마 여행은 더 그랬죠. 직접적으로 다른 문화를 느낄 수 있어서 더욱어 좋죠. ㅋ

  • Reply
    ija
    12 August, 2011 at 4:09 PM

    hi there…
    I am also self study Korean language via TTMIK podcast..I love Korean drama and song..I hope someday I can speak Korean fluently..

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      12 August, 2011 at 6:33 PM

      Hi~! let’s work hard together! 화이팅!

  • Reply
    crissy
    14 August, 2011 at 1:20 AM

    hi there! i posted a comment in your wedding article. my interest in korea started upon watching korean movies and the korean channel kbs and arirang in the cable. i like the culture and traditions too esp the food. there’s something enticing bout korea 🙂 i also dreamt of learning the language but it’s not my priority at the moment. hopefully when im done with some other things. im happy for you that you’re really motivated in getting what u want to do. do u plan to become a teacher? or live s. korea for good? tc and keep shining! 🙂

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      14 August, 2011 at 7:28 AM

      I agree that there’s something enticing about Korea~ ^^ That’s what attracted me here too. Knowing the language (to whatever extent) does help alot and I think it will make the trip more meaningful as people here open up to foreigners who can speak Korean or are at least willing to try!
      I don’t think I’ll be a teacher and it’s so hard to say anything about the future! I’m just going to enjoy the moment here right now ^^

  • Reply
    crissy
    14 August, 2011 at 1:22 AM

    i also admire people who really go for their dreams!

  • Reply
    koreanwannabeako
    14 August, 2011 at 4:08 PM

    hi! i love your blog!.. i’ve just started to learn how to read and write Korean… and you just inspires me to keep going! i’m from philippines.. hope i can go to Korea too! lots of love!! – Hazell

  • Reply
    Hyun JJ
    27 August, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    안녕하세요

    YouTube에서 우연히 Shanna씨의 동영상을 보고
    한국어실력에 감탄한 나머지 여기까지 왔습니다

    놀랍다는 말밖에 나질 않는군요

    저도 일본어와 중국어 공부하던 시절
    위성방송을 통해 외국드라마 열심히 사전찾아가며 공부했었는데…
    그때 보던 중국어 TV프로그램 중에는
    나 , 같은 싱가폴방송도 있었어요

    저도 싱가폴에 간 적이 있어요
    12년이나 지났지만 즐거운 추억으로 남아있습니다

    위에 보니까 한국학생이 ‘기대해요->기대되요’라고 고쳐줬네요?
    ‘기대해요’ 또는 ‘기대돼요’가 맞습니다.
    ‘기대되요’는 틀린표현입니다.

    고려대에서 공부하시는군요
    반갑습니다. 저도 고려대 졸업했습니다

    친구때문에 이따금 학교에 놀러가곤 하는데
    혹시 모르는 사람이 아는 척을 해도 놀라지 마시길 ㅋㅋㅋ

    저도 성북구 주민이거든요 ^^

  • Reply
    Ng Yung Hian (@crappycrab39)
    31 August, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    Hey there! I’m a Singaporean in Yonsei UIC, I’m a freshman! It’s really good to know that there are Singaporeans studying in Korea too ^^ Are you on exchange or doing a degree here?

  • Reply
    Jennilyn (sexyjennilyn)
    27 September, 2011 at 10:33 PM

    it’s great to find your blog, i’ve been studying korean too all by myself..
    i can already read and write some of the characters, but i can’t still understand.. 🙂
    i’ll be exploring your blog further to learn more new things..

    your blog is really a great help for those who would like to know korea..
    for that, I LOVE YOUR BLOG!! because i’m one of those.. :)) hahahaha!! 😀

  • Reply
    Keax
    11 October, 2011 at 12:32 AM

    hey Shanna! (:

    this is K from NTU. we did YISS together last summer (good times!) and i hope you remember me! i stumbled upon your blog after reading Alex Finch’s new blog entry lol. just wanted to say hi.

    are you back in Korea right now? how lucky~~ hope you create more wonderful memories. <3 😀

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      11 October, 2011 at 12:33 AM

      keax!!! 😀 of course i remember u LOL. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ it’s a small world xD yup i’m back there now~! ^______^

  • Reply
    stephysw
    10 November, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    Hi there! Can you tell me how you study Korean? You seem to be a fast learner! I’m amazed by how fluent you’re in Korean. How many hours you study Korean in one day? Can I know which books or resources you used when you started to learn Korean?

  • Reply
    Sitta
    7 December, 2011 at 2:00 PM

    level 4 TOPIK?? WOW!!! you’re really awesome~~ i only have level 2 T.T
    glad to know ur blog ^^

  • Reply
    vanessa chua
    4 January, 2012 at 1:03 AM

    안녕하세요 Shanna 씨!

    저도 싱가포르 사람인대요. 너무 반가워요! 저랑 친구를 될 수 있을 까요? 저는 21살이예요..그래서 언니로 불러도 괜찮겠죠..=p
    우연히 여기로 왔어요. 블로그보고.. 언니의 한국어 너무 잘 하고 대단해요! 그래서 글 한번 남기고 싶었어요.
    우선 저도 한국어를 배우고 있어요.. 저도 궁 드라마를 보고 한국의 언어와 문화에 대해서 관심이 시작했어요. 그때는 2006년이 있잖아요. 그때 싱가포르에 한국어가 지금처럼 유명하지 않았어요.. 그래서 혼자 공부를 했어요.. 4년동안 공부했는데 너무 어려워서 2010년에 학원에 들어갔어요. 한국에 온 선생님과 같이 공부 했으니까 한국어 수준이 많이 늘었고 같은데요.. 근데 언니처럼 잘 하는 게 아니예요.. topik 중급 시험을 봤는데 4급이 못했어요…

  • Reply
    Eri-sshi
    12 January, 2012 at 10:54 AM

    Wow, just found out about you blog and I can say that you are really awesome! I’ve been “striving” to learn Korean for a few years now. Self-studying that is. And wow, upon seeing this site, I got motivated again to learn the language! Since I made a little progress over the years, I almost thought of stopping. but you got me inspired! Hope we can be friends, I’m from the Philippines by the way 🙂

  • Reply
    Distrya Deanis (Dinda)
    13 January, 2012 at 11:17 AM

    Dear Shanna,

    I’m also self-studying. I know you from teacher Hyun woo’s twitter. Recently I learn korean more seriously and decide to follow korean lessons in TTMIK. I feel like magic! TTMIK teachers do help me a lot in korean learning.

    Hope someday i can meet you, Shanna…it’d be great to have a relaxed sharing about korean learning…you live in Singapore, right? One of my 2012 resolution is Southeast asia trip including singapore (im still saving money though ^^hehe). i wish we can meet someday.

    Indonesia,
    Dinda.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      13 January, 2012 at 3:46 PM

      hi Dinda!

      thanks for leaving a comment! it would definitely be nice to meet you too!

  • Reply
    Siska
    22 January, 2012 at 10:09 AM

    Hi Shanna….
    I’m from indonesia too and currently I’m learning korean. I have started since last year. And I also learn from TTMIK.
    After I have read your blog about your journey, it’s really make me wanna learn korean harder than before.
    Thank’s Shanna… hehehe…

    Now, I’m trying to translate the “iyagi” from TTMIK lessons.

    I have a question…
    Have you ever studied in korea?

    Thank’s again, Shanna… 😀

  • Reply
    Malen
    2 February, 2012 at 11:25 AM

    안냉하새요 shanna 시!

    I feel so privileged to have found you on facebook… and to my surprise, you are a Singaporean! I guess, I will be your “eonnie”… I, too, had been self-studying korean language.. I did live and worked in Seoul, Korea for sometime and and studied the language up to level 2 only. I could read and write more than speak, since I get lost when engaged in conversations in Korean…

    here’s something to share with you:

    I can cook some korean dishes and makes good kimchi! cooking korean dishes and making kimchi were also part of our study in korean language and culture; as well as history, which all the more made me appreciate hangul. I had worked with migrant workers in Korea, so my focus was more on the issues befacing the migrant workers, their well-being and labor conditions. I also worked with asian women married to Korean nationals and their children – to which I chaired the committee on women issues..

    like you, my first encounter of the language was a disaster! “nose-bleed”!! (figure of speech). our teacher would not speak a single word in english, and she scolded us if we speak in english. I really cried on this class becoz she made me feel so stupid! Until I got myself a young tutor who can both speak english and spanish. That’s the only time I began to learn – listen, read and write.. I like her very much and she plays the kayaguem, too. When she left for Spain to further her studies, I had to continue in a university.

    But now that I am in the US, I had to do a continuing self-study so I won’t forget the language.. and on the side, started studying Japanese language as well. And, oh, yes, I’m a big fan of korean dramas and movies, most of all Kpop and all Kmusic including classics..I really go crazy about them!

    whoaa! this is quite a long introduction and sharing… anyway, keep the good work! and continue to update us with whatever is the latest in studying korean language. I hope to go back to Korea one day… I miss all my friends there too!

    정말, 반갑습니다!
    malen

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      2 February, 2012 at 11:31 AM

      Malen 언니! ^^

      Thanks for leaving a comment and sharing! ^^

      My knowledge of the migrant workers / brides comes only from the Korean movies D: I’m quite curious on how the situation is like in Korea.

      Just curious, which country do u think I was from? 😛

      Keep up self-studying! ^^ and hope to hear from you again~

  • Reply
    Malen
    2 February, 2012 at 11:33 AM

    correction: it should read “shanna 씨”!

  • Reply
    Shaima
    11 February, 2012 at 10:52 AM

    Hi,
    Do you think it is easy to self study korean? becauze i enrolled once in 2010 in a class and didn’t like it, so i decided to study through internet and i found those lessons in youtube called “2007 LSK lesson” do you think i will gain somethin?
    once i finish them i think i should find someone talks in korean so i don’t forget it but its pretty hard =.=

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      11 February, 2012 at 10:57 AM

      Hi! Nothing is easy but it is not impossible (: Try using talktomeinkorean.com

  • Reply
    superjunior13sujulurve
    1 March, 2012 at 7:42 PM

    Hi~I accidentally come across your blog while searching sources for my 한국어 self-studying. It’s really impressive how you could be so good with it. I start to learnt korean language bit by bit. My journey is a bit complicated.LOL At 2005 I start memorizing korean alphabet.I stop because of boarding school but start back after I graduate from high school in 2007. From then on I start to learn some simple korean language from YT channel. However, early of last yr I found TTMIK and start to learnt seriously. I’m still learning and not good with it. Sometime I think of giving it up.. After reading your blog, I want to really pursue my goal. 잘부닥드립니다~

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      1 March, 2012 at 8:38 PM

      안녕하세요!! always nice to have a new reader-friend! 😀 Seems like you are a super junior fan! I like yesung and siwon ^^ TTMIK is the best resource out there. Hope to hear from you often 😀

      • Reply
        superjunior13sujulurve
        2 March, 2012 at 1:44 PM

        You can easily guess from my Id..ㅋㅋ I’m a big fan of SuJu but I can’t choose which to like since I like them all.*i know..I know I’m greedy xpp* Recently I’m fond of MBLAQ and Infinite too..^^
        I’m going to be a frequent here. There’s a lot of good tips that I need to follow here. BTW,I’m applebee0990 -twitter..already followed you there^^

  • Reply
    Rainstar
    7 March, 2012 at 7:20 PM

    Hello Shanna! I met you last month at the korean meet up! Anyway I would like to ask you whether you have any recommendations on accomodation if I want to go to Korea for a short 1 week holiday? We thought of going to a youth hostel! My friends and I do not want to go to a hotel because it’s quite expensive. We’re on a budget trip! Thank you very much 🙂

  • Reply
    Caroline N Koh
    31 March, 2012 at 3:05 PM

    It’s been very interesting reading your blog.
    I started ‘trying’ to learn Korean after I got back from a 2 day trip to Daegu in 2011…have had many distractions along the way so far but your blog is very encouraging to read — I will definitely not be giving up just yet.

    Please keep it up =)

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      31 March, 2012 at 9:32 PM

      thank you! ^^ just have fun learning and you will be fine too

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    3 April, 2012 at 11:09 AM

    전 지금 영어를 배우고 있어요.
    전 이제 네달째 되가요.
    휴대폰으로 쓰려니 힘드네요.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      3 April, 2012 at 11:12 AM

      ㅋㅋ 영어는 어떠세요? 항상 즐겁게 공부하시기 바랍니다 ^^

  • Reply
    seoullovee
    3 April, 2012 at 7:39 PM

    Hi Shanna 🙂
    I’m following your blog and add it to my blogroll
    I’m a newbie blogger, by the way ^^

  • Reply
    Pristine 여인 (@Kholic)
    14 April, 2012 at 2:33 PM

    Really love your blog! Anyway I am just curious, In terms of learning, Korean n japanese,which one do you find it harder?

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      14 April, 2012 at 2:53 PM

      Hi Pristine! Thanks so much 😀 mmm I think Japanese. I took a longer time to get used to the different conjugations etc. I’m biased though 😛 Are you learning both too?

  • Reply
    nurul
    19 April, 2012 at 11:41 AM

    hi there! can i join you guys??? kekkeke

  • Reply
    앤지
    27 May, 2012 at 10:05 PM

    안녕하세요~ 저는 말레이시아 인 앤지입니다. 지금은 한국어 배우고있어요~ 근데 한국어 좀 어려워 생각해요. 저도 self study있어요~ 도와주세요 ㅜㅜ 내 이메일 lee_yehyee92@hotmail.com. I would like to know how can I learn more and improve my Korean. 🙂 혹시 Shanna씨 트위터 있어요? ^.^

  • Reply
    bluehanbok
    10 June, 2012 at 9:23 PM

    I’m a new fan of your blog! My name is Alli, from the Philippines. I saw your blog from my other friends who are also learning Korean.I’m curious about your Korean lessons in 고려대. How was it? In what way was it terrible? Haha! Nice to meet you! 🙂

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      29 June, 2012 at 3:47 PM

      😀 sorry for the late reply!! i talked about the lessons in a post 😛 I can’t really remember how I feel about the lessons now (its been almost a year) xD

  • Reply
    KoreanNoted!
    8 July, 2012 at 2:20 PM

    Hi ^^ I’m a new fan of your blog and a new Korean learner what books do you suggest for self-study Korean ^^ I’m slightly beginner ^^

    Thank You

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      8 July, 2012 at 5:43 PM

      hello!!! try talktomeinkorean.com beats any books!!

      • Reply
        KoreanNoted!
        8 July, 2012 at 6:27 PM

        ^^ It does its so far the best I have seen 🙂

  • Reply
    Francis San Luis (@ChinoSanLuis)
    18 July, 2012 at 7:30 PM

    안녕하새요! Ran across your blog from someplace I don’t even remember where haha!

    I’ve been self-studying 한글 and 日本語 myself from quite a while and only recently am trying to fit it in my lifestyle.
    I’m working at a local company which kinda limits the potential for practicing Korean and/or Japanese.
    But I’ve also been trying to study whenever I can exposing myself to various media from both languages. Check out my language blog at http://fluentlyspeakingjapanese.com and http://fluentlyspeakingkorean.com but both are still in their infancy stages.

    Whew! Long post, I love what you’ve done with your language journey and would also want to do the same if I get the chance. Simply being able to speak in more than two languages is not only cool but also quite an eye-opening experience!

    谢谢!

  • Reply
    warrior0857
    20 July, 2012 at 3:41 PM

    안녕하세요. 미국 캘리포니아 오렌지 카운티에서 미국인들에게 한국어를 가르치고 있습니다. 미국에도 한국어와 한국 문화를 배우기 원하는 분들이 점점 많아지는 것 같네요. Kpop이나 한국 드라마처럼 한류 열풍 때문인지 한국어를 곧잘 말하시는 분들도 만납니다. 종종 방문할께요….

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      20 July, 2012 at 3:50 PM

      안녕하세요^^ 한국어 강사이세요? 한류 때문에 시작하는 사람들이 많지만 한국어를 공부하면서 한국의 문화나 한국어의 아름다움에 빠지는 사람도 많네요. ^^ 저도 특별한 이유 없이 시작했는데 이제 정말 하루 하루 한국어를 쓰면서 살고 있어요 ㅎ 지금도 서울에 있어요. ㅋ 블로그에 방문해 주셔서 감사합니다!! ^_^

  • Reply
    warrior0857
    20 July, 2012 at 3:56 PM

    한국어 고수시군요. 쉽지 않은 언어입니다. 한국어 다운 글은 영어에 익은 사람들이 읽기 어려워 하죠. 그러나 한국어를 깊이 알면, 얼마나 매력적인 언어인지 알게 될 것입니다. 알게 되어서 기뻐요.

  • Reply
    ling
    6 August, 2012 at 6:03 PM

    안녕하새요!
    I am Ling, a Singaporean like you. You have a cool blog! …inspiring…

    I’ve just started my Korean learning journey 2 weeks ago. Started my first week memorising and getting familiar with 한글. In order to have a better learning, speaking environment, I’ve also signed up an elementary weekly course with the CC.
    Part of this learning is also to prepare for my first trip to South Korea. Can’t wait to 공부하다 well enough to be able to converse in Korea and to be able write eventually.

    I’m at a stage of deciphering of Korean characters into their pronounciation and trying to memorise their meaning. Can recognise a few characters that appears numerous times. However, I’m far from understanding passages I’ve copied from websites where they aren’t English translated well. Google translations is rather disappointing.

    I’m trying to get a proper Korean assessment book and a comprehensive dictionary that covers usage of verbs and adjectives. Do you have any recommendations?

    What are the essentials for learning Korean for a beginner besides staying passionate and hardworking? For me, curiosity turned to craze. I’ve been cooking numerous Korean dishes, having great fun making my own kimchi (as I’ve difficulties finding a good one) and offering to friends and relatives who’ve loved it… am still loving and exploring every 한류.

    Thank you.
    ling

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      6 August, 2012 at 6:09 PM

      Hi Ling!! 😀

      mm there aren’t any good korean assessment books. I survived without them and I dont really think they are essential. Try talktomeinkorean.com they are the best and i think you will learn a lot from them at the beginning of your learning journey!! 😀 if you need a textbook for the grammar, i think college korean and college korean intermediate is pretty decent. 😀

      As for dictionary, endic.naver.com is the best you can ask for 😀 free too lol

      mmm there are no ‘secrets’ for language learners. Just immerse yourself in the language and learn to love it 😀 Don’t try to learn from phrasebooks and try not to compare it to languages you already know. 😀

      there was a period i was in love with cooking korean dishes too. like 김밥, 해물파전 etc. 😀

      it’s awesome that you will be going to korea soon! Enjoy your trip! Email me if you need any help, anytime~

  • Reply
    Rina
    8 August, 2012 at 1:38 PM

    Hi,your posts are really useful^_^
    I’m really interested in the korean language and the korean culture, hence I’m interested in taking up proper korean lessons.I’m able to regonise the basic vowels and consonants,quite a bit of phrases through self-learn from music lyrics and variety shows…I don’t know what level classes should i take,will you be able to recommend?

    Since I’m a uni student,i plan to sit for a placement test for a higher level korean lesson in school.I want to take affordable and acceptable quality korean lessons,any suggestions where to take?
    Are the community centre lessons quality poor?Do you know whether those cc lessons will help me to pass my placement test in NUS?
    Can you email me the reply?Thanks! rinawang2209@gmail.com

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      9 August, 2012 at 8:03 PM

      Hello! (:

      It’s really hard for me to judge which level of classes you should take, considering how different schools and institutes have different standards. A level 3 in NUS may be different from a level 3 in NEX for example.

      Im not that sure about Korean lessons in Singaproe but ive heard that CC lessons are decent enough. Its perhaps better to ask your friends or seniors in NUS who have taken the test 😛 I’m not from NUS so I cant really help you on that.

      If you need more help, feel free to email me at the address i have provided above. seoulareyou@gmail.com

  • Reply
    martina
    11 August, 2012 at 5:09 AM

    안녕하세요. 저는 아르헨티나의 마르티나 입니다. 당신의 블로그를 정말 좋아합니다!! 저는 한국어 공부했지만 TOPIK의 2 레벨만 있습니다.
    다음 년 한국어를 공부하러 한국에 가고싶습니다. 서울에서 어디서 공부 했습니까? 대학이 가장 저렴한지 알 수 있습니까?

    제 이메일 주소: martinafilinich@gmail.com

    저는 한국어를 연습하러 블로그를 만들고 있습니다. 우리나라 아르헨티나에 대한 이야기합니다:

    blog.naver.com/mfilinich

    My korean level is not advanced so my writing is very basic but you are wellcome to take a look!

    bye bye

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    18 August, 2012 at 10:13 PM

    Hello! I just wanted to say thank you!! It is indeed a very inspiring blog. I have been studying Japanese on and off (lack of discipline) for 2 years. It was not until last Dec when I decided to study my ass off for Japanese…It has been 9 months (studying every single day), I will say that my progress is mediocre at best…Reading, listening and writing is fine, but my speaking sucks….Guess I have to speak up more!!

    Recently I have been rather interested in picking up Korean! Seems like a pretty cool language…But I am not sure whether I will be able to handle it…My Japanese is not as strong as your Korean…

    BUT having said that, I read your blog and was inspired to just go for it! Screw rationality and practicality! Who knows when you don’t try?!

    I wish you all the best in your language journey!

    Once again, thank you!!

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      19 August, 2012 at 12:07 PM

      Hello!!! Thanks for reading the blog!!! 😀 your comment really made my day ^^ haha dun think too much, just dive straight into the language and enjoy the learning process!! ^^

  • Reply
    Koyami
    24 August, 2012 at 10:35 AM

    Hello,
    I’ve been looking for blogs of people who self-study Korean.
    I’m really impressed with the site! Thank you for sharing so many resources.

    I’m American, but I’m self studying Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin Chinese(in order of proficiency).
    Is it okay if I add your blog to my blogroll?

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      24 August, 2012 at 11:35 AM

      Hi!! I’m still in class now but took a look at your site! I think I should be the one who’s impressed 😀 love how the site is organized and that you split it up by languages! Was planning to do something like that, still have to figure it out 😀

      Will have to visit your site again when I get home. And of course you can add me on your blog roll. I’ll do the same once I get to recreating the blogroll!

      Nice to meet you (online) ^^

      • Reply
        Koyami
        27 August, 2012 at 3:53 AM

        Nice to meet you too!

        My blog actually started out as a personal journal of my Japanese studies. Right now I’m trying to expand it so it can be of more use to other people. It’s probably not very interesting right now, so sorry about that. =D

  • Reply
    Arlan Rodrigo
    24 September, 2012 at 11:57 PM

    Hello. I am studying Korean very hard like you. I only have Level 2 TOPIK so far but I want to get Level 3 or maybe Level 4 next year. Studying Hanja is taking up so much of my time these days studying Korean. Anyway, I hope we can do some collaborative work sometime to produce materials for teaching Korean. Would be happy to be your friend. My Facebook name is “친한파”. Please add me up. 감사합니다.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      30 September, 2012 at 2:11 AM

      hi Arlan!! 😀 Sorry I don’t really use Facebook except for the Blog Facebook page. You can always contact me there 😀 What kind of materials are you thinking of?

  • Reply
    May Gee
    25 September, 2012 at 1:51 PM

    안녕하세요! 미희 라고 합니다.
    말레이시아사람이에요.
    TTMIK를 통해 여기 왔어요.
    저는 샤나 씨 처럼 한국어하고 일본어를 공부하고 있어요.
    만약 괜찮다면 샤나 씨하고 친구가 되고 싶어요. 🙂

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      25 September, 2012 at 1:59 PM

      안녕하세요!! ^^ 반가워요 ^^ 한국어를 공부한 지 얼마나 되었나요? 저는 벌써 4년 반이에요 >< ㅋㅋ 앞으로 친하게 지내요~~ 블로그에서 자주 봐용

  • Reply
    장미꽃
    15 October, 2012 at 12:44 AM

    안녕하세요 ~

    初めまして、로시と申します。宜しくお願いします。2011년에한국어를공부했습니다. でも、高いので、辞めました。時々自分で (self study) 勉強したくても、自信がないから、勉強つずけませんでした。あなたのBlogを読んだら、今自信があります。정말감사합니다, 공부할겁니다 ^^

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      15 October, 2012 at 10:44 AM

      ㅎㅎ 안녕하세요!! 좀 실례지만, 어느 나라 사람이세요? ㅎㅎ 블로그를 읽어 주셔서 감사합니다!! 누구나 자신이 좀 떨어질 때가 있어요. 그래서 한국어를 좋아하시면 끝까지 즐겁게 공부하세용~~!

  • Reply
    veanime
    19 October, 2012 at 2:08 PM

    안녕하세요! Beginner Korean learner here… Ever since I came back from Korea this summer I’ve been dying to find a way back and stay longer, so I’ve been studying since the year started and I’m beginning to have a little difficulty but I refuse to give up!
    I noticed that you are starting Japanese and although your learning through Korean, back when I was studying Japanese (beginner-intermediate) I personally thought the Genki series was pretty good. There’s also a site I frequent tofugu.com where blogger Koichi has an online textbook (textfugu.com) directed towards self-learners of Japanese, plus he’s pretty funny. I haven’t tried it yet but I’m tempted to start once I have a better handle on Korean. Good luck on your studies ^_^

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      20 October, 2012 at 1:03 PM

      hello!! I like tofugu.com too!! 😀 I’ve tried the Genki series, but nowadays I’m always relying on Korean materials, so I don’t actually use anything in English much. Have fun learning Korean too!! ^^

  • Reply
    Ben
    25 October, 2012 at 1:47 AM

    Hi There.

    I found your blog via google search about the Yonsei Textbooks. I am very impressed with your determination to learn Korean and all aspects of the language via self-study. I wish I had the same self-discipline.

    I started studying Korean one day because I was done with finals early and bought some Korean language readers at the university bookstore for cheap and started studying hangul. I managed to memorize the alphabet in three hours and but it took a little longer to get use to the block creation. After a few chapters of basic Korean grammar however, I stopped and started again here and there. Sad to say, that was 2008 and now I am still at the beginner level with only some more vocabulary under my belt.

    My Japanese however is the opposite — for most intents and purposes, my Japanese is pretty fluent and I have no problem using the language on a daily basis for both private and professional use. I just wonder why I don’t have the same discipline to learn Korean!

    I went to Korea in August and bought Yonsei 1 and 2, the textbook and workbook only. Do you recommend using these for self-study? As for exposure, I listen to a lot of K-pop and like Korean movies but not so much the dramas.

    Thanks for your help!

    – Ben

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      25 October, 2012 at 12:37 PM

      Hi Ben!

      I guess we are kind of the opposite. I’m learning Japanese too but somehow I always have more motivation when it comes to learning Korean. So my Japanese is still very much in the beginner stage!

      Actually I think that the Ewha books are better for self studying. Not to say that the Yonsei books are bad. In fact, I think that they are pretty good but the structure is not really conducive to self studying unless you are very self-motivated.

      I think the dramas will help more! I LOVE Korean films but the language used there is more urm colloquial, with more swearing and it’s just harder to understand. I can watch unsubbed dramas first before moving on to unsubbed movies. ^^ And the dramas will help you pick up a lot of vocabulary. If you watch a series, most of the time it will center around some kind of theme and 10 eps in, I’m sure you can remember the vocabulary being used 😀

      • Reply
        Ben
        25 October, 2012 at 4:16 PM

        Hi There!

        Thanks for your quick reply!

        Yeah — I just have more motivation to learn Japanese partially because my interest in Korean came at a much later date. It also has taken some time to get use to the more sounds in Korean compared to Japanese but I think I am getting the hang out it.

        Thanks! I am pretty sure I saw the Ewha books but the Yonsei books stuck out like a sore thumb when I went to look for language textbooks at Kyobo (the main store).

        Thanks for the tip! I have seen a few Korean dramas (Boys over Flowers, Stairway to Heaven) and am currently watching Full House. I want to check out Iris next! As for movies, I recently saw 악마를 보았다 and 도가니 I really enjoyed these two films.

        I will motivate myself to self-study! Seeing your website has given me some motivation, thank you!

  • Reply
    c
    7 November, 2012 at 11:29 PM

    You must be really smart if every language classis too slow for you.. Are your thoughts on the uni-language classes the same?

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      8 November, 2012 at 12:02 AM

      LOL not really, yonsei’s lessons were challenging and super fun! I was in a higher level than I expected to be in and I loved that class. Mmm university classes as in those classes in Korean universities? It depends I guess. I had a taste of both awesome and not so good classes.

  • Reply
    Faeleia
    8 November, 2012 at 10:42 AM

    OMG i chanced upon your blog, and it’s quite a nice surprise!

    Hey, you know what? I’m quite similar to you, in the sense that I learnt japanese, learning korean by myself now, but my order was flipped. I self studied for 3 years before enrolling in a Japanese studies program in NUS to do intensive japanese but also tried to take korean (which damaged my aggregate scores because of the work and hours required, so I stopped), and now I’ve passed JLPT 2 last year, i want to pick up korean again! Must be me and my thing with wanting to understand what people say without having to rely on subs..

    I’m self learning now, and I learn also with a weird way of memorizing rap. Some of the rappers write deep lyrics not just about 사랑해, good rappers like Epik High, and i found that since singing along with singers required rote memorization via hundreds of repetition, might as well learn korean vocab along with it? Haha. It’s quite useful, I tell you!

    I’ve been looking for pen pals to practice japanese and hopefully ask someone about korean qns, but didn’t follow through with it because I’m self conscious that way. But seeing that you’re also in singapore gave me some sorta hope. 🙂 Email me sometime! Maybe we’ll become friends, yay! ^^

    Faeleia~

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      8 November, 2012 at 11:27 PM

      hello! woah i heard NUS Japanese program is really tough! I love good rappers too, g-dragon and big bang is still my bias for raps though XD And yes EPIK HIGH!
      There’s no need to be self conscious! I think you will have fun practicing with your pen pals 😀

      • Reply
        Faeleia
        16 November, 2012 at 12:31 PM

        I can’t believe I am still interestedly wanting to learn Korean! How’s your Japanese studying going! I want to go find some Korean textbooks from the library, and you mentioned a few, but specifically, what good textbooks are available from the library? A search with Yonsei and Ewha comes up with nothing.. 🙁

  • Reply
    Elley
    8 November, 2012 at 11:56 AM

    Hi Syana!

    Really impressed with your Korean! And I just love browsing & reading your blog!

    Some self introduction, 저는 앨리라고 합니다. 말레시아에 살고 있어요. It’s been a while since I continue my Korean again due to other classes. I attended Beginners classes but the classes conducted were somehow costly, simple & slow. That is the reason I’m self learning Korean now, it’s tough to be honest. Many grammars I don’t understand & don’t even know how to use them. I do hope to find someone to speak & practice my Korean with.

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      8 November, 2012 at 10:21 PM

      Hi Elley!

      thanks for loving the blog!! 😀 😀 I understand how you feel. It’s tough at first but once you get the hang of it, it will be super fun! 😀 Try sourcing for more learning materials online. i think talktomeinkorean.com does a great job in explaining grammar!

      • Reply
        Elley
        12 November, 2012 at 12:23 PM

        Yea, I just went hauling for Korean textbooks during my trip there. I bought Seoul Nasional University’s textbook 2 – 4, Yonsei textbook 3, and a grammar dictionary. Wanted to buy Ehwa textbook, but Level 3 onwards are all in Korean, so I didn’t bought it.

        Ya, I love the lessons from TTIK as well.

  • Reply
    푸인이
    16 November, 2012 at 6:36 PM

    I was wondering why my comment is stucked up there under a year 2008 comment.. And I noticed I actually replied to the person’s comment instead of commenting on your post! Haha. I’ll repost here 😀

    “Kinda bumped into your blog while searching for some korean resources on google. Love your passion in learning Korean. I just started my beginner level somewhere in July this year. At first it was just for fun, but I kinda fell in love with this language and now I really want to move on with this…currently at beginner level 2… hopefully I could achieve a new journey in life like you did. Admire your motivation and your blog.. Might need some advice from you, how you DIY your own studies ^^”

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      17 November, 2012 at 8:36 PM

      hello! 😀 thanks for reading the blog 😀 Same here, I started out just for fun and now I’m loving this language! 😀 Feel free to ask anytime!

  • Reply
    Rachel
    2 January, 2013 at 11:46 PM

    Wow! I am so glad I found your blog. I am learning Korean too and took TOPIK last October and got Level 2. Now I am studying intermediate. I hope I would be as fluent as you and intern in a Korean company!

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      3 January, 2013 at 11:32 AM

      thanks!! 😀 congrats on passing TOPIK! 앞으로도 자주 놀러 오세용!

  • Reply
    Ami
    1 February, 2013 at 7:29 AM

    Hi, Shanna, I was looking around for some blogs that will share my passion, which is the korean self-study. And here I am in your lovely site, I’ve been reading your posts all the day, I couldn’t stop myself from reading them 😀
    You are a role model. Tomorrow I will go buy some notebooks and start writing down the lessons I’ve learnt so far. Thanks for sharing with us your experience and knowledge.

  • Reply
    Ono
    6 May, 2013 at 8:22 PM

    Hello, Shanna! 🙂
    I just cant get enough of your blog. It is really inspiring.
    Last week I finished “Easy Korean for Foreigners 1” but I somehow dont feel satisfied and I think I could of learned more if I was studying from a different textbook. Right now I am thinking of trying Ewha’s korean but I am not too sure which book should I get: 1-2 or 2-1. What do you think? c:

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      6 May, 2013 at 8:39 PM

      Hi Ono! Thanks for liking the blog!! ^^ Mmm I think you should get 2-1! 1-2 wont be much of a challenge and I suspect that there might be a lot of overlaps in between the 2 books.

  • Reply
    Joseph
    24 July, 2013 at 3:37 PM

    I don’t if I will be motivated or demotivated by your timeline. You’re so quick! Naaah just joking, I’m extremely impressed. Being a Korean language student, I am very lucky that I find blogs like this that makes my studying journey less of a hassle. I don’t know how to follow your blog, but I’m sure to be back a lot. 🙂

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      30 July, 2013 at 5:50 PM

      hahaha thanks!! And this is meant to be motivational 😛 Hope you are enjoying your Korean learning journey too!

  • Reply
    VeAnime
    4 November, 2013 at 12:40 PM

    안녕하세요 샤나 씨,
    I’m about to enter my third year of Korean self-study. Whoo ^_^!! However, lately I’ve been feeling as if I’ve reached a plateau. No matter how much I try to improve my vocabulary and grammar study, I’m not seeing any improvement. Since I don’t have a hugh Korean community in my hometown (Florida, USA) I’ve been relying on textbooks CDs (Sogang 1a-3b), podcasts, dramas, music… etc, to try and improve my listening skills but to no avail. I can only recognize very little and understand basic expressions (or at least that what it feels like -__-). Hopefully, I’ll be able to study in Korea this coming summer and the everyday exposure will finally make everything click. But until then, do you have any advice in what I can do to improve my listening?
    조언을 해주셔서 감사합니다. ^^

  • Reply
    Sharmaine
    16 November, 2013 at 12:07 PM

    Hi, I am definitely inspired by you to continue working hard in picking up the korean language. I an currently studying in NTU and taking up the korean electives here. We are using the Yonsei textbooks which I find to be pretty structured and useful. I am currently at level 2. I am thinking of going to Korea to continue picking up the language as well. After doing some research, I heard reviews that Yonsei Uni’s language course is very much grammar-based and Sogang Uni seemed to emphasized on conversational speaking. Since you have been to Yonsei Uni for a sem as well as Korea U for summer programme, do you mind sharing with me your thoughts on which uni is more recommended in your opinion?:)

    Do send me a reply or an email 🙂
    Would be lovely to hear from you soon.
    Thank you

    Sharmaine

    • Reply
      hangukdrama
      17 November, 2013 at 1:47 PM

      Hi Sharmaine!

      Thanks for liking the blog 😀 For Korean lessons, I much prefer Yonsei University. I had a good time there and all my friends have good things to say about their lessons!

  • Reply
    coriolisky
    5 February, 2014 at 12:07 PM

    Hi Shanna!

    I have a question: for someone who has an N1 in the JLPT and started studying Korean from the start of this year (more or less), how reasonable is taking the TOPIK to aim for level 2? I like having goals to motivate me, and I’m eager to learn more Korean. You seem to have done a pretty awesome job of learning Korean and making it stick, so if you have any advice, I’d love to hear it!

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      22 February, 2014 at 9:53 AM

      Totally reasonable! hahahha Try some of the past year papers online!

  • Reply
    Raquel
    19 March, 2014 at 9:21 AM

    안녕하세요 !

    I loved reading around your blog 🙂 It’s so interesting! I happen to be involved and wanting to learn the Korean language. Right now I am just watching a lot of films (A Werewolf Boy, Always You, Innocent Steps, The Classic…) – just a to list a few, a drama (Innocent Man) and listening to music. I just want to get to know the pronunciation and how certain phrases, questions are said. Music is helping me a lot in saying words, but I have no idea what I am saying, so my next step is to try and learn through books and pdf files on the internet. I have read some of your tips and I happen to cross the website “talktomeinkorean.” I have come across it before, but wasn’t sure if it was good. But since you mentioned it, I believe I must self-teach from there! What beginner books to you recommend? 🙂

    All in all, thank you for sharing your experiences, thoughts, adventure and your love for this whole different culture. I am a Canadian, but my background is Portuguese (in which I am fluent in :P) and you have just become my favourite blogger! 🙂

  • Reply
    Joseph
    1 May, 2014 at 11:59 PM

    Hi ~
    Amazed by the capabilities you have in Korean self-studying.
    I have a doubt in mind..What are the differences between the summer program for Korean language and Korean language full time course in Seoul?
    Any advices on how to pick up Korean language effectively like how you did? ^^
    Many Thanks! 🙂

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      4 May, 2014 at 11:03 PM

      Thanks Joseph! The summer program is definitely less intensive (: But generally same textbooks and materials!
      mmm just keep yourself immersed in the language!

  • Reply
    미카
    18 May, 2014 at 11:30 PM

    Hi thank you for sharing your information on learning korean. I am currently in Korean and have study for the past year and was able to pass Topik level 3 (barely). However as you may well know, passing these tests that do not test your speaking skills, does not really give you that confidence when you need to speak. So i really want to practice and test my speaking skills, and i was wondering if you have come across such a test. For example in to Test their English skills there is a test called OPIC (Oral Proficiency Interview – computer) which is focused on Oral ability. So i think this is very practical. exactly what we foreigners need really deepen our Korean language ability i real sense. Anyway just thought i would ask as i was quite impressed by your blog.

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      20 May, 2014 at 10:24 AM

      Are you in Korea? if so, the best way is just to speak to the natives!! No better way to practice. As for testing your skills, speaking with natives is an excellent test. If you are able to hold a long / decent conversation with them about all kinds of topics, you are there already. No need for any tests haha

  • Reply
    NyNy
    23 May, 2014 at 7:11 AM

    Nice to meet you Shanna, I’m NyNy! Just wanted to stop by and say I like your posts. You’ve really progressed in your Korean over the past 6 years (now) and I want to do the same thing with both Japanese and Korean.

    I hope when you have the time, you can check out some of mine plus I’m still writing my travel entries when I went to Korea last year. I’d appreciate if you took a look 🙂
    http://nynyonline.co.uk

  • Reply
    Melody
    18 June, 2014 at 9:06 AM

    Hello!
    I’ve been following your blog for quite sometime. Your inspiration to learn Korean and keeping us updated with your posts is amazing!
    I’m keeping a blog myself for my language learning journeys and I hope to keep up like you can. I don’t post very much now, but I’m currently updating my blog and hopefully I can post again~!
    Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. ^^
    ~ Melody ~
    http://bunnylinguist.wordpress.com

  • Reply
    Nikki Hart
    22 April, 2015 at 11:38 PM

    Hey I found your blog through googling what 맞팔 means and I was interested to look more on your blog! It’s really good an I find it really useful especially the slang! I’m learning Korean and have done so for 3 years but I’m still not that great. My pronunciation is good but my sentences are often slightly incorrect, I struggle to make a long sentence quickly and I have never been to Korea and rarely practice conversation. despite all that I feel I get the grammar really well and how it works and it doesn’t feel alien to me.

    I write a blog also about learning languages, harttotheseoul.wordpress.com it’s not as popular as yours but I use it as a diary to log my progress and express my thoughts about language learning.

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      12 May, 2015 at 9:24 AM

      Thanks for liking the blog 😀 It’s always a journey to get better and I guess that’s what makes language learning fun! Will check out your blog too! ^^

  • Reply
    Dohayee
    14 June, 2015 at 11:02 PM

    안녕하세요 샤나언니^^
    I found your blog 2 days ago but I’m just bookmark it. And by accident I found your youtube account while searching about korean self studying. Lol.
    By the way, I’m ratih from Ina. I want to ask you a question (maybe more) I knew Kpop since 2011 and started learning korean seriouly at the end of 2014. So till now I just know how to write and how to read hangeul. So what’s your recommended’s book for beginner like me? Thank you before 🙂

  • Reply
    Tamara
    22 August, 2015 at 5:33 AM

    Hello~
    Your blog is awesome, i love the reviews you do. Actually I´m starting to learn Korean and I’m using Ehwa books!! They are really good, I was not dissapointed. Thanks for the recommendation! Waiting for your review of the new guides of Ehwa!!~

    Btw, I also want to learn Japanese, i studied in a school before though i didn’t learn a lot besides hiragana and katana, so wich book you recomend to study Japanese??

    Reading your blog gives me inspiration to learn Korean and Japanese. Thanks!!

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      22 August, 2015 at 9:32 PM

      Thank you so much!! Mmm I think you can start with Genki. It’s probably the most common beginners Japanese textbook!

  • Reply
    Yogurt
    20 September, 2015 at 12:50 PM

    Hi, found your blog while browsing for some info about TOPIK.
    I passed my TOPIK level 4 in 2013 and I stop studying Korean after the exam. I’m thinking to get back to my Korean studies and plan to take TOPIK II again (for passing level 6 of course) Actually I’m kinda worried and afraid to start it again, since I stop reading and writing in Korean quite long time ago and self studying is always hard for me lol

    I’m looking for some Korean handbooks for self study use too.

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      20 September, 2015 at 8:51 PM

      Hello! 😀 Don’t be too worried, even if it’s quite tough at the start, you will get back on track soon! Maybe you can start off by writing short journal entries on lang-8.com and read something that interests you (maybe about a favourite drama / hobbies etc).

      For Korean textbooks, you can look through the reviews I’ve done and pick those that you think you will like. The reviews can be found in the Korean Textbook category page on the top header of the blog! (:

  • Reply
    Lac
    27 October, 2015 at 11:22 PM

    Hi shanna.Off topic but I am just curious what you can do with a BA in Multi Linguistics.Like you i am studying Japanese and Korean albeit I am at a low level,but recently I have been feeling grim about my university course which is the same as yours.I want to work as something that can make good use of languages but I am nowhere near being of impeccable mastery for both Japanese and Korean.Any advices for a NtU multi linguistic holder soon to be like me?I am lookinn forward to working overseas though

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      28 October, 2015 at 12:16 AM

      Thanks for leaving a comment! I’ve emailed you instead (:

  • Reply
    Chansoriya
    6 November, 2015 at 1:13 AM

    IM SO Happy I started looking into children dictionaries and found your blog! I’m currently self studying Japanese and Korean too, and it has been an interesting experience. Hope we can chit chat some time!

  • Reply
    Stroomagroo
    2 December, 2015 at 10:01 AM

    Hey! I just wanted to say that I absolutely love your blog. I’ve been hemming and hawing about really beginning to study Korean for the longest time and your blog has helped me to make the decision to finally do it. From your recommendations I’ve just made the purchase of the Ewha books and am looking forward to studying them. So I wanted to say: thank you very much!!!
    I do have a question I was hoping you could answer. I’ve recently come across the Korea From Zero books and I was wondering if you have seen them and if you would recommend them as well?
    Anyway, once again, thank you for inspiring me to finally get serious to learn!

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      5 December, 2015 at 9:14 AM

      Thanks for liking the blog 😀 😀 Mmm I actually haven’t seen those books before! D: So can’t comment on them ><

  • Reply
    mike
    16 December, 2015 at 5:50 AM

    do you ever donate language books on Korean? MY name is mike

  • Reply
    Louis Ace Chan
    16 December, 2015 at 1:31 PM

    So sorry to post it here but I don’t know where else should I post this. I have just started studying Korean and I have reached the batchim part. One thing that I am confused is when you have 2 different consonants in the batchim position (e.g /r and /t sound) which one should I pronounce? Are there any rules to this?

  • Reply
    Chris
    19 January, 2016 at 12:19 PM

    I found your site searching the Net to get an idea of how long it would take to pass TOPIK (level 2 to start with). It looks like you did it quite quickly, which gives me hope that I will be able to as well since I am learning it via Japanese. I’ve lived in Japan for about 11 years and passed JLPT 1 (old version) about 6 years ago. Studying Korean through Japanese is SO much easier and can be translated so much closer to Japanese that I can catch the small difference in nuances much easier than people learning it through English. Pronunciation is unfortunately much harder for me than Japanese (which is super easy), but I reckon I’m OK with that since I know a ton of Kanji (which makes learning a lot of Korean words a lot easier, too). Sorry for a long comment, but it’s nice to find your page and get a good idea of what kind of a timeline I might be looking at. I’m already past the age of studying abroad in Korea at this point (since I am working), but I am also close enough to go there every vacation I get, so that should help! Good luck with your Japanese studying if you are still doing that. I would imagine that learning all of the different readings for the kanji would be the most difficult, but not so much for the JLPT. It just takes quite a bit of time.

  • Reply
    Rania
    11 February, 2016 at 3:22 PM

    Hello shanna. My name is Rania. I am currently self studying korea and I was inspired by you hehe. May I ask you question? How do you keep motivate and pace to learn korea? Have you ever felt not motivated? Actually I start to learn 3 years ago but didn’t make it. I would like to be happy if you reply this and have a good day

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      12 February, 2016 at 7:49 AM

      Hello!! Sometimes it’s hard but u just have to keep immersing yourself in the language. Even listening to songs or watching dramas help!

  • Reply
    Ohmyra
    22 February, 2016 at 1:42 AM

    진짜 대단해요 샨나씨! 저는 이번 4월에 토픽을 보기로 하는데 진짜 긴장해요. 어떻게 공부할지 잘 모르겠어요. 제 목표는 5급이에요. 님의 블로그를 큰 도움일 것같아서 북마크했어요. ㅋㅋ 미리 감사하는 마음을 인사할거예요. 감사합니다!!

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      26 February, 2016 at 11:02 AM

      안녕하세요! 댓글 남겨 주셔서 감사합니다! 질문이 있으시면 언제든지 물어보세요!

  • Reply
    Eun Sun
    11 March, 2016 at 12:32 PM

    For the Jeon Woo Chi novels, are they also in English? I am bilingual but I feel more comfortable reading in English.

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      14 March, 2016 at 11:07 AM

      Unfortunately not D: The books are also probably really hard to translate to English too (without losing a lot of the nuances)

  • Reply
    Melly Ru
    27 March, 2016 at 3:08 AM

    Hi,
    I really admire you for being able to master Korean in such a short time.
    I bought some Korean textbooks six months ago, but the only thing I learned was Hangeul. I keep delaying the self-studying time because I have to study for my university exams (but I have the feeling that this is just an excuse), or maybe I am afraid to start since it’s a hell of a language.
    Anyway, I have two questions to ask you:
    1) How have you been able to match your university/work duties with the efforts of learning Korean and Japanese?
    2) How many hours did you use to study per day?

    Thanks a lot! 😀

  • Reply
    Kathy
    17 May, 2016 at 9:21 AM

    Hi, just wanna say you are really awesome.
    I read your blog for few years and want to say thank you for your sharing on learning Korean.
    Have you thought about to share on learning English and Chinese?
    I think your reader will be interested… at least I will.
    Look forward on it!
    Wish your working life is going well~ Aza 🙂
    P.S. There was an error when subscribing. Pls check.

  • Reply
    Merlyn
    24 May, 2016 at 7:15 PM

    Hello Shanna! it is so great to hear about your Japanese learning journey. I have myself been at it for a long time. I wanted to ask, you started in Jan 2012 and were able to read a book by April 2012! Phew! That is amazing! How did you learn Kanji??? That’s what my hiccup. Also did you start directly by giving N3 or did you give N4 and 5 as well before N3? Do please let me know. Thanks – Merlyn

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      24 May, 2016 at 7:28 PM

      Hi Merlyn! Thanks for leaving a comment! If it helps I did learn a bit prior to 2012 but I did forget everything and started from scratch again. The book was also easy in terms of content (school love stories)! (: for Kanji, I know Chinese (both simplified and traditional) so it wasn’t an issue for me in terms of writing and Recognising characters. Lastly, I started with N3 straightaway

      • Reply
        Merlyn
        24 May, 2016 at 8:51 PM

        Thanks for the prompt reply Shanna. Unfortunately I have no prior knowledge of kanji so it’s a bit more tough at this end. Plus I’m based out of India so finding Japanese books is also a challenge. Anyway I’ll stay on it. Ganbatte!

  • Reply
    Jeff
    30 June, 2016 at 12:48 PM

    My name is Jeff, I’ve been studying Korean on and off since 1996, through various textbooks…. I hope to restart Korean Language studies again someday….

    when you review books, what criteria do you look for? I know what goes into a bad book but what do you look for in a good book?

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      30 June, 2016 at 7:36 PM

      Hi Jeff! Wow that has been a long time (: curious what got you started then! As for criteria, I think it depends on what type of books: textbooks, grammar guides etc

      In general, I like well structured books that do a good job explaining grammar and are appropriately challenging to that level. I don’t really have a standard set of criteria or checklist, so can’t really answer your question

      • Reply
        Jeff
        4 July, 2016 at 5:35 AM

        your site is amazing, thank you for answering my question

  • Reply
    Jeff
    2 July, 2016 at 7:35 AM

    My very first first neighborhood had a sizable korean presence, as well as a thai presence(thai is still there but korean not so much)…. so when I got to be 16 in 1996 I asked my mom to buy a Korean language textbook, the only available text then to my knowledge was a book and tape set put out by FSI nammed basic Korean…

    you might be thinking if my neighborhood had koreans there I could have learned from them? too shy to approach them and I didn’t know them personally…

    I like korean music and cinema and I find it easier to pick up words from there but I find myself drawn to textbooks

  • Reply
    Sam
    10 July, 2016 at 12:55 PM

    Hi! I’m currently sixteen and I’ve been learning Korean for about a month now. Self studying it is pretty hard and I wanted to learn Korean for a few months because my closest friends are Korean and I want to be able to talk to them. Plus I know Japanese and Chinese and I thought Korean would be easier with knowledge of the two. At first Korean seemed impossibly hard but it’s gradually getting and I think I know more Korean grammar wise than I do Japanese grammar (unofficially) I’m at the stage where I know some grammar (level 4 TTMIK ) and 한글 so I’m not a total beginner but I don’t think I’m good enough to be intermediate yet. I want to start a new textbook that’s appropriate for where I am. What would you recommend?

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      10 July, 2016 at 1:07 PM

      Perhaps you can try the ewha series! Maybe book 3? Not sure where your standard is.

  • Reply
    Sunil
    23 July, 2016 at 11:48 AM

    Nice to see your blog. I have been studying Korean for the past 1.5 years and it is slow going. I can have basic conversations with Koreans but that’s about it for now. I have a decent vocabulary and have been studying grammar but it is difficult to practice more advanced grammar as I have to slow down the speaking. I end up relying on simple statements rather than using more complex structures.
    At what stage did you feel comfortable talking at a steady pace with Koreans? For me is it usually one or two word replies and so forth. I do have a couple of language partners I need more conversations which I don’t have time for.
    Quite impressive that you have been doing this for 8 years. Love the consistency.

    thanks……sunil

  • Reply
    Alma
    11 August, 2016 at 11:14 PM

    Super happy to find this website 🙂
    I love learning new languages as well! I am glad I found a little place in the Internet where I can relate about the Korean language 😀

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      15 August, 2016 at 11:59 AM

      Thanks for liking the blog! (:

  • Reply
    Al
    15 August, 2016 at 11:25 AM

    Hi there shanna. Sorry if this has been asked before but I have arrived at a stumbling block in my learning journey. How do you pay attention to the batchim consciously while speaking? Keep up the inspiring posts!

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      15 August, 2016 at 11:55 AM

      Hello! Mmm what you do mean by paying attention to the batchim? You mean the sound changes? To get used to that, listening practice helps. Instead of memorising how a particular batchim may be affected by the surrounding sounds, the more you listen, the more attuned you become to the changes naturally

  • Reply
    Anwar
    16 August, 2016 at 11:29 PM

    Hey Shanna. Your achievement is amazing. I actually wanna do just that. So my question is, did you really selfstudy korean by yourself without anyone to practice with? Because Im planning to take at least 1-2 terms of Korean Language course in Korea just to get the everyday immersion. Also, would you mind giving any tips on how you get internship in Seoul? Thank you for the website!!

  • Reply
    Sandy
    7 October, 2016 at 9:37 AM

    Hello Shana! I’ve been following your blog for a while now and I love your tips and posts (especially the video where you show your language notebooks). I’m currently in the process of getting my undergraduate degree at a college that offers Korean classes but does not offer the major. So before, I was thinking of becoming a veterinarian, but I’ve been feeling that I’m not suited for the sciences and I’m much happier when I am studying Korean. I want to change my course focus to Korean and potentially create my own major, but my dilemma is what jobs I could do with Korean under my belt. Do you have any advice?

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      11 October, 2016 at 7:59 AM

      Hi Sandy! Thanks for liking the blog (: From my own experience, it’s not that easy to get a job that is based solely on your linguistic skills, unless we are talking about interpretation and even then, great interpreters usually need to go through a certification course or further studies. Having Korean as an additional skill set (in addition to something else) would be good.

  • Reply
    Sandy
    7 October, 2016 at 9:48 AM

    Sorry for the double post ㅠㅠ I refreshed several times and thought my first post did not go through. I see both now though.

  • Reply
    Elisa
    13 December, 2016 at 9:11 PM

    Hi Shana! was doing some research on korean language and i found your blog.
    Wow! it sure does takes alot of patience and time for you to study language.
    I too have also now learning korean. Now I’m thinking should I continue to take intermediate level.
    I used to have the thought of knowing another language should be useful to the working society in Singapore but times has changed people look at your experience and qualification. But I hope my love for learning other language will be like yours nv stop trying to learn and i hope to continue my interest in learning language not only korean but others too.
    Thanks for your sharing and guides on study korean. 🙂

  • Reply
    Dina
    4 January, 2017 at 9:58 AM

    4 Jan. 2017

    Hello^^
    Impressive! I came across your blog by accident. I am also learning Korean on my spare time and I was looking for Korean Language learning resources. I am a Filipino and a hotelier by profession living in NY .. Thank you for the info you shared in Korean Language Learning . HAPPY NEW YEAR from Manila (currently on vacation and away from NY) .^^

  • Reply
    Newton Chakma
    17 March, 2017 at 8:11 PM

    Tomorrow I have TOPIK 1 exam. I’ve been looking for any tips about TOPIK and found your website. After reading some articles I am really really impressed by your passion in learning languages. Most probably Mandarin helped you a lot learning Japanese. Passing N3 within a year, BRAVO! I’ve registered for N4 next July. I’ve been learning Japanese for 2 years though I don’t study regularly. And studied Korean for a year. Did you study Japanese at the same time with Korean? 2012年に毎日韓国語と日本語を勉強しましたか? Maybe “when learning a new language, why not learning another one?” this type of questions comes to language learner’s mind I guess . However I couldn’t give much time for both languages. My TOPIK preparation is bad. “learning 2 languages at the same time doesn’t make me pro” I thought. So I was thinking of learning Japanese is enough for now. your writings has changed my mind.

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      18 March, 2017 at 9:06 PM

      thanks for reading the blog 🙂 I started Korean in 2008 and then Japanese around 2012. So not entirely at the same time.

  • Reply
    Patty
    28 March, 2017 at 10:03 AM

    Are you still working in South Korea? I am also working in South Korea as an English teacher. I have similar background as you, and I am also learning Korean. (In the future I hope to master Japanese as well.)

    Would be great if I can have a friend to talk to about learning Korean. If you would like we can have coffee over the weekend to have a chat.

    Best,
    Patty

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      28 March, 2017 at 10:08 AM

      Hahaha I was never working there 😛 would love to have a chat with you, but unfortunately I’m miles away

  • Reply
    Yunseul
    6 February, 2019 at 7:41 AM

    Great blog you have here! Thank you for your reviews. I respect and admire you.

  • Reply
    Mark
    6 February, 2019 at 8:03 AM

    Can you post your TOPIK 6 scores? Why did you post your JLPT scores and not TOPIK 6?

  • Reply
    Heo Sae-Bom
    14 January, 2022 at 10:28 AM

    I found this website when looking for beginner Korean books to read and I was very excited to find another Korean learning resource! It’s always cool to find people so dedicated to learning the language and it makes me work harder on learning it because it shows that it’s possible to become fluent in another language even though it seems really hard. I am Korean (adopted from S. Korea when I was a baby) and want to move to Seoul one day when I grow up (I’m only 15 now) and websites like this really help me in my language journey! Thanks for making this website!

    • Reply
      Hangukdrama
      22 February, 2022 at 7:23 AM

      Hello! Thank you so much for reading the blog:) I’m sorry my reply came so late! I hope you achieve your goals in the future!

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