How and Why I'm Learning Korean: as a busy student

by Reem - May 21, 2021

How and Why I'm Learning Korean: as a busy student

Hi everyone ♡

I miss coming here and just talking about what I've been up to recently. In the past few months, I have been under a lot of stress. Not just because of the increasing workload in uni as well as the tight schedule I have, but also because of the uncertainty that has struck the world. Everyone's life has changed in the past year or so in one way or another, but I feel that students have been especially immensely affected by all those changes. I, for one, didn't have finals the term the pandemic hit. I also jumped into the second term this year without a mid-year break for the first time in my entire life. There's so much more I can go on about, but maybe I should dedicate a whole post just to how academically things changed due to the pandemic.

Today, however, I'd like to list the reasons why I started learning Korean a while ago and how it started for me. Back when I was in high school, I used to watch Korean dramas like many people did. I liked the aesthetic and the fashion, it was so refreshing and gave me a break from the style I was getting used to at the time. It also gave me a peek into the unique culture of South Korea which I found really interesting. I definitely watched many dramas including the widely-adored "My love from another star" and other popular ones. My most favourite has to be "Pinocchio." But I also watched some "traditional" ones like "Gu family book" which I absolutely loved! It was unlike anything I'd watched. Tuning in to watch popular Korean dramas for entertainment was what I did at first, but as I watched more and more using subtitles, I started unintentionally memorising some words and knowing the meaning of many common terms. I'd watch these dramas after school to de-stress a little. They were really helpful.

When the time came for a long school break, I had lots of free time. I was watching a lot of YouTube at the time and I came across a video by "Korean class 101" for some reason. The video was one of a -very helpful- series teaching hangul which is the Korean alphabet. I liked how to-the-point the series was and I did learn some vowels at the time but I didn't follow through. I just wasn't that motivated to learn, so I didn't complete the series. Fast forward to last year through this year, I was getting really stressed out because, as I told you, the workload was getting unbearable and I have set really high standards for myself. Through all the stress, I was watching YouTube videos and one thing led to another. The next thing I know, I'm watching that same Hangul series I told you about earlier in the middle of studying for a test! But this time, I learned the whole Korean alphabet, hangul. I really admire the language, how it sounds and looks. I guess that admiration was there all along, it was just awakened by seeing it pop up again.

I don't know exactly why I'm drawn to Korean, but I am. When I'm watching something in Korean and I hear a word being repeated, I look it up. I now can read in Korean but I don't know the meaning of what I read. I later got introduced to Papago which is a Korean translator that is, apparently, more accurate than google translate. So, I use it to learn the meaning of new words I find when listening to a Korean song or watching a video with subtitles.

At first, I was contemplating letting it go because, clearly, I'm busy doing so many other things. But I keep finding myself looking up words or looking for them when I'm scrolling on Pinterest, etc. After giving it some time to die down, and it didn't, I decided to learn Korean for the fun of it; because I'm clearly passionate about it for some reason and it doesn't seem to go anywhere. But I also decided not to ruin my passion by setting unrealistic goals for myself, or any goals for that matter. I just enjoy the language and in the meantime, I'm learning it for fun; not for any particular reason.

I think I have covered most of how and why I'm learning Korean, but here's a more simplified list of the tools I'm using at the moment to do so. The list is arranged in the order of what I do/ use most frequently to least:

1. I downloaded a language learning app: I did what most new language learners do and downloaded a default app on my phone to fill my time by learning in a fun and simple way. Honestly, it got boring fast until I found that it didn't have to be this way. The app I was using at the time was really limited and didn't offer much, so I started using another one called Ling. I can't begin to describe how much I like using it. It's like a game but it's SO helpful. It shows you how to have a proper conversation in the language and even lets you text in Korean! It has so many other features like matching words and correcting your pronunciation, etc.

But this feature, in particular, was what made me keep using the app. It keeps you up-to-date with the latest, commonly used terms and helps you practise as you learn without feeling bored in the slightest. Just what I need tbh. Try it and see for yourself by clicking here.

This is not sponsored by the way, but I do have an affiliate link that you can get the app through. So, try it out and let me know what you think.

2. I made a Pinterest board: As I told you, I like to make language learning an integral part of my routine; so I don't feel burdened by it and stop it altogether. Since I already use Pinterest for inspiration, I thought it would be fun to include Korean in it. To my surprise, I found SO many simple Korean terms and words available on Pinterest with and without examples and it made Korean learning all the more fun and exciting. I save the words onto my Korean, "Hangugeo 한국어" board here, which you can follow and learn with me!

3. I joined a Facebook group: Instead of scrolling through endless draining posts for hours, I decided to join a Korean learning FB group made for beginners. I only joined one though; I don't want to bombard myself with overwhelming Korean posts all the time. Again, I don't want to intimidate myself out of learning the language.

4. I watch YouTube videos: You may be surprised to know, but there are tons of YouTube videos teaching Korean! I love watching ones displaying slow everyday Korean conversations or ones for beginners like the alphabet series by Korean class 101. However, I don't go to town with those videos because I can easily bore myself out of the process, which I don't want to.

5. I enrolled in an online course: I already like online courses a lot, so I thought why not find an easy Korean course online that is also free? I did find one, called "First Step Korean," that was praised online and enrolled in it. I'll be honest though, I only finished two lessons and I haven't gone back in a long time. I just don't want to make it academic, so for now, I'll stick to my more fun ways like using a fun app or scrolling through Pinterest. However, I'd like to go back one day when it's time for me to learn proper sentence structure and simple grammatical rules.

I don't know how long I'll keep at it, but for now, I'll enjoy the process.

Tell me, are you currently learning a language? What are some of the tools you find helpful? I'd like to know, so leave a comment below. Also, stay safe.