Recently I've felt the strong desire to speak in Spanish. I get that urge whenever I'm in a foreign country. You see, it actually worked in Brazil where they speak Portuguese, a cousin to the beautiful hispanic language. It doesn't work in South Korea, though.
At time's it has been pretty difficult to get what I want accomplished, but for the most part I'm getting by on my English. Still, though, it's high-time I learn some basic Korean lingo. My co-teacher, Ann Young-Shin, wants to teach me and I am really eager to begin learning. Their alphabet is completely different from the English one, so it's like starting over entirely. I've got the basic premise of the vowels down, but the consonants are a whole other story. Let me show you:
Anyway, I can read a few things just because I've familiarized myself with them. Once I can read everything it will be time to learn what those words mean...eeps!
I've learned that in any country you travel you can get through anything if you know the following phrases: Hello/Goodbye, Excuse me, please, thank you, I'm sorry, Where's the bathroom? and How much?
I'm getting there! To be honest with you, I'm pretty impressed with myself because I've picked up quite a bit without having to study anything yet - purely listening/picking up. My students are teaching me a few things (like the phrase "I don't know"- a popular one) and I am also learning because I sit with the art and music teacher at lunch and listen to what they say/ask questions sometimes.
Anyway, here's what I've learned thus far. I present to you, Wendy's Korean Lesson of the Day:
Of course I know a few food words, too, like kimchi, songpyan, japchae, etc. I'm still learning, though! :)
My next few updates will be fun, so look forward to them. I'm going to post pictures from Halloween (went to a fun party in Seoul) and also from English Chant/Song contest (so cute!).
Farewell,
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I've learned that in any country you travel you can get through anything if you know the following phrases: Hello/Goodbye, Excuse me, please, thank you, I'm sorry, Where's the bathroom? and How much?
I'm getting there! To be honest with you, I'm pretty impressed with myself because I've picked up quite a bit without having to study anything yet - purely listening/picking up. My students are teaching me a few things (like the phrase "I don't know"- a popular one) and I am also learning because I sit with the art and music teacher at lunch and listen to what they say/ask questions sometimes.
Anyway, here's what I've learned thus far. I present to you, Wendy's Korean Lesson of the Day:
- Anyanhaseo [ann-yan ha-say-oh] = hello/goodbye
- yaboseyo [yah-bah-say-oh] = hello (on the telephone)
- Komapsumnida [ko-mahp-sahm-ni-da] = thank you
- bali bali [bah-lee bah-lee] = hurry up!
- molahyo [moo-lie-oh] = I don't know
- creo [cray-oh] = I understand
- choken chokem [cho-kum cho-kum] = step by step/little by little
- sansangniem [sahn-sang-neem] = teacher/parent (me)
- ye ye/ ne ne [yeh-yeh/neh-neh] = yes
- anio [ahn-nyo] = no
- isuhcahream [ice-uh-kuh-reem] = icecream
- eotteoh-ge maraeyo [oh-toe-kay-mah-ray-oh] = how do you say...?
- hagwon [hahg-won] = english academy
- noonchi [noon-chee] = perceptability
- gibun [kee-boon] = good mood
- soju [so-joo] = korean alcohol
- waguking [wah-goo-king] = foreigner (kids point to me and shouts this)
- Gamgie [gahm-kee] = a cold
- mianhamnida [me-ahn-ham-nee-dah] = I'm sorry
Of course I know a few food words, too, like kimchi, songpyan, japchae, etc. I'm still learning, though! :)
My next few updates will be fun, so look forward to them. I'm going to post pictures from Halloween (went to a fun party in Seoul) and also from English Chant/Song contest (so cute!).
Farewell,
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1 sprinkles:
You have a nice list going there, Ms. Gould!
It really is amazing how much of a foreign language you can pick up in a short time by living in a different country! I completely understand the "learning a whole new alphabet thing." I can read some signs in Japanese now, but that doesn't mean I actually understand!
BTW, I tried kimchi for the first time the other day. Too spicey for me!!
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