Homestay in Korea

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I had my first homestay experience in October 2012 and I can say it is a rather exciting experience for me. I was traveling alone back then and being someone with a bad sense of direction. I am so proud of myself that I managed to find the way and carried my 20kg luggage to the host’s house by myself.

The homestay that I went was from an apartment, high-rise building style with corridors and lots of neighbours. Its like a longggggg corridor with more than 10 families staying at the same level. When I stepped in, there are 아줌마들 3 ajummas(middle-aged womens) chopping spring onions in the bedroom watching typical korean drama.

One of them came out and welcome me, and so I started speaking to them in my broken basic Korean. She is really friendly and nice, we chatted for more than half an hour before I head out to the streets to begin my tour. She was really surprised by my Korean standard (although its very bad) but she kept saying and repeating 오! 왜 이렇게 잘 하네? (Oh, Why can you do it so well?) hahaha making me awkward and so I just smile it off.

Then… she handed me room key, I was rather disappointed as from the influenced from Korean drama. I was expecting all the door-lock in Korea houses to be locked in electronic password lock style.

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sadly, it isnt..

Anyway, here comes my princess room!

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Alright so the day.. I had a really long night and slept like 4am!! Guess whattttttt!! I was waken up by my host ajumma at 8am in the morning…. she knock on my door hard and told me to have breakfast?! It was really really nice of her to do prepare breakfast for me. Honestly, I was dead tired but I couldnt make myself to refuse her kind gesture So I dragged myself out of bed and was greeted by my first ever korean breakfast.

Ta-dahhh

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This dish is called 떡국 (ddok-guk) which means rice-cake soup.

I only slept for 4 hours, I just got out of bed, my mind and body is still in a sleep mode. Seriously, I have no appetite at all. To me… at that point in time, this rice-cake is one of the hardest thing to bite and swallow in this world.

I really tried my best and I still couldnt finish it up. It was my first morning with the host and I felt really bad. I cleared up the soup and kimchi though and ate 3-4 pieces of the rice-cake. For the next 2 days, the ajumma didnt wake me up anymore :S I guess she understand that I am the kind that sleeps late and skip breakfast

T^T

I deserved it.

Anyway… looking forward to my next homestay in December 2012… if the world doesnt ends 😀

Singapore Korean School

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I am changing school again~~~

I guess I was wrong, when i choose NUS extension at first. Although the location at Singapore Korean School(SKS) is really inconvenient they provide free shuttle bus from Clementi as well as Newton. On top of that the first impression when I walked into SKS, the feeling is great!! I don’t know why but I got this feeling that I am in Korea. I was surrounded with Koreans everywhere I walk, I could hear people speaking in Korean.

The feeling was excellent.

To me the most important thing to have when studying a language is to have a good teacher!

So far, Hanok Korean Class has the best teacher although she is not a native korean. When I switched to NUS Extension I couldn’t adapt to that particular teacher, teaching method(i dont think its good to be name)

In NUS Extension, I have not gained anything much and i am already half way through my course. T^T Basically, i do not like the study environment in NUS Extension, and moreover they are also moving from Dhoby Ghaut to their own campus at Kent Ridge.

Anyway, I had a hard time trying to find number/email to contact SKS when trying to arrange for placement test there. Eventually, I found out that the best is to call this teacher, his name is Sam and he is a native Korean and you can reach him at 9663 3780 to arrange for a placement test.

If you want to register for their classes, I also feel its best to go down to their office to enquire or do the online registration once it is open.

I took the placement test which is purely verbal, he will ask some random questions for about 15-20mins like how long have you been studying Korean. So if you are not satisfied with the results/grade given you could also take a written test but I think there is a payable fee to take the test.

I am really looking forward to start my class in SKS in July^^

Btw, I got into Intermediate 1 ^^

김치찌개

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It is my first time cooking! Kimchi Jjigae 김치찌개:

Lets take a look at my recipe, contributed with the help of my sister! ^^

 

Serving of 4

Kimchi Jjigae 김치찌개

 

Ingredients:

1 bottle of Kimchi

 

Kimchi Juice

1 tablespoon 고추장 Gochujang (Korean Chilli Paste)

1 tablespoon 고추가루 Gochugaru (Korean Chilli Flakes)

A handful of Big Bean sprout

1 big Yellow Onion

1 packet of Tofu

Plenty Spring Onion

1 packet of Straw Mushrooms

Pork (Shabu Shabu)

1 tablespoon soya sauce

Sesame Oil

Cooking Oil

 

Preparation:

1) Wash and marinate pork with garlic, rice wine and [sesame oil(Optional)]

2) Squeeze out the Kimchi juice and place it in a separate bowl

3) Wash and remove the roots of the bean sprouts

4) Remove the skin of the onion, wash and chop into bite size

5) Cut the tofu into cube size evenly.

6) Cut the spring onions to about 5 cm long.

7) Wash and cut off the roots of the straw mushroom

 

Cooking:

1) Stir-fry the Kimchi without any oil

2) Add cooking oil/sesame oil and stir fry the pork

*** NOTE: DO NOT overcook the pork as you have to boil it again at a later part

3) Bring the water to boil in a large pot

4) Add in the kimchi juice, Gochujang, Gochugaru, bean sprouts, straw mushrooms, onions, spring onions, kimchi.

5) Let it boil for about 4-5mins

6) Add Pork and tofu to boil and light soya sauce to taste.

7) TAH DAH~~

 

 

 

 

NUS Extension

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After my completing all the levels (4 Levels) at Hanok Korean class, I have no choice but to search for another school. I found for a few resources and have filtered out 2 choices which is NUS extension as well as Singapore Korean School.

For (SKS) Singapore Korean School, their website is not very user friendly. It is hard to find what you want to know and there are a lot of different emails which we can email to enquiry which is very confusing for us > <” and if you miss an intake, you have to wait and check back their website regularly to know when is their next intake again.

On top of that, SKS is also further from my house and office thus I decided to chose NUS Extension instead.

The course fee at NUS Extension was kinda shocking to me.. $450 for 10 lessons including course materials. T^T

I will have to take a mandatory placement test to see which level I will be posted to since I have not attended any class from NUS Extension before.

I took the placement test on a Thursday and the results was out on a Sunday. I read online about the placement test and they mentioned that the test is about 35 mins and there will be an one to one oral test with the teachers. However all of this wasn’t true…

I emailed the centre and told them I will be going down for the test.. when i arrive there they gave me 2 sets of “basic papers” to choose and I can only choose 1 to do. The first set of paper is from level 1-3 and the other, from level 4-6.

I took the level 1-3 paper with my friend and we were brought to a big and quiet classroom. There was no one in there except for the 2 of us. So basically, no one was invigilating us as we do the placement test. There wasn’t any time limit too, there was like multiple choices and fill-in-the-blanks question and the last part is a short essay.

On Sunday, we received the call from NUS Extension separately. I picked up the call thinking that it was my sister who is trying to make a prank call as the person on the line start talking in 100% Korean once I answered the phone. Thankfully, she mentioned calling from NUS Extension after a short while. She asked me a few questions in Korean and told me that I am posted to Level 4.

It was a huge relief as I was also expecting to be in either Level 4 or 5. ^^

So basically there was no one-to-one oral test and the timing of doing the placement test was also flexible.

On the first day of lesson, It was kind of awkward as we don’t know anyone in the class. The classroom was also unfamiliar. From a sudden change of bubbly teacher from Hanok Korean Class to this “strict teacher” in NUS Extension it was kind of hard to adapt.

Hope it will be better on lesson 2 onwards! ^^

Fighting!

한국

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음… 어떻게 시작해요?

처음 이렇게 블로로 써요. 한국으로 써요. ㅋㅋ

실수있을면도 몰라요.ㅎㅎ

나는 싱가포르 사람이에요. 이름은 은리예요, 22살이에요 ^^

지금 싱가포르에서 한국어를 조금 배워요, 그래서 아직 잘 못 해요. ㅠㅠ

난.. 한국을 아주 아주 좋아해요!! 한국에 한번도 안 왔어요 ㅜㅅㅜ

한국에는 사계절이있고 한국드라마도 재미있고 그래서 좋아해요~

한국의 음식을 다 먹어 싶어요 그리고 스키도 타고 싶어요.

한국 음악도 대박이다! 매일 매일 들어요~ 너무 좋아해~

이번 9월 한국에 갈거예요 !! 구경 할거예요, 쇼핑도!

내년 연세대학교 수업을 듣겠어요!

아~ 정말!

나중에 한국 친구들이 만나면 좋곘어요!

많이많이 한국 친구들 꼭 만날거에요~~

ㅎㅎ 이제 .. 끝났어요

이메일 아니면  코멘트를 남겨주세용 ㅋㅋ

Online Korean Lessons

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Wanted to learn Korean but tight on cash?

Do not know how and when to start?

You may refer to these useful websites and links to learn korean for free!

Professor Oh and Friends : Teaches Korean in a simple fun way through youtube videos.

Talk to me in Korean : Very Very useful and strongly recommended! Teaches Korean language from Basics to Intermediate by Native Korean. Audio lessons and PDF notes are provided, worksheets and available for practice too!

Understanding Korean Language : Korea Tourism Website which also teaches basic Korean language and daily conversations tips

Sogang University : Sogang Korean Programme

Naver Dictionary : A very useful online dictionary which translate English , Japanese and Chinese into Korean and Vice-versa. It also acts as an encyclopedia

#2 – 내가 노래를 못해도 – SE7EN

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SE7EN – 내가 노래를 못해도

The lyric is so true to every singer out there.

이 뮤비 완전 대박!

내가 모든걸 잃어도 내 인기가 떨어져도
더 이상 노랠 못하고 다른 직업을 가져도
나라는 이유만으로 날 계속 사랑해 줄 수 있니

화면에 나오는 내 모습이 진짜
내 전부가 아니란 건 알고 있는지(알고 있는지)
자신감 넘치는 내 모습이 날
더 불안하게 하는 건 알고 있는지(알고 있는지)
화려한 조명 속에 서있는 모습 뒤에
진한 그림자가 지고 있어

내가 모든걸 잃어도 내 인기가 떨어져도
더 이상 노랠 못하고 다른 직업을 가져도
나라는 이유만으로 날 계속 사랑해 줄 수 있니

너는 날 사랑한다 하지만
니가 사랑하는 게 정말 내가 맞는지(내가 맞는지)
나에게 반했다고 하지만
너를 반하게 한 게 정말 내가 맞는지(내가 맞는지)
네가 나의 품 안에 안겨 날 바라볼 때
이런 질문을 하고 싶어

내가 모든걸 잃어도 내 인기가 떨어져도
더 이상 노랠 못하고 다른 직업을 가져도
나라는 이유만으로 날 계속 사랑해 줄 수 있니

언젠간 오게 되겠지 (오게 되겠지)
함성 소리가 줄어든 무대를 내려와서
내 어깨가 처지면서 (어깨가 처지고)
고개가 떨궈질 때 (그때도) 내 옆에 (내 옆에)
니가 서 있을런지

내가 모든걸 잃어도 내 인기가 떨어져도
더 이상 노랠 못하고 다른 직업을 가져도
나라는 이유만으로 내 옆에 있어줄 수 있겠니
묻고 싶어

[English Translation]

Even if I lose everything, if my popularity drops
Even if I can’t sing, if I get a different job
Will you still be able to love me for who I am?

Do you know that who I am on screen isn’t really my everything? (Do you know?)
Do you know that my overflowing confidence makes me even more anxious? (Do you know?)
Standing under the flashing lights, there is a thick shadow behind me
Even if I lose everything, if my popularity drops
Even if I can’t sing, if I get a different job
Will you still be able to love me for who I am?

You say that you love me but
Am I really who you love? (Am I?)
You say that you fell for me but
Am I really the one who made you fall for me? (Am I?)
When you are in my arms, looking at me
I want to ask you these questions

Even if I lose everything, if my popularity drops
Even if I can’t sing, if I get a different job
Will you still be able to love me for who I am?

Someday, the day will come (the day will come)
I’ll come down from the stage where the cheers have decreased
As my shoulders droop down (shoulders droop down)
My head hung low (even then)
Will you stand by my side?

Even if I lose everything, if my popularity drops
Even if I can’t sing, if I get a different job
Will you still be able to love me for who I am?

I would like to ask you…

Korean Internet Lingo / Slang

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1) ㅋㅋㅋ  came from the word 크크크 (kekeke) which is the sound of laughter

2) ㅎㅎㅎ came from the word 하하하(hahaha) which is also the sound of laughter. You can also use 히히히(hehehe) 호호호(hohoho)

3) ㅠㅠ or ㅜㅜ resembles the crying emoticon

4) 애교 Aegyo : To be cute generally or act cute
     You can watch this video for more detailed explanation ^^
5) 대박 Daebak : Literally means big win, Hanja (大发) but this term is commonly means Awesome!
6) 파이팅 (Konglish: Fighting) / 화이팅 [홧팅-Some native korean would type this shortcut] : Cheer someone as a form of encouragement. Similar meaning with 加油 or all the best~

7) Adding ㅇ to the 받침 Final consonant of the word. Generally the younger generation will use this to make it sound more friendly, informal and cute.

Eg.  오빠! → 오빵!
       [용] Substitutes for ~요 at the end of sentences