Arirang TV has a VOD (Video on Demand) section for Let's Learn Korean. I had this one subscribed about 2 years back but simply due to the hallyu wave. Last week, yet again because of hallyu, I logged in albeit forgetting my id and password. I am so surprised that you could easily start speaking Korean if you watch this 10-minutes lesson video, even for a beginner like me.
They have Season 3 and the latest season 5 on the site. Season 5 engaged a few foreigners on the show to play Korean language games. Currently besides my ol' conventional by the book study, I definitely will listen to Arirang Let's Speak Korean at least 3 VOD lessons per day.
What?!! Free?? Hmmm...There's nothing as free in this world. No pain no gain right? Unbelievable but believe it or not, it is real. Pinch your cheek now...^^ Geumgang University is offering Spring or Autumn 4 months FREE Korean course in South Korea!!
OMFG!! ehehe...
Wait..I have never heard of this university before. What the heck..Guys, if you are really keen on learning korean language in this land of morning calm, why not grab this chance. Just save some money on that plane ticket and some shopping to do, shall we?
Applicants must be fluent speakers of English, Japanese, or Chinese, and they should either be:
(1) be currently enrolled in university studies, (2) be on leave from university studies, or (3) have graduated from university.
Successful applicant will be offered a furnished dormitory room, which is shared with a Korean student, and provided with free meals in the school cafeteria. Moreover, they will receive further financial support provided that they meet the scholarship regulations of the Geumgang Language Center.
Tempting? 빨리!!
I'm too late for Spring course though. Uwaa..autumn is such a nice season.
Lately Chuno drama is a craze in Korea, not to mention Malaysia too..hehe. I love Jang Hyuk's role here. Totally mind blowing with that sexy chocolate abs. Kekeke..The OST too lists several excellent numbers. Particularly, I like this song by Beige.
달에 지다
가슴이 울어도 나는 못가 서투른 몸짓도 더는 못해 고운 꽃하나를 향내듯 새들의 노랫소리도 머물다 이는 사라지는 한켠의 꿈일까 저 달이 슬피 운다 저달이 슬피 웃는다 헝클어진 그대 두눈처럼 내 시들어진 꿈처럼 바람이 불어온다 바람이 함께 늙는다 곱게 자람 꽃들도 다 별이되어 지는데 내 맘은 아직도 그 자리에 상처를 남기고 떠난 사랑 어설픈 미련이 나를 울려 어제의 찬란한 태양도 해맑게 웃던 모습도 한겨울 깊은 시름속에 묻혀진 꿈일까 저 달이 슬피 운다 저 달이 슬피 웃는다 헝클어진 그대 두 눈처럼 내시들어진 꿈처럼 바람이 불어온다 바람이 함께 늙는다 곱게 자란 꽃들도 다 별이되어 지는데 내 맘은 아직도 그자리에 바람이 불어온다 바람이 함께 늙는다 곱게 자란 꽃들도 다 별이되어 지는데 내 맘은 아직도 그 자리에 나나나나 나나 나나나나나나 나나나나 나나나 나나
Romanization:
ga seum i ur eo do na neun mot ga 가 슴 이 울 어 도 나 는 못 가 seo tu reun mom jit do deo neun mot hae 서 투 른 몸 짓 도 더 는 못 해 go un kkoc ha na reur hyang nae deus 고 운 꽃 하 나 를 향 내 듯 sae deur ui no raet so ri do 새 들 의 노 랫 소 리 도 meo mul da i neun sa ra ji neun han kyeon ui kkum il kka 머 물 다 이 는 사 라 지 는 한 켠 의 꿈 일 까
jeo dar i seul pi un da jeo dar i seul pi ut neun da 저 달 이 슬 피 운 다 저 달 이 슬 피 웃 는 다 heong keur eo jin geu dae du nun cheo reom 헝 클 어 진 그 대 두 눈 처 럼 nae si deur eo jin kkum cheo reom 내 시 들 어 진 꿈 처 럼 ba ram i bur eo on da ba ram i ham kke neulk neun da 바 람 이 불 어 온 다 바 람 이 함 께 늙 는 다 gop ge ja ran kkoc deul do da byeor i doe eo ji neun de 곱 게 자 란 꽃 들 도 다 별 이 되 어 지 는 데 nae mam eun a jik do geu ja ri e 내 맘 은 아 직 도 그 자 리 에
sang cheo reur nam gi go tteo nan sa rang 상 처 를 남 기 고 떠 난 사 랑 eo seol peun mi ryeon i na reur ul lyeo 어 설 픈 미 련 이 나 를 울 려 eo je ui chan ran han tae yang do hae malk ge ut deon mo seup do 어 제 의 찬 란 한 태 양 도 해 맑 게 웃 던 모 습 도 han gyeo ur gip eun si reum sog e mut hyeo jin kkum il kka 한 겨 울 깊 은 시 름 속 에 묻 혀 진 꿈 일 까
jeo dar i seul pi un da jeo dar i seul pi ut neun da 저 달 이 슬 피 운 다 저 달 이 슬 피 웃 는 다 heong keur eo jin geu dae du nun cheo reom nae si deur eo jin kkum cheo reom 헝 클 어 진 그 대 두 눈 처 럼 내 시 들 어 진 꿈 처 럼 ba ram i bur eo on da ba ram i ham kke neulk neun da 바 람 이 불 어 온 다 바 람 이 함 께 늙 는 다 gop ge ja ran kkoc deul do da byeor i doe eo ji neun de 곱 게 자 란 꽃 들 도 다 별 이 되 어 지 는 데 nae mam eun a jik do geu ja ri e 내 맘 은 아 직 도 그 자 리 에
ba ram i bur eo on da ba ram i ham kke neulk neun da 바 람 이 불 어 온 다 바 람 이 함 께 늙 는 다 gop ge ja ran kkoc deul do da byeor i doe eo ji neun de 곱 게 자 란 꽃 들 도 다 별 이 되 어 지 는 데 nae mam eun a jik do geu ja ri e 내 맘 은 아 직 도 그 자 리 에
na na na na na na na na 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 na na na na na na na na na na na na na 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나
Translation: Even if my heart cries, I can't go with my clumsy self. When the scent of a lovely flower lingers, and the birds' song is silenced, is this all a vanishing dream?
The moon is crying sadly, The moon is smiling sadly, Like your two teary eyes, Like my withering dreams. The wind is blowing, the wind blows together Even when the lovely flowers wilt and becomes stars My heart is still by your side.
The person who left behind pain My foolishness bring me to tears Like yesterday's radiant sun and your brilliant smile, is it all just a dream that's buried in the winter's sorrows?
The moon is crying sadly, The moon is smiling sadly, Like your two teary eyes, Like my withering dreams. The wind is blowing, the wind blows together Even when the lovely flowers wilt and becomes stars My heart is still by your side.
The wind is blowing, the wind blows together Even when the lovely flowers wilt and becomes stars My heart is still by your side.
The interesting part of eating Korean meal is probably the various banchan served with the main dish. It's totally different with malay cuisine where we only have 2-3 dishes on the table. Here in Jinbu, most days I would have at least 5 banchan to eat.
Today we have:
Ojingeochae bokkeum 오징어채볶음 - made by stir-frying dried shredded squid seasoned with a mixture of gochujang (chili pepper paste), garlics, and mulyeot (syrup-like condiment). It is eaten as anju (food to eat while drinking), and as banchan.
Dubu-jorim 두부조림 - tofu simmered in diluted soy sauce, a little bit of sesame oil, minced garlic, and chopped green onion.
Nabak kimchi 나박김치 - firmer and less spicy baechu (cabbage) and mu (radish) floating in pink watery brine
Geotjeori 겉절이 - freshly made kimchi to be eaten crisp without fermenting. Often made with baechu (cabbage).
It is not an easy feat. English is my second language and so are they. The harder part was that they learn English pretty late and you can't compare the rural and urban kids' english level. It's pretty rural here in Nodong-ri, Jinbu, Gangwondo. Most of the houses here would be either tending to their farms or guesthouse business. According to Nandida, all the resort/pension/motel/guesthouse here are catered to winter and as preparation for Winter Olympic 2018 bid in Pyeongchang. Wow...another 8 years!! I hope Kim Yu Na's popularity could boost the bid.
I don't expect much from my little students for a mere 2 hours of English everyday. It's simply unnerving when your student can't even remember the A-Z alphabet. Plus, they whine a lot when given exercise. That just blew my top off! Aigoo..but I came to realize: It is not an easy task to learn a language
It took me years to study Japanese and I still learn it until now. So my goals for this 3 months for them : 1. To have confidence seeing a foreigner and speak english 2. To broaden their vocabulary 3. To instill in them the value of learning continously
I had some glitches earlier on how to make the classes fun and enjoyable but internet has supported my syllabus incredibly. Kids like to listen to songs and appreciate colourful images. Thanks to these websites: 1. British Council - Learning English For Kids 2. Free ESL Flashcards
PS. It helps if you are interested in korean language/culture/entertainment before you teach korean kids. Sometimes, I sing/listen to the latest KPOP songs with them in class.
Have been receiving numerous questions on cheap airfare to and fro South Korea.
There are several option but the cheapest would be:
1. Fly via budget airways - Air Asia, Tiger Airways, Cebu Pacific, Jin Air 2. Book at least 3 to 6 months ahead 3. There will be no direct flight 4. Book during promotionand play around with the dates 5. Choose departing date on Tuesday/Wednesday and book ticket around 2 to 4 A.M. 6. Travel light - no heavy luggage please.
If you want to fly from Changi Airport, Singapore (for those staying in Johor)
1. Fly to Manila via Tiger Airways and take Cebu Pacific to Incheon 2. Fly to Incheon from Singapore via Cebu Pacific but you will need to stopover in Manila
PS. I am not related to Airasia/Jin Air/ Cebu Pacific/Tiger Airways in any way and not getting any commission for doing this ^^
PSS. I could not guarantee that you will be getting cheap tickets or less than RM2,000 but if you follow my advice the chance is higher.
My flight from KLIA took off at 23:30hrs on 17th Feb. It was a direct flight and the vessel was full. Nowadays the carrier consolidate their passengers to cut down the cost. Korean Airlines, Sri Lanka Airlines and Malaysia Airlines's passengers were grouped together.
We reached Incheon airport at 0650hrs. I took my time around 2 hours to surf the net, pick up my luggage and just enjoying the fact that I am now in South Korea again. ^^ hehehehe...
But this time, I went straight to Jinbu instead of painting the Seoul metropolis red. I will be studying Korean and teaching my host's kids English this time around.
I bought a limousine bus ticket 14,000 won to Dongseoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station, Line 2, Green). The ride set me off 1 hour.
Waited at platform 4B for my limousine bus no 11.
I was the only passenger in the bus at 0835hrs!! Yeahhhhhh...Although I slept the whole way. Once in DongSeoul bus terminal, I bought 11,900 won ticket to Jinbu for 2 hours and 30 minutes ride. The bus stopover at Jangpyeong
Found my last year's clothes still left intact..thanks to Angelica and she left us some Mango snack from Japan. Arigatou!!
Eating my packed peanuts.
KBS Music Bank..kekeke.
My room for the next 3 month! I didn't bring backpack this time but only a trolley bag..keke..
Tteokpokki for my lunch.
Some people camping outside my room before the winter ends.
Grrr...it's too cold for me to do that. I'd rather see. Thanks but no thanks!
I ate some fresh strawberries during our English class.
and oranges too.
My room is my class ^^
After 1 week staying in the house we finally walked out cause the temperature was 2 celcius today!
The ice is melting and we could smell the fresh air of upcoming spring. Can't wait! I want to visit Seorak mountain in spring...
Selca time..hehe.
In front of the late Lee Seung Bok's class.
Huhu..playing with the sledge in front of Lee Seung Bok's class.
Hae In playing with the old and tattered piano. I told her that she will dream of Lee Seung Bok's ghost playing the piano tonight..oooo..spooky.
