korean language immersion report · lesson where we learnt korean through the drama, secret garden....
TRANSCRIPT
Korean Language Immersion Report Low Jia Min A0115244R
For three weeks in July 2014, I attended the Korean Language Immersion Programme at
Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. During the three weeks, I had to attend lessons at the
Korean Language Institute (KLI) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. with each hour focusing on grammar,
speaking and listening skills. Although most of the grammars taught were covered in Korean
1 and 2 in NUS, it was a good opportunity for us to revise them and apply it during our stay
in Korea. In addition, we were also taught many useful vocabularies as well as phrases that
we will need to speak while in Korea.
Korean Language Institute – Muak Dormitory – Korean Lessons
Cheap meals from KLI’s cafeteria (~4,000won)
Once a week, we had cultural activities after lessons. For the first week, we went to Kimchi
World to make our own kimchi and learnt how to cook kimchi pancake. We even got to keep
our handmade kimchi! For the second week, we had an enriching story-telling tour along the
Seoul City Wall where we got to know the cultural aspects of Seoul. Lastly, we had a special
lesson where we learnt Korean through the drama, Secret Garden. It was a very fun session
because we were not only taught how to converse like a Korean, we also learnt the lyrics to
the OST, Appear (나타나) by 김범수 and all of us sang it together!
Korean Language Immersion Report Low Jia Min A0115244R
Cultural activities: Kimchi World – Seoul City Wall
The immersion programme also allowed us to interact with many Koreans. First of all, we
met our buddies during the first week and got to know each other from there. My buddy,
despite being fluent in English, communicated with me mostly in Korean except for the
times when I did not understand. We met up a few times during the three weeks and she
was very helpful in bringing me to places as well as exposing me to the culture, language
and food. She introduced me to jjimdak which is now one of my favourite Korean foods!
Cheese jjimdak from Hongdae
Aside from a Korean buddy, we also spent a weekend with a Korean homestay family. The
weekend spent with my homestay family is definitely the most memorable and interesting
part of the trip! Although my homestay family knows very limited English, we still managed
Korean Language Immersion Report Low Jia Min A0115244R
to chat a lot and I learnt many things from them. I also experienced the Korean way of life
while staying with them such as having a home-cooked Korean meal, sleeping under two
blankets with the lighter one on top for warmth as well as being a noona to the two lively
sons. We visited many places together such as Insadong and Changdeokgung Palace. I am
really thankful for their warm hospitality and I hope to have a chance to meet them again!
A weekend with homestay family
There were also many other instances where I interacted with Koreans during my stay such
as when ordering food, buying clothes or telling taxi drivers the directions. Hence, the
immersion programme was a good opportunity for me to put what I learnt into practice.
As classes ended around noon, we had ample of time to explore Seoul on our own. Together
with my friends, we managed to visit many places such as Everland, Seoul Forest, Seoul N
tower, Hangang Park, Banpo rainbow bridge, the various palaces as well as all the popular
shopping spots like Edae, Express Bus Terminal, Myeongdong and Hongdae. What I will
definitely miss a lot from Korea is the food! From the mouth-watering and cheap street
foods to the delicious samgyupsal, dakgalbi and army stew, it was always tough deciding on
what to eat for our lunch or dinner because there were too many to choose from.
Korean Language Immersion Report Low Jia Min A0115244R
With the help of my friend’s buddy, we ordered pizza and chicken delivery and had a picnic
by the Han River. It was a unique experience as we watched the rainbow fountain show as
well as other street performances while eating. One will never go hungry in Korea as food is
always available 24/7. Our late night supper always involves kyochon chicken or jjajangpong
delivery.
This summer was spent meaningfully in Korea with many beautiful memories forged. I am
glad that I signed up for this programme as it is an experience of a lifetime where I not only
enjoyed myself as a tourist; I also immersed myself with the locals’ way of life.
Learning Korean in NUS has definitely exposed me to more opportunities and I hope that
students who are interested in joining this programme in the future will enjoy it as much as
my friends and I did.
Be open-minded and try all the street food!
Korean Language Immersion Report Low Jia Min A0115244R
Don’t be afraid to take buses
because sometimes they are much
more convenient (and cheaper) than
subways.
Admire the flora and fauna as it is
always a sight to behold- you can
never find pretty flowers like these
in Singapore!
And all these cute animals…
Also, some
Korean
foods are
beyond spicy
though they
may not
seem so