tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90134280976043487152011-08-01T17:06:43.656-07:00Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181981184337765256noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013428097604348715.post-46371869237647141532009-07-14T05:22:00.000-07:002009-07-14T05:32:56.990-07:00So I've been learning Korean for two weeks now and I really feel like I'm improving. I have been using those quizzes I mentioned i my last post, but bab.la has finally launched its <a href="http://bab.la/dictionary/english-korean/">English-Korean dictionary</a> now too :) !<br />I always find vocabulary learning hard, so hopefully this dictionary can help.<br /><br />Anyway, in order to practice my Korean I have decided to take a trip to Seoul this Christmas vacation! We have family over there you see. I wouldn't usually go, but I guess I was inspired by a <a href="http://sillysarah2222.livejournal.com/">blog</a> I read the other day about another American girl who's living in Korea now! How cool is that.<br /><br />I think flights are quite expensive though, so I will have to save up. The nail in the coffin for me was when I read about the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/07/s.korea.lee.charity/index.html?iref=newssearch">Korean president</a> on the CNN news website. He is donating 26 million dollars to charity! I can't wait to meet some Koreans, hopefully they will all be this generous!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9013428097604348715-4637186923764714153?l=jenniferkim1989.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181981184337765256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013428097604348715.post-51459032540359845862009-06-30T05:26:00.000-07:002009-06-30T05:50:18.711-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vaGPFqr-Msw/SkoJcJ-cdjI/AAAAAAAAAAM/2bxilAiSbfc/s1600-h/%ED%95%9C%EB%B3%B5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 81px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vaGPFqr-Msw/SkoJcJ-cdjI/AAAAAAAAAAM/2bxilAiSbfc/s200/%ED%95%9C%EB%B3%B5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353101486402074162" border="0" /></a><br />As you might have noticed from my last name, I am originally Korean - both of my parents are from Korea- though I have lived all my life in the United States. Whenever I was asked about my identity, I proudly answered "I am Korean." But then, people usually start to ask me to speak something in Korean. Then, I became embarrassed. Even though I can understand Korean- because my parents usually speak in Korean- I can not say more than very basic words in Korean. It is very disappointing and shame that you can not speak your own language when you admit that you are a Korean. Also, I am planning to go to Korea in this winter, and if I can't speak Korean when I look perfectly like Korean, people would regard me as a dumb. I don't want that to happen. Absolutely not. So, for this summer vacation, I decided to learn Korean- not only the language itself but also about Korean culture, music, life, and ideas. It's time for me to find the way to go back to my root.<br /><br />For some basic information about Korea - of course, South Korea - I searched through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea">Wikipedia.</a><br />In the middle of this page, you can see Bibimbap under the Cuisine section. That's one of my favorite foods from my mom! Today, I am gonna learn how to cook Bibimbap from mom. This page also explains about the Miracle of Han River - the great economic growth of South Korea. Now, what my parents used to tell me makes more sense ...<br /><br />Furthermore, what a good news! the website I usually visit as an online dictionary for English and German, bab.la, recently launched Korean version. Though it doesn't have Korean-English dictionary yet, it still contains several <a href="http://bab.la/test_train.php">Korean-English quizzes</a>.<br /><br />I also ordered some <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wheres-Baby-Korean-Cheryl-Christian/dp/1932065806/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1246366191&amp;sr=8-2">Korean Kids book</a> to study Korean. I have two perfect Korean Native Speaker as my tutors - my parents! I have books, online quizzes, and basic information!<br />I am all ready to start studying!! :) Yay!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9013428097604348715-5145903254035984586?l=jenniferkim1989.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181981184337765256noreply@blogger.com0