30 June 2012

Mandarin, Korean Language & I

I went to Inter-Cultural Language School (ICLS) at Fahrenheit88 last week to know more about language program that they offer with my colleague.

Actually, I went there to ask about part time Mandarin (Speaking) class. Yeah. You don't misread the sentence - it's Mandarin. Not Korean. But...please continue reading. :)

Before this I took Mandarin language class in my university but only for level 1. So, I basically know a few Chinese words but I really don't have confident speaking Mandarin because of different intonation to pronounce the word.

But I do think that Mandarin is easier than Korean.

I've told you that I, once, took Mandarin class in my university, right? In the same semester too, I took Korean language (level 1)! Hah. Two language classes in one semester. I tell you what, it's pretty hard for me to catch up two languages that absolutely different from my native language.

That was the time when I realize that Mandarin is easier than Korean language even though the pronounciation is hard to reach perfectness (for me). Once you remember the chinese character, you already can make full sentence with 5 - 6 characters only.

For example:
I go to school
wo qu xuexiao

4 characters only. I was always in a good mood to go to my Mandarin class because I can catch up with the lessons even though I joined the class 3 weeks late than other students.


But for Korean language, I have to learn the unfamiliar 41 alphabets for about a month or so. Then I learn syllable and learn how to combine the syllable to form a word. After that, I learn the rule of the word with batchim and how to pronounce it if meet certain alphabets in the next syllable. Finally learn how to form a sentence.

Everytime my seongsaengnim make the student do spelling test, I stressss like Kang Gary. Haha. The spelling test was just like english/malay spelling test in primary school but...it's hard.

You must wonder how is the spelling test right?

This is how the test was done.

First, my seongsaengnim will say 10 words in Korean and I will write down the possibility of how the words can be written. It's quite difficult to differentiate the 어 and 오 sound. I also don't know whether the word have batchim or not!

Next round, seongsaengnim will say 10 english words and I will translate it to Korean language and write it down. Again using my assumption to spell. -.-

*****
About the ICLS, I end up sitting for Korean language level test on that day. :) I will give the details of Korean language class that they have in the next post because this post is too long and mix with other stories. Mianhae.
*****
That is my story how I learn other languages that are absolutely different from mine. Korean language is pretty hard for me in the beginning but I did really well in the Level 2 class! :) So, if you have passion in learning any other language, just go for it and do your best.

09 June 2012

4 Things To Do In Korea


It might be because of few people that are so dear to my heart, cough* heechul *cough* jaejoong *cough...the list still going on, that make me love almost everything about Korea.
Because I can't get enough of the culture, the history, the places, the people, the food and the development of this nation I might spend several years living in Korea to experience all that few years from now.

But for now, let's be realistic. Let say if I have less than a week to travel in Korea. Here my 4 Things To Do in Korea if and only if I have a flight ticket (round trip ticket, of course) to Korea, I will...

Technology

photo: cut from Running Man (Ep. 87)
Korea Job World was opened on 15th May 2012 and was built to assist children and youth for their future by giving them a chance to experience all type of jobs. The admission fee for children & teenager (4-18 years) is 3000원 (~RM9) and adult (19 years & above) is 4000원 (~RM12). As far as I understand, this Job World is open daily from 9am - 7pm (6.30pm on weekend & public holiday).


4D Movie Theater
photo: Korea Job World homepage

Flight simulation
photo: Korea Job World homepage

Nature Adventure
2. Ride Nami Skyline ZipWire to go to Nami Island (English | Korea)

Like this!
Entering Nami Island like a boss :D




Rice Cake Heaven
3. Eat ddeokbokki, ddeokbokki, and more ddeok (떡) dishes!

I love the rice cake.

Train Travel
4. Go to random places in Korea by train.

I always wish I can travel around the world by train. I think it is classic and unique. Well, if I can't travel around the world at least I can travel by train in 5 different countries.

That's it for my list.

Time to answer the question.

The answer is:
i) Kyunghee University

ii) Ilsan Lake Park

This post is written for Korea Plaza contest. Please Like, Share and Tweet this post. Thank you. 감사합니다.

06 June 2012

Belajar Bahasa Korea - Penjodoh Bilangan

안녕 :)

Seperti yang dijanjikan, Belajar Bahasa Korea - Penjodoh Bilangan untuk ruangan Belajar Bahasa Korea kali ini. Sistem nombor yang digunakan adalah native number (하나, 둘, 셋, 넷...)

1. Umur (tahun)
Sistem native number + 살 (sal).
Contoh:
1 (하나) + 살 = 살 (han sal)
2 () + 살 = 살 (du sal)
3 () + 살 = 살 (sae sal)
4 () + 살 = 살 (nae sal)
5 (다섯) + 살 = 다섯 살 (daseot sal)

*Nombor 1-4, nombor tersebut akan disimplifykan menjadi seperti contoh di atas.

2. Jam
Rujuk post sebelum ini tentang masa - Mengira Masa dalam Bahasa Korea.

Contoh:
지금 몇 시예요? (chigem myeot shi yae yo?)
Pukul berapa sekarang?

Pukul 12:15
(시 - jam; 분 - minit)
열두 (yeol-du) + 시 (shi) ; 십오 (shib-o) + 분 (bun)

열두 시 십오분이에요.
yeoldu-shi shib-o-buniyeyo.



3. Jam (Tempoh)
Perbezaan antara jam (tempoh) ini dengan jam no. 2 di atas ialah - 시간 (shigan) / jam digunakan bila korang memberitahu tempoh masa untuk sesuatu perbuatan.

Contoh:

집에서 학교까지 얼마나 걸려요?
jibaeseo hakgyokaji eolmana keollyeoyo?
Berapa lama (jauh) dari rumah ke sekolah?

한 시간 걸려요.
han shigan keollyeoyo.
1 jam perjalanan dari rumah ke sekolah.

4. Penjodoh bilangan (umum)

개 - gae

개 digunakan sebagai penjodoh bilangan bagi sesuatu yang tidak mempunyai penjodoh bilangan yang khusus seperti yang terdapat di dalam post kali ni.

개 boleh digunakan untuk buah-buahan, makanan, dan erm..apa lagi ye?

Contoh:

사과 세개 주세요
sagwa sae-gae jusaeyo
Sila beri saya 3 biji epal

--------------------------
Mana lagi penjodoh bilangan yang lain?
Tunggu~ :D