Honestly, the most important thing in your target language isn’t to memorize all the vocabulary or grammar bits.
It’s the ability to describe and talk your way around words you don’t know because 95% of the time you can’t pull out a dictionary mid-conversation.
I literally use this in nearly every conversation I have in my non-native languages, but particularly in French. It was totally indispensable when I first moved to France 5.5 months ago, but it’s still something I do nearly every day.
Sometimes it’s just rephrasing slightly when you don’t have the right word and sometimes it’s launching into a longish, semi-convoluted explanation of a concept or object.
It seems really hard at first because sometimes you don’t feel as if you don’t even have the words for THAT, but remember that the most important thing isn’t always using the perfect words or perfect grammar—the most important thing is getting your meaning across. And sometimes you’ll have to create odd sentences to explain what you’d normally be able to say in a single word in your native language, and that’s totally okay and it’s honestly a super important skill to work on.
For me, even when I don’t have the right word, if I can still get my meaning across without a real problem (and sometimes learn the word I was aiming for!), then I still feel more confident in my language skills and speaking doesn’t feel so scary.
Even if you’re alone and you don’t have anyone to converse with, you can start by just describing random things around you without using the actual word. Definitely my #1 most used language skill.
this is called circumlocution btw. 10/10 would recommend.
I do this all the time and also my non-English speaking friends have to do this with me all the time as well!
Even if I’m talking with someone who does English, if I am committing to practicing Korean during that conversation, I will just keep speaking Korean until the other person understands rather than switch to saying the much shorter word/phrase in English.
Tag: language learning
So I’ve been studying 2 languages Spanish and Korean for about a year and I feel like a neglect Korean and I’m still at a beginner level and every Time I try to go back to my Korean study books I feel lost and can’t remember what I know and don’t know . So if you could help me with some advice to place or have any advice for me
Hi! I’ve never studied two languages at once so I’m not sure how well I can advise you, but I know there are lots of tips online and on language blogs about studying multiple languages. Probably even a few langblrs about studying both Korean and Spanish, so look those up. It sounds like you just need to be a bit more consistent with your Korean studies so you don’t forget things. I would usually recommend a ‘little and often’ approach to studying, so try to get some Korean in every day/every other day/every week etc. even if it’s only something really small. If your Spanish is at a higher level you could try learning Korean through Spanish so you can practice both, or every time you study Spanish you could learn a bit of Korean on the same topic.
If anyone else has more advice on learning multiple languages please let us know!
Chrome app and extensions for Korean/other language learners.
ReadLang (app) is AWESOME. Read an article of your choice or one from their library (some even have videos for audio) and click on the words you don’t know. Translations are automatically generated so you have to allow for them being incorrect sometimes. It can show dictionary entries as you read and will add words you clicked on to your flashcard deck. Korean is still in Beta but looks good. ReadLang Web Reader also lets you translate words on any webpage.
Whilst I’m here I’ll mention a couple of chrome extensions I use:
1. Toktogi (똑똑이) Korean-English pop-up dictionary. Hover over Korean words on any page to see definitions. Automatically generated translations are sometimes incorrect.
2. Flewent. A certain percentage of words on any page are translated into your target language. You can then hover over them for the definitions. (also Lingua.ly seems better but this doesn’t have Korean yet). Automatically generated translations are sometimes incorrect. You have to be especially careful with this because it translates words out of context.
3. FlashTabs. Create a set of flashcards and view one every time you open a new tab.
SPONGE MIND: podcast for language learning in Korean and English.
Not sure how many of you have seen this already, but I thought I’d share. It’s a spoken word poetry video where Stephanie Yun calls out Koreaboos and their appropriation of the Korean language. And the conclusion is fantastic:
“So, to the f**kers who insist that they’re just appreciating my culture:
Stop treating our language like merchandise from your favourite TV show
Being able to read English subtitles does not make it yours to keep
If you earnestly care about our culture,
Tie up the loose ends in your understanding
And trim the fragmented scraps from your tongue by taking the time to learn our language properly”
Sutdy-Korean 