Korean Like a Pro

Filed as: Living in Korea // Responses: 62

We get a bunch of questions from people asking us how to learn Korean, and – more specifically – how long it took us to become fluent in Korean. We’re ashamed to say this, but our Korean sucks. We know enough to get by in Korean, and have basic, basic conversations, but we can’t really talk in Korean in depth. Ask us where the supermarket is, and we might be able to get you there. Ask us what we think Marcel Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time,” and the best we can probably say is “Very big! Like it very much!” (Which will probably result in a “that’s what she said” comment in Korean). On a side note, are there “That’s what she said!” jokes in Korean? If not, there should be.

Anyhow, back to us being ashamed at our poor Korean, we have legitimate excuses, really! Before we came to Korea we knew nothing about webdesign or blogging or video editing at all. Nothing. We just picked it all up here in Korea. So, now that we’re a bit more comfortable with it, we feel like we can start putting our efforts into learning Korean rather than learning WordPress or Final Cut (even though we’re not experts in either).

So here’s the plan: we’re going to practice a bit more Korean on camera, hopefully in a fun way, and document Korean as we learn it. These videos aren’t going to be definitive guides to learning Korean. They’re just us being silly. Hopefully, though, you might learn a Korean phrase or two and laugh at us while you’re at it. We don’t mind being laughed at. Also, we plan on enrolling in some proper courses in Korean in the future, and hopefully by then we’ll be able to be a little more informative. Ha! Aaaaaand, if you haven’t already done so, sign up for our newsletter. We give weekly updates to the site, and we also offer a Korean phrase of the week that we pick up from students. Huzzah!

As always, JB and Annie from [ë‹‰ì‘¤] Enjoy Your Happy Life~* are awesome for so diligently translating all of our videos into Korean. I imagine this video is a lot easier for them to translate now, though, but maybe Korean people still need our captions because our pronunciation is so awful.

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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001767777193 Kim LyndaKey

why is so short? and it's a bit fast too…..can't really catch up……so yarh….
1234

lol @simon's wig
and your' korean is very good~ also…i'm in namgu, but you guys got a lot more snow
kjh4him

Simon and Martina,

I'm a Korean born american living in the states… and I just love your video's. ~
I'm just amazed how you knew nothing about "webdesign or blogging or video editing", not to mention Korean…
You two are just amazing!… Keep up the amazing work you do on this site…
You have my deepest respect as a teacher as well…
http://www.facebook.com/mysticdavidsparks David Sparks

Hahahah! This is awesome. I especially enjoyed Martina's Canadian mittens, they were quite popular as gifts from the Canadians down here in Cheongju this past year. I think even a few folks from Mi-guk got some as secret Santa gifts. Hahah. Way to go!
Bo-Ra

Hey guys!! I really have to say that I loooooove your blog, the two of you are so funny and sweet! Furthermore you helped me alot concerning my preparations for korea (leaving europe in 17 days for an internship in Seoul) and watching your videos make me soooooo excited!!
xoxo, Bora
Miyuki

That's exactly the same thing what my friend and I did in Japan. The locals there expects foreigners not knowing how to speak their language and when you do, they like praise you.
Tae-Hyoung Kim

Your pronounciation isn't bad at all! Where did that come from?! Anyhow, I'm Korean born in Korea and I am here to say to you "You guys rock!"
Consuelo

Great Idea! I think this is my favourite of your videos!!! (maybe 'cause I can understand ahahahah, my english is not good. My korean too but I can understand basic) Martina playing the foreing girl is wonderflull ! her expressivity jinja jinja hangugeyo!!!! I aspect the other video Korean like a Pro!!!! You are great!!!!!!!!
eLLen

This IS Dae-Baak! So freakin funny… Loved Simon's 70's hairstyle!
shalyn

This is amazing. I really want to learn Korean, but I don't really have anywhere to do so. Keep this up! And I have a suggestion, could you also put the english-ified (romanization(?)) Korean words as well? You both spoke the Korean quickly, so I couldn't catch some syllables. I can't wait for part 2!
yun

How CUTE!!!!!
Rachel

You guys are so cute and AMAZING!
haha your koreans not bad, better than mine by a longshot! XD
keep up the good work
Oh, and I was wondering what kind of lens you have?
HAN

omg! translation is great! you two guys really make me laugh!^^
zeroe

lol SO FUNNY!

I speak korean much much much better than english and this is nothing important at all, but I think "dae-bak" feels more like "wicked(like Ron says in Harry Potter)" than "super cool".

queendafty

The Korean language only has so many letters, and only so many words that describe what you are trying to say. So, one word can mean many different things, depending on the context. Translating into English you can choose from many interpretations but you have to choose what’s most appropriate for what you meant.

JiMin K

It's Soooooooooooooooo Funny!!!!
Hey! Martina! You just shaking your hand to Saimon. X) When you met old man, You'd better not shake your hand, and also you can't use "í—(her) or ëŒ€ë°•(Dae Back)" etc…
http://twitter.com/Suseet812 @Suseet812

Hahahaha very cool xD
Yano

Haha if you ever go to China, just a warning, there’s intonation in the language, so everyone will probably can tell you’re a foreigner. But still, you could ask us some conversational phrases.
queendafty

Hey Simon, I totally agree. I’ve taught in an international school and have had about 20 private students…a lot of them i still talk to and spend time with them when I return to Korea each year. The time you build outside of class time is amazing and it makes moments you remember forever.
http://www.facebook.com/james.hur James Jeong-ho Hur

y am i addicted to this??? bahaha u guys rock
Byeonguk Yook

LOL. This could make a great infomertial for selling “Teach Yourself Korean”.
eunae sung

[email protected] lean korean conversation by msn
clementina mwambene

this was cool, i loved it..BUT do you guys know where i can get kimchi here in USA, I live in Kirks-ville , MO… We do not have lots of Asian Grocery stores…