A parking garage attacked me.
I lost.
We begin. This time by choice, not timing or circumstance.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
KIIP Korean Language Classes
So, it's started and it's not half bad.
Every Sunday for 8-9 hours I will study Korean
via the KIIP program offered by the Korean government.
These classes are free.
Yes, that's right.
If you take the KIIP program intro test,
you can learn Korean for free from fantastic instructors.
Here is what it looks like when you log in after you take your exam:
As you can see I'm in Beginner 2.
Now, don't let the term beginner trick you here.
Beginner 2 is taught entirely in Korean.
It means you are functional in the language,
but not able to do many advanced things.
After you find your level, they give you a list of places
offering up the courses you need
on different schedules
in different locations.
I chose the 9 hours every Sunday class.
The students and the teachers are all very nice.
The only language we have in common is Korean
so you must talk and listen or it's going to be pretty tough.
Right now, I'm studying with
two Chinese men and a Vietnamese woman
which has meant the insides scoop on great food.
Finally I know where to get amazing Pho.
Right now, I'm studying with
two Chinese men and a Vietnamese woman
which has meant the insides scoop on great food.
Finally I know where to get amazing Pho.
That isn't the only perk
to studying with people from many countries.
In the past, it's been too easy for me to wuss out
and just fill in the holes with English.
In these classes I've gotta stick to my guns.
It's Korean or nothing.
Of course, the biggest benefit
to completing this language program
is that it gives you all 15 or more language points
for your F-2-7 points visa.
Yah, that's right.
If you go all the way through this program
and pass the language test,
no TOPIK exam results needed.
Go straight to 15 or more points.
BAM.
That's what I'm talking about.
OTHER KIIP POSTS
OTHER KIIP POSTS
Friday, June 14, 2013
Harri-bou, a short story.
 |
| Harry |
He is amazing.
남자는 너무 멋지다.
He followed me to Korea.
그는 미국부터 한국 까지 나를 따라왔어요.
He did not complain.
그는 불평 하지 않았어요.
He is only happy.
그는 행복해요.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Go Stop
 |
| Uly is the best. Always willing to enjoy the moment. |
As I sat in an old countryside shop playing Go Stop with the shopkeepers cards, I realized how far away my arrival here seems.
Gone are the days of open eyed wonder. Now Korea and I are like an married couple, sitting qietly together on a Sunday afternoon watching life peacefully pass us by.
Maybe I should want more, but I just can't find the time. There are games to be played, meals to eat, and friends to meet. I spent enough of my life on the go, now I just want to stop.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Testing My Nerves - Taking the KIIP Exam
After living here a few years,
I've gotten it into my head
that I need to get my hands on
Is this a critically important thing to have?
No, it is not.
It does, however, come with perks.
I like perks.
GETTING STARTED WITH KIIP
You do this by going to this website: www.socinet.go.kr and signing up for the evaluation exam. You will need to make an account in order to register. Also, you will most likely find issues using the website unless you are using internet explorer. Even if you know Korean we HIGHLY recommend having a Korean help you with signing up and registering. The website has many error messages for all sorts of things and it can be quite frustrating to navigate - even for Koreans themselves.
Once you have signed up, you will need to print out a copy of your "Registration Ticket" and take it to the exam with you. You also need your Alien Registration Card. You will show them these two items to confirm you "Number" that is listed on a big sheet outside your testing area. You will sit in a seat with that same number.
The test itself is two parts. The first part is like a mini TOPIK exam. It starts out easy and gets harder and harder. My Korean level is not that high so I only go through 2/3 of the test before the time was up. The longer the paragraphs got the more I was confused. I'm pretty stoked about free classes to help get my Korean to the next level.
After the written, you will be taken to another classroom where you will take the spoken part of the exam. They will test you in reading ability, reading comprehension, listening and speaking. (This is where I totally, epically bombed some things.)
They will call you out of the big room in small groups of 4-5 and you will all sit at a table across from some examiners and they will have you read and easy section of Korean. Then they will ask you about what you read as well as some personal questions. The section is actually very easy to understand and so are their questions about it and you.
Once that is finished you wait a week to find out what classes they have assigned you to and where you will take those classes. I have my fingers crossed that I won't have to repeat the entire first part of Korean because of another ridiculous "I Love Lucy" moment.
OTHER KIIP POSTS
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