What's left to try?

I have tried for about 4 years or more to find a way to learn Korean.  I have taught myself some via the internet (and people over the internet) as well as a dictionary, other books and a program the local library had.  I've heard Rosetta Stone is good, but for the amount of money it costs I'm not sure it would be good enough to teach me.  I have tried to find locals. 

I've left voicemails for the churches that are about an hour from our home (the closest ones) and I've received no calls back.  I've asked around too.  I've left messages with a couple of Korean ladies that work and own a couple of restaurants here.  Neither has time or interest in teaching, but they've been unable to find anyone either.  I finally asked one lady a couple of weeks ago if she knows about how many Koreans there were in our small town and she thought about 15 or so.  WOW!

So, I'm left with no alternatives.  We did have one offer, but it was way more than we could afford.  I get so bummed from time-to-time about this.  It's not just learning for my kids, it's learning for me.  I'm interested.  I can translate the characters, but so much of the grammar is lost on me with honorifics, etc.  Tenses tend to get me too.  I don't ever pretend to expect to be fluent.  I just want to understand enough to get around if I have to.  Especially when we return in a couple of years.  I'm looking so forward to this.  My 13 and 7 year olds have taken an interest and would like to learn too.  I'm able to teach them what little I know, but it's not enough. 

The only thing that gets said on a daily basis is saranghaeyo.  The girls and I (7 and 4) say this to each other every night.  A big part of me hopes that someone will be put in my path to help us.  But, for now, I relent.

Lisa

Comments

[A. Park]

HI Lisa,

Sorry to hear you are going through that. I recently learned about an online community site called meetup.com. I myself just joined the Korean language/Culture group. Although I have not yet gone to a meeting I understand it's a group of people who speak/understand varying levels of the Korean language and then they meet to teach/learn the language more effectively.

Do a search for Korean Language or Korean Culture in your area and you might get lucky and find a meetup group that already exists which you can join and meet with other like minded people. Otherwise you might want to consider starting a group of your own and hope that other people want to join.

Good Luck!

www.meetup.com

[Jen Soo]

Hi Lisa,

So sorry to hear about that. I wish I could teach you! I've been through the learning process and it was really difficult even when I am living in Korea and forced to listen/use Korean every single minute. I am not sure of any organisations in the US but as a language learner myself, I can say that as long as you persevere and don't think of giving up, you will reach your goal one day. I hope you will be able to find many Korean friends because it is when you are in the environment that you will be able to pick it up fast. <3

[lisa]

Thanks for the meetup idea. I did look into it, but there are no groups withing 2 hours of here, so not very feasible for a girl with 5 kiddos. I'm on a couple of different online learning venues and have gotten a little better, but sometimes I get things changed via preference, but then after asking someone else if I translated correct I am closer. So, as in English, Korean is obviously preferential. Oy! I will keep trying, but only because, as my mother says, I am extremely stubborn! :)

[Helen]

Hi Lisa,
Randomly found this site and had to comment on your story. I'm a Korean adoptee and I just wanted to let you know I think your efforts are amazing. Neither of my parents tried to learn Korean. What you're trying to do is seriously awesome and I wish my parents had had the interest you did. I have spent time trying to learn it myself but haven't really kept up with it. But I encourage you and your daughters to stick with it as much as you can. Are any local colleges near you offering classes?? I guess you would have looked into that already. But just a thought. GOOD LUCK!!

[Lisa]

Thanks Helen. For now I have to be happy with internet learning, but I will continue to try to pick up something here and there as time allows. I had hopes of speaking a little before our whole family goes back in 3 years, but am not sure that's really possible. I should be happy that I even understand the characters, I guess. Thank you for your support. There's nothing better at night than when I close the girls' door and I hear saranghaeyo.

[Raash]

Hi Lisa, love the web site thus far, thank you! I am 51 years old, and have been playing on and off since I was 11 years old. As a kid I took lenssos for a couple of years, learned how to read music but wasn't satisfied as I wanted to play the songs that were on the radio. I learned how to play chords, would buy books from my favorite bands/musicians like America, Neil Young, the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkle etc and I would sing. For many years my guitars were my best friend as I traveled the world while in the Military. I lost interest for probably 10 years or so when I got out and have now re-gained a passion to play. I sold my old Gibson ES 330 a couple of years ago and bought a Fender Amercian Strat, I still have my 1970 s Takamine acoustic and most recently bought my new baby (Taylor 814CE) which I absolutely love. Of course now my passion to play is different. I no longer want to play just chords and sing. With my Strat I wanted to get into the blues. I learned the Minor Pentatonic scales and some licks but seem to be in what you would call Pentatonic jail. I feel stagnant. Having my new Taylor I want desparately to learn finger style. I have picked up some stuff on You Tube ie. Travis picking, some Stephan Grossman blues stuff but I want to play special music. Honestly I want to play for God. How should I practice? What should I practice? How do I learn? Do I continue to pick up licks on line or should I find a song to learn? Are there any video's or books that you would recommend? I do love the way you play and sing, and I value your input. God is always good, Joe

[Maggie]

Essays like this are so important to broadening pelpoe's horizons.

[Cassandra]

Smack-dab what I was looknig for-ty!

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