For the second class, we continued our discussion with numbers and had a little verbal test with respect to them. The test basically included all the concepts I learned with numbers (time, month, date, age, height, weight) and I was able to consolidate my knowledge. Then, we started to talk about the Korean Alphabet to consolidate the foundation for future study. The Korean alphabet consists of 14 letters for basic consonants and 10 letters for basic vowels. In addition, there are compound letters, each made up of two basic letters.
Indicated in the above table, the left column is the 14 consonants in Korean, and the top row includes the 10 vowels in Korean. It wasn't hard to memorize them as there are certain patterns that exist to help memorization. After that, we also talked about the structure and pronunciation of Korean syllables.
Syllables are always constructed beginning with a consonant, and then a vowel follows. The syllable could stop here, or there could be another vowel, or consonant, or both. The syllable begins with the initial consonant on the left or top, and the vowel(s) and other consonants follow to the right or bottom. For example:
가 where ㄱ "k" is the consonant, and ㅏ "ah" is the vowel. It is pronounced "Kah".
고 where ㄱ "k" is the consonant, and ㅗ "oh" is the vowel. It is pronounced "Koh".
When constructing syllables, always move from left to right and top to bottom. This is the same for reading. Sound out the initial consonant and then the following vowel(s), making it flow into the other ending consonant(s) if any. It's just like reading in English. Read left to right, sounding out each letter. Then move on to the next syllable. Words are separated by spaces, and syllables are right next to each other. Again, just like in English.
달 where ㄷ "t" is the consonant, and ㅏ "ah" is the vowel, followed by another consonant, ㄹ "l". It is pronounced "Tahl".
돌 where ㄷ "t" is the consonant, and ㅗ "oh" is the vowel, followed by another consonant, ㄹ "l". It is pronounced "Tohl".
Also, we had our group meeting on Monday that was about watching a Korean drama called "Reply 1994". This television series follows the historically and culturally significant events that happened in the country between 1994 and the years that follow, including the emergence of seminal K-pop group Seo Taiji and Boys, the Sampoong Department Store collapse and the birth of the Korean Basketball League. This television series is very entertaining while containing deep meanings. It tells a lot about the historical events and cultural events from a very unique perspective: Set in 1994, six university students from various provincial areas of South Korea live together at a boarding house in Seoul, which is run by a couple with a daughter. I was able to see how people from the countryside were able to get used to the life in a big city like Seoul at that time.
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