Dive into the poetic depths of the Korean language with Episode 53 of the Essential Korean Podcast, where we unravel the complexities of 'ㅆ을까'—a grammatical form that captures the poignant musings of past choices and the bittersweet tang of what might have been. In this episode, we embark on an auditory odyssey through the landscapes of cinema and the rhythmic narratives of K-pop. First, we dissect a poignant scene from a beloved Korean movie, parsing the emotion and intent behind 'ㅆ을까'. Then, we groove to the beat of Psy's evocative song '어땠을까', unpacking the layers of retrospective longing w ..read more

Dive into the poetic depths of the Korean language with Episode 53 of the Essential Korean Podcast, where we unravel the complexities of 'ㅆ을까'—a grammatical form that captures the poignant musings of past choices and the bittersweet tang of what might have been. In this episode, we embark on an auditory odyssey through the landscapes of cinema and the rhythmic narratives of K-pop. First, we dissect a poignant scene from a beloved Korean movie, parsing the emotion and intent behind 'ㅆ을까'. Then, we groove to the beat of Psy's evocative song '어땠을까', unpacking the layers of retrospective longing w ..read more

Transcript and Key Lesson Points - - - In this episode, we explore unique Korean verbs that are associated with the preparation of traditional dishes such as kimchi 김치, jjigae 찌개, namul 나물, and more. This episode introduces the verbs in a fun and interactive way, using vivid imagery and repetition for a memorable learning experience. You'll not only learn how to converse about making these iconic dishes but also gain deeper insights into the culture surrounding them. Additionally, stay tuned till the end for an exciting update about our website. Let's get started! --- Welcome to the Essentia ..read more

Transcript & Key Lesson Points - - -  In this episode, we'll cover one of the question words, which is long overdue because we had an episode, Episode 3, on basic questions such as 뭐예요 (what is it), 언제예요 (when is it), 어디예요 (where is it), 누구예요 (who is it), and 얼마예요 (how much is it). Yet, it's not until today’s episode, Episode 51, that we introduce the crucial question word for numbers, 몇! We'll delve into this important question word and learn how to use it by 1) discussing some key concepts and 2) practicing them with situational examples, set in a nice Korean barbecue restaurant!&n ..read more

Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. We’ve created the Essential Korean membership to help provide a complete set of tools to elevate your Korean to the next level. Check that out on our website, along with my weekly newsletter, at essentialkorean.com! --- In today’s episode, we’ll discuss 1) the difference between the Korean "you" and the English "you" and 2) how to address people you're talking to in Korean.  This is the topic many of you have requested, and ..read more

* If you liked the content of our podcast, please visit our website, essentialkorean.com, to check out the newly launched Essential Korean Podcast Course and our structured courses, along with other useful resources! --- In today’s episode, we’ll discuss 1) the difference between the Korean "you" and the English "you" and 2) how to address people you're talking to in Korean.  This is the topic many of you have requested, and I am very happy that I finally got to it and am sharing it with you.   Are you ready to tackle this topic? Let’s dive right in - it’ll be fun and culturally ..read more

Lesson Recap & Transcript * If you liked the content of our podcast, please visit our website, essentialkorean.com, to check out the newly launched Essential Korean Podcast Course and our thoughtfully presented courses, along with other resources!   - - -  In this episode, we will learn the pattern most frequently used in daily conversation to express what 'I' or 'we' wants in Korean.    ..read more

Lesson Recap & Transcript * If you liked the content of our podcast, please visit our website, essentialkorean.com, to check out the newly launched Essential Korean Podcast Course and our thoughtfully presented courses, along with other resources!   - - - In this episode, we will discuss speech styles and speech levels (again :), this tiime with a question from a student, based on a situation from the drama, 힘쎈 여자 도봉순 Strong Girl Bong-Soon. Examining the speech styles and levels in different situations will help us experience the dynamics and emotions at play and help us get an int ..read more

Lesson Recap & Transcript * If you liked the content of our podcast, please visit our website, essentialkorean.com, to check out the newly launched Essential Korean Podcast Course and our thoughtfully presented courses, along with other resources! ----- In today's episode, we'll take a break from grammar-focused lessons for a more real-life situation-based lesson! We will learn:  1)  a few very useful expressions you will hear in a cafe or eatery as a customer and 2) a few ways you can order drinks or food without worrying too much about grammar.  You will learn with sit ..read more

Lesson Recap & Transcript * If you liked the content of our podcast, please visit our website, essentialkorean.com, to check out the newly launched Essential Korean Podcast Course and our thoughtfully presented courses, along with other resources! ------------ This episode is the last in our three-part series on Korean future tense. We’ll expand upon what we have learned in the previous episodes by combining a few sentences with verbs in the future tense form into one sentence using the -고 conjunctive. Let’s finish up our journey with future tense on a high note! To do that, we'll do so ..read more