Steve's sandbox

Tag: monthly reports

  • Lauren Maslin – 한국에서의 첫 달 – 2024년 9월 My first month in Korea- September 2024

    첫 보고서

    여러분 안녕하세요! 제 이름은 렌이고, 영국에서 왔습니다. 저는 2022년부터 영국의 한 대학에서 한국어와 언어학을 공부했으며, 현재는 한국의 한 대학에서 집중적으로 한국어를 배우고 있습니다. 한국 대학에서 1년 동안 한국어와 한국 문화를 배울 계획입니다.

    첫 보고서를 시작하게 되어 정말 기쁩니다! 매달 한국에서의 경험을 여러분과 나누려고 합니다. 이 보고서를 통해 여러분도 한국에 매료되시길 바라요. 제 일상, 여행, 그리고 한국어 공부에 대한 이야기를 공유할 예정입니다. 길거리 음식부터 케이팝, 한국 문화까지, 한국에서의 하루하루는 새롭고 신나는 일들로 가득 차 있습니다. 사실 이번이 한국에 두 번째 방문인데, 2023년 여름 처음 한국에 와본 후 너무 좋아서 다시 오게 되었습니다.

    한국에 대해 잘 모르는 분들도 계시겠지만, 저 또한 한국어를 배우기 전에는 한국에 대해 잘 몰랐습니다. 이제는 많은 것을 배웠고, 이 보고서를 통해 여러분도 새로운 정보와 재미, 영감을 얻으시길 바랍니다.

    한국 음악 축제

    이번 달에는 한국의 음악 축제도 전자제품이나 음식만큼이나 인기가 있다는 것을 알게 되었습니다. “서울 버스커 페스티벌”이라는 음악 축제에 다녀왔는데, 비가 오는 날씨에도 정말 재미있었습니다. 여러 가수들이 무대에 올라 러브 발라드, 힙합, 케이팝, 그리고 유명한 OST를 불렀습니다. 관중과 재능 넘치는 아티스트들의 에너지 덕분에 정말 잊을 수 없는 경험이었습니다! 한국인은 음악과 노래에 대한 애정이 깊고, 이는 한국 문화의 중요한 부분을 차지하고 있습니다.

    케이팝의 인기

    케이팝은 저를 포함한 전 세계 외국인들 사이에서 큰 인기를 얻고 있습니다. 2012년, 한국 가수 싸이의 ‘강남스타일’이 전 세계를 강타한 이후, 케이팝은 국제적으로 널리 알려졌습니다. 방탄소년단(BTS)이나 블랙핑크 같은 그룹이 케이팝을 대표하는 사례로 자주 언급되지만, 사실 제가 가장 좋아하는 그룹은 마마무입니다. 마마무는 뛰어난 보컬 실력과 독특한 무대 매너로 많은 팬들의 사랑을 받고 있습니다. 이 그룹은 매력적인 음악 스타일과 개성 넘치는 멤버들로 케이팝의 다양한 매력을 잘 보여주고 있습니다.

    한국 음식

    지난주에 처음으로 한국 바비큐를 먹어봤다

    지난주에 처음으로 한국 바비큐를 먹어봤습니다. 한국은 활기찬 문화와 다양한 맛있는 음식을 제공합니다. 특히, 비빔밥과 한국식 바

    비큐는 제가 가장 좋아하는 음식 중 하나입니다. 비빔밥은 다양한 채소와 고기, 매운 소스를 얹은 밥 요리이고, 한국식 바비큐는 상추와 여러 가지 반찬을 곁들여 먹는 돼지고기 구이입니다. 한국인들은 보통 친구들과 함께 식사하며 이야기를 나누는 것을 좋아하기 때문에, 식사는 매우 사교적인 행사입니다. 한국 드라마에서 자주 보던 한국 바비큐를 실제로 먹어보니 꿈이 이루어진 기분이었어요. 맛있는 지글지글한 돼지고기를 생각만 해도 다시 배가 고파지네요. 아, 음식 얘기가 나왔으니, 라면이 너무 익기 전에 얼른 가봐야겠어요! 다음에 또 봐요! 안녕!

    First Report

    I’m very excited to start my first report! Every month, I will be sharing my experiences in Korea with you. I hope that through this report, you’ll also become fascinated by Korea. I’ll be sharing stories about my daily life, travels, and Korean language studies. From street food to K-pop and Korean culture, every day in Korea is filled with new and exciting things. This is actually my second visit to Korea. I first visited in the summer of 2023 and loved it so much that I decided to come back.

    Some of you may not be familiar with Korea, but before I started learning Korean, I didn’t know much about it either. Now, I’ve learned a lot, and I hope these reports will bring you new information, fun, and inspiration.

     

    Korean Music Festival

    This month, I found out that Korean music festivals are as popular as Korean electronics and food. I attended a festival called “Seoul Busker Festival.” Even though it rained, I had a great time. Many singers performed love ballads, hip-hop, K-pop, and famous OSTs on stage. Thanks to the energy of the audience and the talented performers, it was an unforgettable experience! Koreans have a deep love for music and singing, and it plays an important role in their culture.

    The Popularity of K-pop

    K-pop has gained immense popularity among international fans, including myself. In 2012, Korean singer Psy’s ‘Gangnam Style’ took the world by storm, and since then, K-pop has become globally known. Although groups like BTS and Blackpink are often mentioned as representatives of K-pop, my personal favorite group is Mamamoo. Mamamoo has won the hearts of many fans with their outstanding vocal abilities and unique stage presence. They showcase the diverse appeal of K-pop through their charming music style and distinct members.

    Korean Food

    Last week, I tried Korean BBQ for the first time. Korea offers a vibrant culture and a variety of delicious foods. Bibimbap and

    I had Korean barbecue for the first time last week

    Korean BBQ are among my favorites. Bibimbap is a rice dish topped with various vegetables, meat, and spicy sauce, while Korean BBQ consists of grilled pork, often eaten with lettuce and various side dishes. Koreans love to eat and chat with friends, so meals are a very social event. I’ve seen Korean BBQ in many dramas, so it felt like a dream come true to finally try it! Just thinking about the sizzling pork makes me hungry again. Speaking of food, I think my ramen is about to overcook. Until next time! Bye!

  • Alexander Johnstone: Case Study – Beijing, China 2017-18

    As part of my undergraduate degree in Chinese Studies, I set off to Beijing in August 2017 to spend a year living and learning in China’s capital, enrolled in an exchange programme at Peking University.

    This year has been a vital stage in the journey of my language learning and has offered me so many opportunities to improve my Mandarin that I would never have obtained back in a university classroom in the UK. The language programme I am taking at Peking University – conducted entirely in Mandarin – has been a fantastic way to systematically develop all four key language skills and I am very grateful to have had the chance to study with some excellent teachers at China’s top university. However, my language skills have come on the greatest through living in a Chinese-speaking environment and experiencing Chinese culture and society first-hand. Life in China has made me pay greater attention to Chinese film, politics and current affairs and I have enjoyed being able to discuss these topics with new Chinese friends.

    I have also relished the opportunity to use my university holidays to travel widely around China and learn more about the great geographical and cultural diversity of the country. This has not only allowed me to practise speaking with locals but also hear a wide range of regional accents and dialects, vastly different to the Standard Mandarin I have previously encountered in class and Beijing. In my spare time in Beijing, I have used my time to take part in extracurricular activities at the university, do an internship at an international PR company and explore the many different areas of this exciting city, all of which have contributed to the improvement of my language skills and cultural understanding.

    I would recommend studying abroad for anyone wishing to learn a language, or really anyone who wants to grow as a person and better understand our increasingly interconnected world.  It has been a wonderful way to get outside my comfort zone and learn to understand a different language, culture and society from the inside.

    I would like to extend my thanks to the John Speak Language Trust for the financial help to fund my time abroad and make my experience in China as enriching as it has been. I strongly believe the UK needs more people with a genuine understanding of a foreign language and culture and it is fantastic that this trust is helping to enable this.

    Alexander Johnstone – China

  • Happy New Year: Peter Horton, January 2016

     

    Feliz Año!

    Pues, todas las fiestas ya han pasado y estoy contento en mi horario otra vez! Aunque tengo que decir, navidad y el año nuevo en Cádiz era algo completamente diferente. Por tener amigos locales aquí no tenía que pasar navidad sólo y podía disfrutar una cena de navidad muy diferente, no hubo ningún pavo! Cómo es un país católico, hemos celebrado para los doce días de navidad; hemos comido nuestras doce uvas a medio noche del año nuevo y terminamos con un rincón de los reyes al 6 de enero (el día de los reyes)

    No todo estaba tan tranquilo, un poco antes de navidad estuve la elección española y el ambiente en la calle estaba eléctrico. Con todo el mundo tenía su propia opinión sobre algo, entre: corrupción política, la tase de desempleo, es estado de la economía. A mi me parecía cómo cada persona estuviera muy informada sobre los temas de actualidad y tengo que confesarme que a menudo me parecía muy difícil seguir la conversación. Lo que entiendo después de unas conversaciones con mi compañero, es que hay una división entre el norte y el sur en España; hay más conservadores en el norte así votan al Partido Popular y Mariano Rajoy, mientras en el sur hay más de la izquierda y por eso votan al Partido Socialista Obrero Español. Lo que sorpresó a mi compañero fue el éxito de Pablo Iglesias y su partido nuevo “Podemos”, fundada en 2014 ya ha ganado el tercero lugar después de Mariano Rajoy (1st) y Pedro Sánchez (2nd).

    Hasta ahora, Cádiz está más tranquilo, algunos dirían que es la calma precede a la tormenta porque la ciudad en entera y muchas otras personas alrededor de España van a celebrar Carnaval el mes que viene. Lo que entiendo después de conversaciones con mis amigos y mi jefa, es que eso es una de las fiestas más grandes en España y sera imposible trasladarse por las calles durante la semana. Estoy muy emocionante a estar un parte de Carnaval y espero a compartir mi historia con vosotros en mi próxima actualización!

    ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

    Happy New Year!

    Well, all the festivities have passed now and I am settling back into my routine again! Though I must say, Christmas and New Year in Cadiz was something completely different. Having local friends here meant that I didn’t have to spend Christmas alone and I was able to enjoy a very different Christmas dinner to the one I am used to, no turkey in sight! With it being a predominantly Catholic country as well, we celebrated right through the twelve days of Christmas; taking our 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve and finishing of with a traditional cake on the 6th January (or the day of the Kings).

    It wasn’t all relaxing and eating though, just before Christmas was the Spanish general election and the atmosphere in the streets was electric. Everyone I spoke to had their own opinion about something whether it be: political corruption, the rate of unemployment, the state of the economy. To me it seemed as though everyone was fully informed with the current issues and I must admit that I often found it difficult to follow all the points they were raising. From what I understand after talking with one of my flat mates, there is very much a North-South divide in Spain, the north of Spain tend to be very conservative and so lean towards Mariano Rajoy’s Partido Popular (PP), whereas the south tend to be a lot more left wing and vote for Pedro Sánchez’s Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE). What surprised my flat mate the most was the success of Pablo Iglesias and the new party Podemos, it was only founded in 2014 but managed to come in third place just behind Mariano Rajoy (1st) and Pedro Sánchez (2nd).

    For now, Cadiz has calmed down a lot, some would say we are in the calm before the storm as the whole city and many from around Spain get ready to celebrate Carnaval next month. From what my friends and boss has been telling me this is one of Spain’s largest celebrations and the streets are completely packed for the whole week. I am very excited to be a part of Carnaval and I look forward to telling you all about it in my next post.

  • Nikki White: Madrid, Spain – December 2015

    ¡Buenas tardes!

    Creo que un buen punto de partida para este blog sería presentarme un poco, así que, me llamo Nikki White y actualmente estoy estudiando un máster de traducción e interpretación en la universidad de Alcalá de Henares (Comunidad de Madrid). Estudié el grado en filología hispánica y francesa en la universidad de Aberdeen en Escocia.

    Llevo casi dos meses viviendo en este pueblo y ¡lo estoy pasando muy bien! Ahora mismo estoy viviendo que dos chicas españolas en una residencia estudiantil en las afueras de Alcalá de Henares. Estoy empezando a conocer a mucha gente del “barrio” y descubrir un poco sobre el área. Las residencias se encuentran un poco lejos del pueblo en sí, pero al final “no hay mal por bien no venga”, porque tengo que hablar con todos los que viven aquí, y de hecho, ¡hace mucho que no mantengo una conversación ´normal´ en inglés!

    Voy a empezar contándoos un poco sobre la historia y la belleza de Alcalá de Henares, y lo que he descubierto hasta ahora. Alcalá es un pueblo famoso por ser el lugar de nacimiento de Miguel de Cervantes, el autor del famoso Don Quijote. Se encuentra muchísima historia andando por este pueblo, aquí es posible entrar a ver la casa de Miguel de Cervantes y muchos edificios encantadores:

    Como soy de un pueblo muy pequeño en Norfolk, Inglaterra. Estoy disfrutando de todo lo que me puede ofrecer Madrid. La semana pasada fui con algunos amigos de aquí a hacer Snow. Aunque vivimos bastante cerquitas de las montañas, como somos principiantes a este deporte fuimos al sur de Madrid a un lugar llamado Xanadú, donde es posible hacerlo en una pista interior, ya que ninguna de nosotros lo había hecho anteriormente. Pasamos las dos horas enteras en la pista para principantes pero lo ¡lo aprendimos poco a poco! Nunca había hecho este deporte y ¡me sorprendió lo difícil que era seguir las instrucciones en castellano, y también saber las tallas de ropa y zapatos, que soy demasiada británica a veces!

    Este mes, espero conocer la ciudad de Segovia al norte de Madrid. ¡Os mantendré informados!

    ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

    Good Evening!

    I think a great starting point for this blog would be to introduce myself a little bit, so my name is Nikki White and I’m currently studying a Master’s in Translation and Interpretation at the University of Alcalá de Henares in Madrid, Spain. I studied my first degree in French and Hispanic studies at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

    I’ve been living in this small city just outside of Madrid for nearly two months and I’m loving it! I’m living in a student residence with two girls from the North of Spain and am just beginning to get to know some people from my “neighbourhood”. The residence itself is on the outskirts of Alcalá de Henares and is in some ways a blessing in disguise as I have no choice but to speak to everyone here! In fact it’s been a long time since I had a proper conversation in English!

    I’m going to start by telling you all a little bit about the town that I’m living in and what I’ve found out about it up until now! Alcalá de Henares is famous because it is the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quijote. He is basically the Shakespeare of the Spanish speaking world. This town is full of history and you can soak it in wherever you go. Here you can find Miguel de Cervante’s house as well as lots of other historically important and beautiful buildings, such as my faculty at the University of Alcalá de Henares.

    As i’m from a small town in Norfolk I’m really trying to make the most of everything Madrid has. For example, last week I went with a few friends to do snowboarding. Although we live fairly close to the mountains we decided we weren’t quite pros and opted to go to an indoor slope in Xanadú instead. We all spent the whole two hours on the beginner’s slopes but I think we definitely improved a little bit! I’d never done anything similar to that before and I was surprised at how much more difficult it was to take instructions in Spanish (as well as knowing what my size was for boots and clothes in Spain!) Sometimes I’m far too British for my own good!!

    This month I’m hoping to make it out to Segovia, as I’ve heard it is always cold (I’m feeling very Christmassy) and I would love to see the Aqueduct there. I’ll keep you all posted!

    Nikki