Korean Immersion Courses - 7 Things You Should Know

Here's all the things about Korean Immersion Courses that you'll find out when you do them but people don't like to talk about before hand because it sounds like a bit of a downer. Don't get me wrong, I think Korean Immersion Courses are great. I never would have gotten to my Korean level without them but, there are a few things that I wish I knew before I started so I could prepare myself mentally for the whole experience.
My brother says he never buys anything off of Amazon before reading the one and two star reviews. He want's to know what's the worst thing about a product before he buys. I guess this is my version of a two star review of Sogangs Korean Language Program or what most Korean language programs in Korea are like. Just trying to give you guys the real low down.

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Also, super thanks to everyone who subbed to my channel while I left it untouched for a few months. We're up to 355 now. 400 subs is just around the corner. Honestly I was so surprised the subs number kept growing even though I wasn't around that I decided to make this video as a thanks. So to all my loyal and new subs, thanks so much. Clicking a button doesn't seem like much but when I think about 355 people supporting my channel, it means a lot. Cheers.

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Music
In Fielder by Miró Belle

[lilldea]

I had a similar experience in a Japanese language school. I joined level 2 though I probably should've started from the beginning because I did not know everything in level 1, but I got enough points on the placement test to go to level 2. So I was behind from the beginning and it got worse and worse and I felt like I didn't learn anything and just tried to get through the class. I couldn't have a conversation in Japanese at all.I actually managed to pass level 2 and 3 without failing, but then I had a depression and stuff which made me fail level 4. Anyway, I got back to Sweden and after 5 months I started a Japanese class in uni and now when I learn everything a second time it's so amazing. I remember things and I understand a lot more and speak better, even though I'm not even on the level that I learned in class in Japan yet.

[davidk]

It's 2019 and this is EXACTLY what Sogang Korean language program was, and still is like. You did a great job putting this into words. Nothing has changed. I'm 5 months in at Sogang now and not sure how much longer that will last. Thanks .

[waygirly]

Thank you for sharing your experience. :)
It's good to know about the cultural teaching differences.

[gaoshikui]

Thanks for all the very informative videos. I do have something I want to tell you though. I believe there is nothing wrong with practise such as repeating sentences word for word, or dictating/copying text word for word. All of that helps you get the vocab and structure in our head, so that when we want to become creative and express ourselves, all the tools are there!

[madeleinedavis]

This was so helpful and informative, and also makes me so nervous and confused!

The situation: Im hoping to afford a year of studying at a language institute in Seoul, starting from the spring intake next year (Feb/March 2019). I really want to get to level 4 by the end of 2019. Im busy trying to study Korean as much as I can by myself right now, and I'm currently toying between two options:

a) study my ass off at home and hopefully just scrape into testing into level 2 when I arrive in Spring, therefore giving myself 4 semesters to complete 3 levels (2, 3, 4) which gives me room to repeat one of the levels, once. Possible downfalls: having "done level 1 myself", I may actually be low on the fundamentals, as well as not being at all accustomed to 'the asian way of studying' and therefor be setting myself up for a meltdown by walking straight into level 2.

b) studying at home, but just going into level 1 in Spring, easing myself into the environment, and probably being rather comfortable and full of false confidence for the first semester, as my self studying should give me a big leg up for level 1. Possible downfalls: zero wiggle room to repeat any level if I want to complete up till level 4 within 1 year.

PS, I am SO not academically motivated. I finished high school in 2010 and haven't had any further schooling. Just studying by myself the last 3 months has been like pulling teeth for me. the only thing that gets me through it is my insane infatuation with all things Korean.

So, what do you think? Is level 1 super easy and worth just studying on your own? Or you recon its the only enjoyable level, everything else is hell, and Id be foolish to skip the level that would ease me into said hell?

[spencerrob]

Great video :) The length of the video was good but not every video needs to be lengthy, it's good to mix it up! A lot of good points, thank you!

[mikkie]

I've been going through many of your videos and they're so helpful! This video just confirmed what a lot of people studying there told me, it's soooo intense. I'm planning on coming next year & I'm still hesitating between Sogang & KU's language program.
Anyways thank you for sharing your experience!!

[TheAquice]

Thank you for this video, I've just started Sogang this fall after learning korean alone and was put in level 3... It is so overwhelming! I've learnt korean by reading and writing so my listening and speaking skills are not good.

And I already know the grammar point of level 3 but the teachers are speaking so fast! My 쓰기 teacher doesn't articulate at all. By the 4th hour I'm just out of it, I know how to do the exercise but 99% of the time I don't even understand the instructions lol

[_Celine_]

That was soooo interesting, and good to know! I guess they're all pretty much the same, so I can mentally prepared to all of this.

[noralee]

I love these long videos! I think it would be hard to give a good description in a much shorter video! Thanks for the great information! Do you plan to resume learning Korean in Sogang and if not, what other Korean university would you go to instead to progress further? From one Irish person to another, I totally get where you're coming from when it comes to learning as an English speaker! I study Spanish and Korean and I genuinely think Spanish is SO simple compared to Korean! 😂

[shunel]

Hey, I love your videos. Why don’t you make youtube videos now?

[ALifeInASuitcase]

이런 긴 동영상이 되게 도움이 됐다고 생각하는데, 다른 영상도 이만큼 좋아요!
뭘 하든 상관 없이 진짜 재밌는 비디오를 만들 것 같으니까 계속 업로드하길 바래요.

다음달부터 부산에 있는 부경대학교를 입학하려고 해서 충분이 준비하려고 노력하고 있는데~ 좀 떨려요 ㅎ ㅎ

혹시 이제 아이어랜드에 계시고요?

[rooster]

I laughed at the 슈퍼마켓 example. Haha, that sounds more like the English word than supermarché does :p. Still, I get your point.

[VittamarFasuthAkbin]

ok, you actually made me laugh a few times :D

[hilary]

i prefer long videos with a lot of personal information and experiences

[ashasce]

hello! in sogang, do you pay per semester? does one semester also mean one level?

[AmiChan]

Hey~ I'm interested in studying at Sogang at some point in the futrure but when you studied there where abouts did you live? Did they offer accommodation or did you have to find it yourself? Thanks ^^

[bewaredream]

Would Level 3 be an ideal level to stop? Could you live and study in Korean with that level of Korean?

[박민재-yf]

I have a question! I'm from the Philippines and I'm trying to enroll at sogang after 2 years when I graduate college. Is it necessary to have friends in class? I'm not very sociable and I only start to have friends if they talk to me first. Does having friends make you learn a lot more since you both have the same goal of learning Korean or does having friends kind of distract you from learning Korean? This question might sound stupid huhu but hopefully you'll answer!!

[kalliecalico]

If you were to go through all 6 levels without repeating, how long would it take?