Still time to prepare, The Countdown to Seoul

Studying Hard Before the Allocation Test

My departure date is getting closer, and I’m still studying hard to prepare for the Korean allocation test.

I will have to take this test only a few days before leaving for South Korea and if I’m honest, I would really love to avoid starting at level 1.

During my Korean lessons so far, I’ve already covered greetings and introductions, dining out, and of course shopping 🤭.

I know I will still be a beginner, but my goal is to at least manage simple everyday conversations: asking for the time, checking when an event takes place, finding a location, and hopefully understanding directions when someone explains them.

Just the absolute basics, but even that feels like a small achievement.

Meanwhile, my notebook keeps filling up with new words, phrases and useful expressions.

   

The Countdown Has Begun

Before taking the pre-test, I still need to work through at least three more chapters.

But life doesn’t pause simply because I’m preparing for a trip.

What keeps me motivated is a simple thought: in just three and a half weeks I will be in Seoul, leaving Rotterdam behind for two whole months.

Along with my language notebook, I’ll also bring my sketchbook and camera, hoping to capture many moments along the way and share them here.

 

A First Look at Seoul

With an area of about 605 km², Seoul is almost twice the size of Rotterdam. And with roughly 9.4 million inhabitants, the city has around fourteen times as many people.

Geographically, Seoul is surrounded by mountains and hills, which gives the city a very distinctive landscape.

The city is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Changdeokgung Palace, Hwaseong Fortress, Jongmyo Shrine, Namhansanseong Fortress and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty.

At the same time, Seoul is known for its striking modern architecture, such as Namsan Seoul Tower, 63 Building, Lotte World Tower, Dongdaemun Design Plaza and COEX Mall.

A fascinating mix of history and modern city life.

But that’s enough for this little preview.

Apps That Help Me Study

A few months ago, I discovered a very helpful app for learning and practising Korean vocabulary and phrases: Wozzol.

The app allows you to create your own word and phrase lists and practise them in different ways, which makes studying both efficient and flexible. So far, I really like using it.

I also complete a few exercises every day on Duolingo, not because I’m competitive, but simply to keep my streak going 😁.

Practising Hangul

Another important part of my preparation is practising Hangul, the official writing system of the Korean language.

Writing the characters helps reinforce what I learn and improves both grammar and vocabulary.

At the moment, I’m practising something very practical: the days of the week in Hangul.

Step by step, the language slowly starts to make more sense.

Here I am practising the Days of the Week in Hangul: https://youtu.be/eD-SdxHCa5A?feature=shared