Dottori Korean

If you are studying Korean as a non-speaker, you must follow the romanization rules of the National Institute of Korean Language. Otherwise, you cannot say you speak Korean accurately. It is the same as Asian people make up their own English words without reflecting Western culture. We make fun of Asians speaking whatever wrong English they speak. I feel the same if you do not follow the Korean rules when you teach or speak Korean. Please follow the romanization rules of Korean if you want to teach someone Korean in English. https://www.korean.go.kr/front/page/pageView.do?page_id=P000149&mn_id=99

6.5 year old Olivia’s language milestone for future Dottori Korean classes. Once she started understanding English phonics when she was 4-5 year old (preK and K), Olivia started comprehending Korean alphabet at the same time since Korean alphabet has just one sound per letter. Then, this summer right after K, she started reading in English, which simultaneously made her read simple Korean words. Olivia was able to combine Korean alphabets and make a sound. That was August. Now in November, she writes in Korean very easily. We write the lyrics of Korean songs we practiced together. This song, 한국을 빛낸 100명의 위인들, loosely translated as “100 Heroes Who Had Shaped the Korean History” has 4 verses. For 3 months, we practiced this song with such fun. Now she completely memorized the song, she wanted to write. Some words are very hard, but she knows how to sing, hence she can read. Korean alphabet is for those who can speak Korean. Anyone who can speak should be able to write. That is the mindset of the King Sejong who created the Korean alphabet. I am witnessing King Sejong’s thought process right in front of my eyes through my daughter. If you speak Korean, you can write Korean. How great it is. Chinese? It just has to come with it when you write in English and Korean and you have Korean and Chinese parents. Thank you, Olivia.

Yesterday was the new year’s day (Sinjeong 신정) on a solar calendar, or the Gregorian calendar. In the past 2 decades or so, Korean people have been celebrating their new year on the lunar calendar, which falls on January 25, 2020 (Gujeong 구정) this year. To celebrate Sinjeong, Olivia chowed down Ddeok-guk 떡국, a traditional Korean dish for New Year’s Day. As a child, we were told that one bowl of this rice cake soup makes you one year older. So we tried to eat as many bowls as possible. Now you only wish there is a soup that makes you younger. We will come back with Hanbok 한복 and Yutnori 윷놀이 later this month. Dottori friends already practiced yutnori once, so we are ready for it! #신정 #떡국 #뉴욕도토리학교

Happy Holidays to all the parents, students and friends of Dottori Korean! We see you on January 8-9, 2020. Dottori Korean is closed for Spring 2020. Our last day of class is January 29-30, 2020. Official notice to follow by email. #뉴욕돌상출장 #스튜디오촬영

Yutnori time! 윷놀이 시간! #뉴욕도토리학교

Morning munchkin class: today we sang Hundred Mice song (쥐 백마리) and Elephant & Spider Web (코끼리와 거미줄). We also played Yutnori (윷놀이). What a fun traditional board game! #뉴욕도토리학교 #윷놀이

Dottori Korean is cancelled TODAY 11/20 and TOMORROW 11/21. We have no class scheduled 11/27-28. See you on December 4 and 5!

We made owls after celebrating Halloween and learned different types of owls (부엉이, 올빼미, 소쩍새). #뉴욕도토리학교 #한글학교 #뉴욕

Halloween, learning up to 가, 나 and 다, and making monsters. Now let’s rest on All Saints’ Day. #뉴욕도토리학교 #할로윈

Calligraphy time after learning about King Sejong and putting ourselves in his shoe for inventing Korean alphabet. 세종대왕께서 한글을 만드시던 마음을 생각하며 붓글씨를 써봅니다. @ 21 West Street

Hangeul Proclamation Day 10/9, 한글날. Dottori friends dared the rainy weather to learn about King Sejong and the letters he invented. Friends learned 가 and 나 through a review game and they did an amazing job today. Kids made the vowels out of wooden sticks and pompoms, which represents the sky, the earth and the human as King Sejong invented Hangeul. #뉴욕도토리학교 @ 21 West Street

Waiting for the first class to start in Fall 2019. Let the fun begin.