The world of K-pop and K-dramas can spark a desire to understand Korean culture on a deeper level. Many fans, including myself, dream of watching shows without subtitles or speaking the language fluently. But expensive language classes and grammar books seemed out of reach. In my search for free learning options, YouTube became my go-to resource.
One day, while browsing YouTube for beginner Korean language classes, I stumbled Upon “Go ! Billy Korean” YouTube channel. This channel offered free, fun, and simple lessons which was a perfect fit for me. When the opportunity arose to learn more about Billy Go's journey as a Korean language instructor. I eagerly took the chance to conduct an e-mail interview, On May 8 .
Through this Interview he shared his journey as Korean language instructor and also about his book “Korean Made Easy”.
1.Briefly introduce yourself?
I'm Billy Go, and I'm an American who's been teaching Korean on YouTube since 2012. My journey with Korean began in college in 2005. Making friends with Korean classmates sparked my interest in the language, leading me to travel to Korea that same year. This trip fully immersed me in Korean culture and solidified my desire to learn the language.
Through self-study, I tackled Korean on my own throughout my stay in Korea and beyond. This passion for learning fueled my desire to help others. In 2012, I took my Korean knowledge and love for teaching to YouTube, creating a platform to share my skills and help others on their Korean learning adventure.
2.Being an American, What initially sparked your interest in Korean language and what inspired you to become a Korean language instructor?
In college, my Korean friends were the gateway to my entire Korean language adventure. Having already studied Japanese, Korea was completely new territory for me. These friends not only sparked my interest but also introduced me to Hangul, the Korean alphabet, laying the foundation for my Korean language journey.
After mastering conversational Korean, I saw a gap in online resources for beginners. Many people struggled to find a starting point. This realization fueled the creation of my YouTube channel in 2012. My mission became providing free Korean learning materials and making them accessible to everyone online.
3.What motivated you to write the book "Korean made simple"?
I started writing my first book "Korean Made Simple" in 2013, when I was juggling a full-time job with the ambitious project of writing my first book, "Korean Made Simple." That job ended up not working out, so after I was unemployed I began working all day writing the book and getting it ready to be published.
Thankfully because of many people who supported my Kickstarter project for the book, I was able to afford to hire an illustrator, editor, and even a cover designer and start printing it in 2014. I followed that with two more sequels, and then afterwards I made three workbooks - one for each book - which include additional practice sentences using the same contents of the textbooks.
The reason I wrote the book was because I wanted to make a textbook for people who were learning Korean through self-study like I had done. Most textbooks at the time were made for college classes, and were designed to be used together in a class and with a teacher. I felt that I could offer a unique perspective since I had also learned Korean myself, and was not a native Korean speaker.
4.Korean grammar and structure are different from English, How do you help learners grasp the logic behind these differences through your classes?
I try to focus on the most important parts of each form - what makes it different, and how it really works. In my teaching approach, I prioritize unpacking the deeper meaning behind Korean expressions and grammar.
This goes beyond simply explaining how to use a specific grammatical form. By delving into the literal meaning, I can provide a more well-rounded explanation that unveils the "why" behind the "how." This approach empowers students to not just memorize, but to truly understand the language and use it with confidence.
When I can fully understand a grammar form including where it came from and why it has that meaning, it's no longer "mysterious" but simply becomes logical and therefore simple. This is how I explain topics to my students.
5. What would be the two or three most important things someone interested in Korean should know before they begin learning Korean language?
In my opinion, it's important to know that Korean is different from English, Korean offers a unique structure and logic. This means there won't always be a perfect translation between the two languages. so it is very important to accept that nothing will translate one-to-one.
It's also important to be ready to practice using the language; some learners may be hoping to learn Korean simply by being exposed to it, but that never happens in practice.
it's important to be open-minded; Korean isn't just a language, but also includes the Korean culture and mindset. Koreans may think differently than other cultures, and this also influences the way that they speak.
6.What are the biggest challenges and mistakes made by beginners while learning Korean language?
The biggest challenge is simply the large amount of grammar that has to be learned in order to start having real conversations with native speakers. But with a few months, anyone can learn most of the basic forms and start to make their own sentences.
I also see many beginners trying to translate Korean and English literally, which often ends up with awkward sentences. It's best to just try to make sentences that make sense at first, and then later focus on improving your grammar to make more natural sentences.
7.Many learners might be unsure, if Korean is a 'worthwhile' language to learn. How do you adress these concerns?
I believe value of learning Korean hinges entirely on the learner's goals. Are you aiming for full immersion by living and working in Korea? Perhaps you envision yourself working for a Korean company, either abroad or in a local branch. Maybe Korean culture simply sparks joy, and you're drawn to the language for the sheer fun of it. Regardless of your motivation, Korean is a rewarding pursuit if it holds significance for you.
8.How does learning Korean language can help someone in their personal growth?
Mastering Korean, like any worthwhile skill, demands dedication and consistent effort. But the benefits extend far beyond fluency in Korean itself.
For example, someone who's taken the time and effort to learn Korean will have a slightly easier time learning their next language, or their next skill which requires studying. There are many skills you acquire through studying a language that can be applied to other things that we learn.It will also help them to get a job in their dream country.
9.What advice would you give to someone who is interested in learning Korean language?
Just start. You can start now, and if you don't have time you can always try it more later. You don't have to wait for that perfect moment, or that perfect resource, or anything. Just start it now and figure things out as you go. Time is the biggest hurdle and it's better to start earlier to give yourself more time.
10. What are your dreams and aspirations?
I have plans to continually create more free video courses, as well as publish new and interesting books for Korean learners. Eventually I'd like to have videos on my channel about every Korean topic imaginable, all for free. If I can keep going for another 10 or 20 years, it might be possible.
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