Recording summary · August 2020
How I became FLUENT in Korean in only 6 months
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Overview
Daniel achieved fluency in Korean within six months starting in 2009, assisted by prior Japanese proficiency, study from Japanese textbooks, and relationships while attending a language school in Osaka.
Daniel adapts the pronunciation of loanwords, such as Tokyo or Ghost of Tsushima, to the phonetic norms of whichever language he is speaking to aid comprehension, rather than switching accents mid-sentence.
Themes
Language acquisition of Korean through Japanese grammar and vocabulary frameworks.
Phonetic adaptation of loanwords and response to pronunciation criticism.
Developments
In 2009, Daniel separated from an online Japanese partner of two years, dated a partner interested in Korean culture, learned the Korean alphabet in two days, and held JLPT Level 2 certification.
Daniel traveled to Japan, was blocked on social media by his partner after several weeks, and began dating a Korean woman residing at a guesthouse.
Daniel attended a three-month course at an Osaka language school funded by his father while studying Korean from Japanese textbooks.
Uncertainties & gaps
Daniel's current level of Korean language proficiency is uncertain after not speaking to a Korean person for approximately four years.