Learning to Read

Ian and I have our meeting with Julia tomorrow.  We had classes video taped, so we'll see if we get into trouble for doing a Halloween unit.

We've been working on reading Hangul, so I thought I'd let you all check out the alphabet and try your hand at it.

Consonants

The asterisks denote a hard pronunciation with little air output.

Now for some easy words to practice with.  It's important to remember that each syllable is built in a box.  Boxes can't start with a vowel symbol, so if the syllable does start with a vowel, a silent place marker (the -ng consonant which looks like an o).  Two examples of this rule are found in the words for Mom and Dad:

Mom: 엄마 (uhm-mah, emphasis on the second syllable)

Dad:  아빠 (ah-pah, emphasis on the second syllable)

 Cat: 고양이 (k/go-yahng-ee)

Dog: 개 (k/gae)

Rice: 밥 (b/pap)

Water: 물 (b/mool)

Jecheon-si ('si' means city and the 's' is pronounced somewhere between a pure 's' sound and a 'sh' sound): 

제천시 (jay-chon-see)

While Ian and I were waiting for the bus this morning, we were practicing reading the Hangul on the signs.  We were quite amused when we sounded out the sign on the bakery across the street: 베이카 레.  Use the alphabet and see if it gives you a chuckle as well.

좋은밤 되시기를! (cho-uhn-bahm-duhee-s(h)ee-gee-ruhl).  In other words, have a good night!