This is a series of two articles about Seunghwa Ryoo's language training journey. Seunghwa Ryoo is a senior majoring in Library and Information Science at Myongji University. Today's story is the first in the series "Overcoming Beginner English."
Part 1 Short-term Overseas Training for University Students: Overcoming Beginner English
Part 2 Short-term Overseas Study for University Students: A Youth with Big Dreams Falls in Love with Canada
By Seunghwa Ryoo (df_gk@naver.com)
I want to start by sharing my story from when I experienced more freedom in university life. As I embarked on my anticipated college life, filled with curiosity and excitement for a new world, new friends, and a fun campus life, a sense of monotony and lethargy began to creep in during my sophomore and junior years as if I were a hamster running in a wheel.
However, one day, I suddenly realized that I, full of dreams in my 20s, was wasting my precious youth. I wanted to experience the broader world, visit places I hadn’t been to, and talk to people I hadn’t met. I yearned to experience their actual way of living.
With this desire, I studied English and started focusing on English conversation. Although I recognized the necessity of learning English conversation, I hadn't implemented it, having only studied English for test scores like many other students in Korea and lacking overseas experience.
Talking with foreigners in English was a vague dream then, but I resolved to make this dream a reality. Starting in January last year, I enrolled in an English conversation academy and tried various methods, such as private tutoring and phone English lessons.
I practiced speaking one-on-one at the English conversation academy by memorizing English expressions and sentences. As an introvert, speaking English with fellow Koreans initially felt unfamiliar and awkward. I also had reservations about exposing the limits of my English skills. However, I recalled what the academy teachers emphasized about speaking, practiced regularly, and gradually became comfortable speaking English.
The intense classes, where the teacher would call on students individually to answer in English, were challenging. Still, there were times when I could strengthen my passion and resolve to learn English. Through these experiences, I found a different feeling from the grammar and reading-focused studies I had been doing, as if I wasn’t genuinely absorbing the material.
Then, I discovered that a famous English YouTuber I followed was recruiting for an American drama shadowing study group, so I applied. After three attempts, I finally joined the team.
We selected one American drama and practiced shadowing each day, recording and sharing our progress in a KakaoTalk group as proof. Practicing shadowing daily wasn't easy, but as I stayed consistent, it became a habit; various scenes from the drama lingered in my memory.
About a month after beginning shadowing, scenes from American dramas would unexpectedly pop into my head along with English sentences, whether I was brushing my teeth or sitting on a bus. This unexpected phenomenon sparked my interest in English. The dramatic turns and plots kept me engaged and eager to study with enthusiasm. I enjoyed the humorous yet relatable content in the dramas, mimicking the actors’ emotional expressions and dialogues, which made me feel as if I were acting.
Following the actors, whose dialogues were initially very fast, was challenging, but after much practice, I felt immense satisfaction once I could speak at the same speed. Through this process, my English pronunciation and flow gradually became more natural. Studying English this way was enjoyable and helped cultivate not only my language skills but also my habits and persistence, making it a meaningful journey.
In the study group, we had weekly meetings where we spent three hours communicating only in English. We shared our weekly stories and discussed experiences and thoughts on given topics. This allowed me to practice expressing my thoughts in English and share dreams and ideas with like-minded individuals, which I found valuable. We motivated each other strongly, encouraging one another to strive harder.
After six months of study, I grew and wanted to extend this growth by joining conversation meetings with foreigners. Talking with foreigners allowed me to learn about life abroad and gain insight into their thoughts and values. This was a rewarding experience after I decided to study English seriously.
Around this time, based on 1 year and 6 months of studying in Korea, I thought about going abroad to experience real communication with native speakers. Finally, in July 2024, the stage was in Toronto, Canada. For two months in Canada, I could put my English conversation skills to the test.
In an environment filled with foreigners, I naturally had to express myself in English, making the experience invaluable. I was able to articulate my thoughts, intentions, and experiences using English in daily life. Fortunately, thanks to my practice, the fear of speaking English disappeared. I focused more on ensuring clarity in communication rather than on making mistakes. Through this, I mastered English as a tool for communication.
The academic English I learned at Canadian schools significantly helped improve my skills. I interacted and became close with foreign students and experienced communicating in English. Eventually, these interactions led to forming deep friendships with foreign friends and sharing values and thoughts. The next Part 2 will delve deeper into this journey.
