I’ve always been a nerd for languages—they’ve always fascinated me. There’s something inherently beautiful about the idea that people across the world communicate in ways so different from what I’ve grown up with. Growing up in a primarily English-speaking environment, I found myself intrigued by the rhythm, structure, and beauty of other languages. In the past, I’ve tried my hand at several other languages—most of them being European. I dabbled in French, Spanish, Dutch, German, and Italian, each with its own charm and challenges. I even took a shot at Hebrew, exploring a non-European language for a change. Russian was the last language I tried to study before turning my attention to Korean.
Despite my enthusiasm for all those languages, life’s distractions often got in the way. School, work, and other hobbies would pull my focus, and my language learning would gradually fall by the wayside.
When I came across Korean, something finally clicked. Unlike my previous attempts, this time, I felt a deeper pull. I had previously tried to study Japanese and Mandarin Chinese, but both felt overwhelming with their complex writing systems and tonal challenges. Korean seemed different, yet approachable—something new, but not as intimidating. It felt like a fresh start, offering a new challenge that I was ready to embrace.
Discovering Korean and the Spark That Lit the Flame
My journey into Korean began around late April 2024. The initial spark? A K-Pop virtual group called ‘PLAVE.’ I started listening to their music and was immediately drawn in by their unique virtual concept—it was unlike anything I had seen before, and I was genuinely intrigued. I had heard of K-Pop before, back when I listened to BTS between the ages of 10 and 14, but after that, I drifted away from Korean music for quite some time. Then I discovered PLAVE, and it reignited my interest. But it wasn’t just about the music.
PLAVE are hilarious—like, extremely funny. Watching their memes on TikTok and their regular livestreams on YouTube, I couldn’t help but be drawn to their energy and interactions. This made me even more curious, not just about them as a group, but also about the language they were speaking—Korean.
Sure, I could wait for the English subtitles of their livestreams and videos, but those often took a few days to a week to come out. I found myself wanting to understand them in real-time, to catch the nuances of what they were saying without waiting for translations. I even started picking up on some of the frequent phrases one of the members, Eunho/은호, would say. I felt proud when I recognized a word like 맞아요 (maja-yo), which means “that’s right/correct.”
That curiosity led me to start learning Hangul, the Korean alphabet. At first, I thought, “This is easy.” And I wasn’t wrong—Hangul is known for being one of the most logical and easy-to-learn alphabets in the world. King Sejong, who created it, designed the script to be accessible to everyone, and that intention is clear in its structure. Each character corresponds to a specific sound, and the way the letters are formed makes perfect sense. I felt a sense of achievement with every character I memorised and each basic word I learned to read. It gave me the confidence to keep going, and before I knew it, my Korean studies had become a part of my daily routine.
Six Months In
Now, six months into my Korean journey, I can see the progress I’ve made. I’m confident in my reading and writing skills—being able to read a short Korean kids story or writing Church service notes in Korean feels like a small but significant victory. My speaking skills, though, are still a work in progress. I find myself pausing, stuttering even, searching for the right words or struggling with pronunciation. Listening is another area where I need to improve; the rapid pace of native speakers still makes me feel like an absolute beginner at times. But every little step, every new phrase I understand without subtitles, makes it worth the effort.
What surprises me most is how committed I’ve stayed. In the past, it was easy to give up on French or Spanish when life got busy. But with Korean, I’ve pushed through those moments when I felt too tired or too overwhelmed. There’s a certain pride in looking back and seeing how far I’ve come, especially when I think about how often I’ve given up on my language goals in the past. This time, I’m determined to see it through.
Why Korean Matters to Me?
There’s something deeper motivating me to stick with Korean, beyond just understanding my favourite K-Pop group’s livestreams. Like I mentioned, I am a language nerd. I’ve always dreamed of speaking a second language, not just for the sake of saying I could, but for the experiences it would open up. Learning Korean means I’ll be able to communicate with native Korean speakers, and in doing so, view the world from a new perspective. It’s about seeing beyond my own cultural bubble, understanding the history and values embedded in the language, and thinking in ways I never could have before. More than that, though, learning Korean has reminded me that I am capable of pushing past the point where I usually give up.
And then, there’s the science behind it. I watched a YouTube video called “How Being Multilingual Changes You” by BigThink, which explained that learning a new language can boost cognitive function and even help with longevity. Knowing that something I enjoy might also keep my brain active as I age is a pretty nice bonus.
My journey with Korean has been an eye-opening experience, not only because I’ve learned a new language but because I’ve learned a lot about myself. From the days of dabbling into numerous European languages and struggling to keep my focus, to now being six months into learning Korean and feeling proud of my progress, I’ve realised that the key to success lies in finding something that truly resonates with you. For me, that turned out to be a language I never expected to connect with.
I still have a long way to go. My speaking and listening skills need work, and there are still countless cultural nuances to discover. But for the first time in my language-learning journey, I feel like I’m on the right path. I’m excited for the day when I can hold a conversation with a native Korean speaker, share stories, and fully immerse myself in a language that has already given me so much. Korean has become more than just a language to me—it’s a journey, a challenge, and a source of pride. And for that, I’m grateful to God.
Until next time, cheerio!
Isabelle Zennah 
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