Essential Korean Podcast
This podcast is brought to you by Kay, a veteran Korean teacher and author of several Korean language books, including Korean Through Folktales, Essential Korean for Daily Conversation, and Online Learning Module for Advanced and Superior Korean. If you want to learn from a teacher who explains the nuances of the Korean language and its grammar, asks you questions, and practices with you using real-life examples, this podcast is for you.
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Essential Korean Podcast
58. Korea Unscripted Ep. 1: 딱 맞아!, 맥사 Maeksa, and the Korean Language of Everyday Life
Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. Ready to elevate your Korean skills and join a vibrant community of learners? Join the EK Community at my.essentialkorean.com for engaging courses, comprehensive resources, exclusive content, and great conversations on diverse Korea-related topics with other members. Visit our membership page to choose a plan that gives you access to episode transcripts and an enhanced learning experience with weekly classes and study sessions alongside like-minded people. Let’s embark on this wonderful journey together!
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In this first episode of the Korea Unscripted series, I begin with a story from my teenage years in New York—an eye-opening moment when I realized how words I "knew" in English meant little without real-world context. That lesson shaped how I teach Korean today: language exists in context.
From that truth, Korea Unscripted was born—a new series that captures real-life conversations and small but powerful Korean phrases heard in everyday moments.
In this episode, I also take you to a dinner table in a Korean restaurant where a casual exchange between a married couple turns into a rich language moment. You'll learn how the simple phrase “딱 맞아” (‘It’s exactly right’) captures more than just proportion—it reflects real-life rhythm, tone, and connection. Along the way, we’ll explore how “딱” functions in everyday speech and see language as it’s lived—unscripted, natural, and full of small “aha” moments.
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Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. We’ve created the Essential Korean membership to help provide a complete set of tools to elevate your Korean to the next level. Check that out on our website, along with my weekly newsletter, at essentialkorean.com!
- Home page: www.essentialkorean.com
- Community: my.essentialkorean.com
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