About

me-at-beach

안녕하세요 여러분!

Welcome to my blog! I’m just an American who loves everything about Korea. Just to give you a quick overview, I have been studying Korean since October 2005. Two of those years were dedicated to teaching Koreans who live in Canada how to integrate into the culture and learn the language and one year was spent studying at SNU, Korea’s top university.

This blog was originally part of a personal project for myself preparing for arriving and living in Korea when I studied at SNU as an exchange student during 2010. I wrote about my journey before, during and after.

This project has split into two parts.  The main portion dealing with my personal progress and learning about everything Korea can be found in this blog.  The second venue is a wiki that I co-founded with a guy named Chris Kwon, called the Korean Wiki Project, which is a collaborative language-learning environment where anyone can contribute. If you would like to learn Korean and/or help others, go check that website.  It’s completely free in all senses of the word.

Leave a comment ?

93 Comments.

  1. Matt,

    I see all seems to be going well for you. Email when you get a chance and we’ll catch up.

    Warm regards,

    Kerry

  2. Hello, Nice to know you.
    Im Korean who is living in Seoul. I got your blog in my friend’s recommendation.
    I seem you have alot of interested in Korea.
    If you dont mind, I’d like to be a friend with you.
    Usually, I’ve been using facebook. http://www.facebook.com/anyfree
    That’s my facebook page.
    BTW, What do u try to learn at SNU ?

    Best Regards,

  3. 안녕하세요~ 만나서반가워요~ 내 이름은 타냐이구요..~ 난 한국을 사랑하는 캐나다 여자예요~
    한국어를 2년 동안 배웠어요~ ^^ 아… 유튜브 비디오를 봤는데…우리 서로 또 같은 관시미 있어서 싸월드에서 1촌신청 보냈어용~ ^^

  4. Hi! nice to meet via your blog. on seeing The April Reader’s poll, I vistied your site. I’m gald to know your thinking and veiw about korea. Could I add your facebook ? if you don’t care….

  5. Hey,

    How about translating some parts of your site into Korean? Along the top: About, Resources, … and down the side: Popular Posts, Recent Posts, …

    Vocabulary is the most difficult part of learning Korean so it would be a bit help^^

  6. 안녕하세요
    나는 한국에 살고 있는 외국인입니다.
    솔직히 말하면 우리와 같이 한국말을 배우는 백인 외국인들이 생각보다 많는걸요

    In your about me section you wrote:

    Welcome to my blog! I’m just one American white-guy who loves everything about Korea.

    But as a modern American did you really need to make reference to your skin color? I mean, we’re all brothers right. Learning Korean as a second language is just as hard whether you’re white, black or yellow.

    Anyway, sorry to be a bit of a pain. Keep working hard!
    화이팅

  7. @짐
    lol it’s there as just a bit of humor. I guess not everyone gets it, but just to be safe I’ll change it. 만나서 반가워요~

  8. Hey, I just wanted drop by to say how much I’ve enjoyed watching your videos. I’m from Korea and also an international student in St.Louis. So I guess we are in same shoes :-)
    Keep it good work and I’m looking foward to hear other life changing experience through your journey.

    열심히 하시고 타국에 있는 사람으로서 입장이 비슷한거 같은데 좋은 경험 많이 하시고 좋은글 많이
    기대 할께요.

    P.S. Is there any chance that you have a facebook account? let me know. Thanks

  9. @Steven Kang
    I hope you’re having a good time in St. Louis ^^ Friend request sent. 반가워요~

  10. Hey,

    just found your blog… and is very interesting. I am myself interested in Korea and have been working on the issues of division a mutual relations and North Korea for some time already. Never studied korean though. Right now I am here in Seoul for a research, and still don’t know many people here, maybe we can manage to meet some time. I am from Slovakia, currently at the Sogang University, but living off the campus…

    best

    Lucia

  11. 안녕하세요
    My name’s Max Stiefel and I am planning on going to Korea (SNU!) this fall for a year. I go to the U of U as well. Just wanted to say hello, I saw a link to your blog on the U of U website, and chat about life as a an american exchanger in Korea. Hope you’re having a blast.
    If you want to email me, do so. Blogs sort of confuse me (technotard).

    maximilian.stiefel@gmail.com

    sweet! hopefully I’ll talk to you soon. Eat some 비 빔
    밥 (spelling?) for me.

    Maximilian

  12. @Maximilian
    I am having a blast! Sweet, hopefully everything works out well for your plans.

    And yes, yes I will :)

  13. @Lucia
    That must be some interesting work!

  14. 안녕 하세요 ?매트님 새터민 쉽터에 닉네임 부르스 라고 합니다 .
    오랜 만입니다 .전번에 북한 자유주간 일로 매트님 마음이 상했는지 요즘은 잘들어 오시지 않군요?
    들어 오시면 저에게 쪽지 주세요 .이야기 할 일이 있습니다.

  15. 안녕하세요?
    우연히 매트님의 동영상을 봤습니다.
    한국말 정말 잘 하시네요. 라는 TV프로그램이 있는데요 – 한국에 살고 있는 미녀들이 출연하는 Talk Show – 거기 나오는 분들보다도 더 잘하십니다. 발음도 좋으시구요..
    동영상에서 빅뱅 팬이라고 하셨는데, 저도예요. ㅋㅋ
    이번에 빅뱅 멤버 태양(TaeYang)이 솔로앨범을 냈거든요. 한 번 들어보세요. 혹시 태양을 잘 모르신다면 M/V 꼭 보세요~~ 안녕.

  16. 안녕하세요~매트씨~

    전 한국인이구, 대구에 살고 있어요~

    유투브에서 우연히 매트씨가 한국어로 자신을 소개하는 영상

    을 보았어요~ 한국에 온 적이 없는데도 한국어를 너무 잘하셔

    서 정말 깜짝 놀랐구 신기했어요ㅋㅋ 서울대학교에 와서 더 공

    부할 예정이라고 해서 응원 해주고 싶어서 블로그까지 오게 되

    었네요~한국에서 좋은 추억 많이 만들어 가시길 바래요*^__^*

  17. 안녕하세요~우연히 동영상보다가 끝나고나닌깐 밑에 동영상이 뜨더라구요 그래서 한번봤는데 와우~한국말 진짜 잘하세요~잘봤습니다^^
    정말 한국말 잘하시네요..꼭 한국사람처럼요ㅋ
    지금 워킹으로 딴나라에와있는데 일단은 일만하고있어요.
    많이 준비를못하고와서 영어공부를 좀 해야하는데.ㅋ 동영상 보고 많이 느꼈습니다. 매트씨 한국에 오셔서 좋은 추억 만들었으면 좋겠어요~화이팅
    일촌 신청 했어요~

  18. 안녕하세요? 친구가 Strum씨의 홈페이지를 소개 해 주었어요.
    그래서 와 봤는데 정말 재미있는 내용들이 많이 있네요 ^^
    한국인인 저 조차도 새로운 내용들이 많아서 많은 도움이 되었어요. 저도 많은 나라의 언어를 배우며 문화를 체험하는게 꿈이에요. 6-7개국 언어는 배우고 싶어요. ^^;; 한국에 계시죠? 많은 즐거운 일들만 가득가득 담아가셨으면 좋겠네요. :wink:

  19. Hello!!
    Congrats on your blog, it is awesome!

    I was wondering where you get all the information on Korea?
    I mean I often use the Korea Tourism Organization Official Website ( http://www.visitkorea.or.kr ) becuase it is the most complete, but I was wondering whether you also used any other resources?

    Thanks!

  20. i love it!! 너무 잘생겼는데다 한국어까지 잘하시고 오예!
    빅뱅보다 잘생기셨어요 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 저 방금 매트씨의 첫 한국어 동영상보고 왔어요 ㅎㅎ너무 감동적 !

  21. hello :)
    i saw a video of you on youtube, introducing yourself in korean… i thought it was pretty cool to see a foreigner teach themselves how to speak Korean… and i have to say, you were really good!
    i live in korea, currently very close to seoul.
    r u currently in korea right now?
    i thought about adding ur cyworld as a friend,
    but didnt want to be seen as a weird stalker lol

    hope u r having fun! :razz:

  22. love the site. esp love the pics. good luck

  23. 안녕하세요, 숙제때문에 구글 돌아다니다가
    우연히 이 곳에 오게 되었는데한국에 대한 정보도 많고
    Matt씨가 한국에 대한 애정이 있으신 분같아 반가운 마음에
    글남깁니다 ^^ 저는 지금 미국에서 공부하고 있는 대학생이구요
    저는 지금 New York에 Long Island에있어요~

    한국은 추석인데.. 여기는 추석이 없네요 ㅜ.ㅜ
    그럼 명절 즐겁게 보내시길 바랍니당 ^^

  24. ^^ 안녕하세요, 유투브에서 이것 저것 하다가 우연히 동영상을 보게 되었어요 ㅋ 저도 한국에 대해 매우 관심이 많은데 앞으로 자주 놀러올게요 ^^

  25. Wow! You’re really interested in Korea. I’m really impressed! I saw you from Cyworld vedio clip and wanted to visit here to say hi.
    Have a nice day~ :grin:

  26. hi,ma name is Cindy Kim
    I was so impressed.
    어쩌다 동영상 보게됐는데요~
    한국어 공부는 열심히 하고있으신가요?
    훌륭하세요^^gooood job!
    제 이메일로 답변주실있다면 보내주세요~
    전 지금 영어를 배우고있는 학생입니다
    I’ll be waiting for ur e-mail.

  27. 서울대학교에 다니고 있는 학생입니다.
    우연히 Obama 관련 동영상 찾다가 youtube에서 Matt씨의 동영상을 보았습니다. 흥미로운 동영상이 많네요. SNU에 꼭 합격하시고…함께 만날 수 있는 기회가 있다면 좋겠습니다. 화이팅!

  28. Hello. my name is Sol Han.
    한국 사이트에서 동영상을 봤습니다.
    한국말 너무 잘하시네요:D
    한국 많이 사랑해주세요!!!!
    모르는 것 있음 물어봐주세요.
    Have a nice day!

  29. Hello. I was looking through your blog and was wondering if I could contact you through your personal email about a project I am doing for Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). If you’re interested, please let me know and get back to me at alinakim@prain.com. Thank You!

  30. I’m Steven from the band Kachisan. Would it be ok for us to use your photos on our facebook profile?

  31. how come do you have all of north korean video??
    i thought you are in north korea..
    hmm.. kinda scary..

  32. I Need a Korean translator
    anybody can help please ?
    email: alexisthomas99@gmail.com
    skype: alexis_thomas
    Yahoo Messenger: alexisthomas999

  33. Hello. I happened to find your blog and wanted to thank you for giving me the courage.
    You have come this far to reach real Korea in every aspect.
    It’s just amazing!
    I am Japanese and like you, I love Korea. I love everything about Korea.
    But I’ve just started learning Korean language in February (last month)… so now my Korean language level is zero.
    Thank you for pushing my back.
    I will continue my study and will reach there!

  34. :smile: helooo!!! i want to learn Korean, and i also love Korean culture and people!! and well i love big bang as well!! specially Korean Dramas!!

  35. ciao! I am Marco, it’s fascinating how much material you could put on your site, especially about North Korea, where I actually live for 2 long years .LOL. nice to meet you

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