u/Wolf-AI

helb.

Okay, so, I know this is probably asked a lot BUT just hear me out. Or don't I guess 😭.

Okay, anyways. I'm gonna try my best ​to skip the irrelevant stuff and just get to my point.

I want to actually, genuinely understand the language (Korean ofc) well. Not in a way that I translate it in my head then understand it. In the most native, natural, authentic way. I looovveee comprehensible input and I've seen that when I'm watching 태웅쌤 I can understand what he says without needing to translate in my head and answer/shadow him accordingly. I LOVE this, but it feels kinda slow-? Could also just be my fault, I'm only on his 4th video. And I also can't just rely on CI. I've also used the TTMIK workbooks (lv 1), and love those because it explains every word by concept, not by direct translation. And while I still kinda sometimes have to translate with that, it's so much better imo than just getting a vague close translation that doesn't explain the nuances of how it's actually used and how it grammatically differs from English. (eg. How you wouldn't say 죄송합니다 as "I'm sorry for your loss" which I learnt from TTMIK)

Anyway, I lost my train of thought. Point is, I've seen that a lot of traditional or other methods just don't properly teach the language in a way that makes you truly understand the language. I feel like every time I want to try a new source or tool or method I have to do research to make sure​​​​​​​​ that this is an actually valid, effective, and not counter-productive ​way to learn Korean. Can ya'll refer me to somewhere? I'm practically A0 (or whatever), I know how to read and write Hangul (though I'd probably butcher spelling correctly lol) and a small handful of words. Am I wrong to think everything I do has to teach it like this? Do ​​I just have to suck it up, deal with it, learn the vague idea and polish later cus properly learning each word is just too slow?

I'm really sorry if I was unclear and I'd love to elaborate if asked. Tldr is I feel like almost all places to learn a language don't teach it in a way that makes you understand it naturally and near natively like CI does, and that they don't actually explain how a word is used and differs ​​​from its English counterpart. I want sources and tips on how and especially WHERE to properly learn Korean like this. Ps. I'm learning from English.

Edit: My huge main problem is not only that I don't know what to study (which tbh I prob don't) but where and how. What sites? Channels? Sources? Books? What anki decks are good? Should I use anki at all? How? All that. I'd greatly appreciate it if I could have ya'lls recommendations for specific places rather than just types of and skills to learn.

Also, do I just need to get over that mindset that everything has to click natively, perfectly, and factually into my brain as Korean and completely separate from English? Like, it's better if I just use those more traditional methods too and my brain will naturally fade away the English?

I don't even know where to start..

Let's start with: how come I don't exist?? I already expect most straight people in my life to not understand the majority of the queer community, especially anything to do with fluidity. But how do even queer people not understand that Abromancy (my fun name for abrosexuality and abromanticity[?]) is a real thing?? It really doesn't seem like such a complex concept. Yes, there's definitely a lot of confusing things like how relationships work, and how your sexuality changes, etc. But I've had more people, queer, straight, and combined say outright that it doesn't exist rather than just ask and try to understand. How come everyone is capable of understanding and accepting the existence (to my knowing) of genderfluidity or aceflux or literally any other fluid identity that I know of, but not abrosexuality???

It's genuinely a horrible problem and I don't know what to do about it. How does it happen that I can't feel comfortable in the queer community to express my sexuality??? I was at my first pride last week and a friend of mine face painted the abro flag on me (it was really fun btw :>) but when people asked me what it meant I was genuinely terrified to explain it because I thought I'd be judged. Which often, I was. How is it so bad that AT A PRIDE PARADE I don't feel safe being abro???

Is this just a me thing, or do others experience it too???

I feel like I have so much more I want to say but just.. Eugh. I don't know what it is or how to word it and whatever

Might edit this post if I have more to add.

Edit: More of a ps. So.. (ps. To my knowledge and very limited research, it seems to me that some people just outright don't even identify themselves as abrosexual? Which ofc, is fine, labels are here to help you not define you and all that. But I'm sure there are people who just identify as "queer" or whatever their orientation is at the time not because it feels more right but because they don't feel like they CAN identify as abro, right?)

Edit 2: If everyone involved is comfortable with it, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ASKING QUESTIONS!! If you wanna understand Abromancy or literally any other orientation, you can respectfully ask questions! If you're good about it, the person you're asking would probably love to provide answers and help you understand. Although... Do keep in mind that you probably could never TRULY understand it fully unless you've experienced it.