Have you ever wanted to read graded reader in Korean?
Imagine immersing yourself in the Korean culture in a story set in modern-day Korea. This post talks about graded readers but not only to convince you to add another resource to your studies. This post is about why we used real places in our graded readers and its effects on your Korean language learning.
(Image by HYUNGNAM PARK from Pixabay)
The main protagonist, Jo Seo-ha’s hometown is in Daegu, the third biggest city in South Korea. You will see part of the novel set in Daegu with real places in the city.
“Spring Again, and Summer Part One” is more than a novel. It’s your gateway to making the Korean language come alive to you. Set in Daegu and Seoul, the novel offers a journey through the eyes of the main character, Jo Seo-Ha and her friends. Written all in Korean, this novel is to practice reading with easy-to-read stories.
Why Graded Readers?
Graded readers use simple language and vocabulary that matches your level. Over time, each level moves you to more complex books as you get better at reading in Korean. It is a chance to read and reread the book and depend on your Korean knowledge without translating it.
As a former expat, I remember how difficult communicating with others was. When I found graded readers in Mandarin, I saw an improvement in my speaking abilities. I did not find any Korean-language graded readers when I lived there between 2016 and 2019. This slowed my progression down because I was not able to see how words and grammar were used in one place and practice.
Co-writing these readers, I know that are not just books but bridges to cultural fluency. Adding Spring Again, and Summer Part One into your studies can enrich your vocabulary. It can give you confidence in conversations. It can be purely for entertainment.
Visualising the story
We include real places to help you visualise Korea’s landscapes to make reading an active experience. Spring Again, and Summer Part One shows you Duryu Park during the summer. We included the Daegu Chimek Festival (대구 치맥 페스티벌) as part of the food festival scene in Korea. “Chimek” which is two words blended, “Chicken” + “Maekju” (the Korean word for beer). The festival has live performances, parties and a wide range of chicken and beer stalls. Understanding events like the Chimek festival opens a window to Korean culture. You may want to plan a trip to Korea and now can add this to your itinerary.
Our other stories
In our other stories, we also include other cultural events that occur every year. You need to know these cultural events in Korean to help you navigate Korea – especially if you live there.
Reading for cultural understanding
I encourage you to take a closer look at Spring Again, and Summer and explore our other graded readers. They are packed with cultural nuggets to help you ‘level up’ your Korean. While rote memorisation works for some people, it has its limits. Learning Korean through stories and experiences will help you remember more words and interesting cultural aspects that help you settle there (if you are going to live there) or be useful to know.
Let’s not just learn Korea – let’s live it one page at a time.
Your Turn
Don’t miss out on your copy of Spring Again, and Summer Part One. A story that breaks you into reading and helps you understand and appreciate Korean culture.
FAQs & How-To Guide for Graded Readers
Where can I find graded readers in Korean?
Our graded readers are available at our shop for digital editions and Amazon for printed editions.
Buy the print copy
Buy our eBook from our shop
How do I choose the right level of graded reader?
We currently are working on Level One books. These books are for 'A2' or 'high beginner' level learners.
Take a look at our sample chapters. This can give you an idea of what level you are.
If the stories are too hard for you for now, please do not feel intimidated. Buying a copy of the book will help you "read up" which means, you will be exposed to more vocabulary and grammar early on. With lots of repetition, you will start to understand more each time you read. Of course, you will still need to study Korean but use this to help you with comprehension.
If you understand most of the story use ur books to keep reviewing and practicing. You will find that you can listen and learn with only the audio helping you practice your listening comprehension too.
If this book is too easy, then you're more than welcome to return to us later when we have our next level or find content suitable for your level.
get your free copy
You will get a digital copy of all three books and audio files.
Download
Any tips for using our graded readers effectively?
1. Regular Practice: Incorporate reading into your daily language practice.
2. Use Supplementary Materials: Many graded readers come with audio recordings or vocabulary lists. Use these to enhance your learning.
3. Engage Actively: Take notes, highlight new words, and summarize what you've read in Korean. We have lots of space on the page to make notes.
4. Enjoy the Process: Choose books that interest you to keep the learning process enjoyable.