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SUB)'SpongeMind TV' Jonson 초대석🇰🇷🎙️Korean Podcast for Intermediate — Transcript

by All Things Korean Podcast · 9,386 words · 1,487 segments · language en · Watch on YouTube

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0:01Shall we start right away?
0:02Yeah, let's do it, let's do it, let's do it.
0:03I'm always ready to chat.
0:07Great.
0:09When I first started this podcast,
0:12I never imagined I’d have this guest here.
0:18But you gladly accepted the invitation,
0:20and I really appreciate it.
0:22For those of you who have been following me for a while,
0:26most of you—no, probably all of you—
0:29would know Jonson from SpongeMind TV.
0:33But since I took a break from YouTube for 2-3 years,
0:37you all might have forgotten.
0:39No way.
0:40People are still talking about you a lot.
0:44That’s a relief.
0:45That just means that even after all these years,
0:48your content is still really helpful.
0:51Should I take a 10-year break then?
0:52Would they still remember me?
0:54Oh, come on…
0:56Actually, I’ll be starting YouTube again soon.
1:00Are you going back to SpongeMind TV?
1:03-Yes, continuing on. -That’s great.
1:05Sounds good.
1:06I just dropped a little hint, but...
1:10Jonson, could you introduce yourself briefly?
1:14Of course, of course.
1:15Hello, I’m a guy.
1:18I’m Korean.
1:20I used to run SpongeMind TV on YouTube,
1:25and now I’m starting it again.
1:26But actually, what I’ve been doing even longer
1:30is the SpongeMind Podcast.
1:32Originally,
1:34it was available on regular podcast apps.
1:38Like Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.
1:41Or Spotify.
1:42But recently,
1:44I found a way to upload my podcast
1:47to YouTube automatically.
1:49-So... -RSS?
1:51Yeah, through RSS.
1:54So, it’ll be up automatically in about a week.
1:58I’ll be uploading everything in one go,
2:01so listen to them and keep studying Korean!
2:06Sounds great!
2:08How long have you been running the SpongeMind Podcast?
2:12I think I started around 2016.
2:16That’s a long time!
2:17- It's been about 8 years? - Yeah, 8 years.
2:20I've been following your content for a long time.
2:24I was researching while preparing my own stuff too.
2:27And honestly, your content was ahead of its time.
2:34Why do you think so?
2:37There's a mainstream way of thinking about language learning in Korea.
2:43A general trend, you know?
2:46But you were clearly trying to go in a different direction.
2:51That really stood out.
2:52Honestly, I wasn’t deliberately trying to be different
2:55when I started YouTube and the podcast. It’s just my personality.
3:00I really love learning things.
3:03Learning something new.
3:04But I don’t like being taught by someone else.
3:07Learning and being taught are two different things.
3:11At least, that’s how I see it.
3:14I grew up in Korea, so I went through the Korean education system.
3:19I’m a product of that system.
3:21And in Korean schools,
3:24you’re taught all the time.
3:26In regular classes, in university courses,
3:30everywhere.
3:31Not just in schools, but culturally as well,
3:34there’s a strong focus on the idea of teaching others.
3:39But when it comes to language learning,
3:42I don't think that works very well.
3:44The whole concept of "teaching"…
3:45No one actually learns a language
3:49just by being taught.
3:51Especially not their native language.
3:53But for some reason,
3:54when it comes to foreign languages,
3:56people feel like they need to be taught.
4:00I don’t really think that’s necessary.
4:04What really matters is input.
4:06Getting exposure to things you're interested in.
4:09Something fun, or someone you find interesting.
4:12Even if the content itself isn't fun,
4:14if you're interested in the person behind it,
4:15you’ll listen to them speak or read what they write.
4:23That kind of input is how people really learn a language.
4:27At least, that’s what I believe.
4:30Did you come to that conclusion naturally?
4:36Yeah, from living in the U.S.
4:39When I first moved here,
4:41I really struggled with English.
4:42It was so hard.
4:43I couldn’t believe it.
4:46I studied English for so many years in school,
4:49but I still couldn’t understand or speak it well.
4:53The English we learned in Korean schools
4:56was completely different from the English spoken by Americans.
5:00A lot of the words and phrases they use every day,
5:03I had never even heard of them in school.
5:06So I was like, "What’s going on here?"
5:09And I started learning English...
5:12very, very slowly.
5:15In my generation, we started learning English
5:18from middle school.
5:21That’s when they first taught us English.
5:24We started with ABCs back then.
5:28That means we studied English for decades.
5:30But in all those years, there wasn’t much progress.
5:34Look at the popularity of Korean now.
5:37There are people who study Korean for five or six years
5:40and become fluent.
5:42But after learning English for five or six years,
5:47where was I?
5:50Probably around high school?
5:52Yeah, about then.
5:54How good was my English in my second or third year of high school?
5:57Thinking about it now, it’s terrifying.
6:01When I moved to the U.S., I started watching a lot of TV.
6:05And I turned on closed captions.
6:09You know, the subtitles for the hearing impaired.
6:12I watched with those on.
6:14And after watching for three or four years, my English improved so fast.
6:18I could feel it.
6:20That’s when I realized—
6:21"Oh, it’s all about input."
6:25Did we talk about this last week?
6:28Or was it the week before?
6:30Two weeks ago.
6:31Back then, we planned to talk for 15 minutes and ended up going for an hour and a half.
6:37Our way of thinking is so similar.
6:40- Right? I thought so too. - So earlier...
6:43You said that people can learn,
6:46but can they really be taught?
6:48That’s exactly what I said
6:50a few months ago when talking to another guest.
6:54People can learn a foreign language.
6:59But can someone really teach it to another person?
7:05That thought keeps crossing my mind.
7:08I mean, there are things in the world that can be taught.
7:11Like tennis, plumbing,
7:15or math—technical skills.
7:18Those kinds of things can be passed on from one person to another.
7:22Things like knowledge or skills.
7:26You can transfer those from one person to another.
7:31But language is a whole different story.
7:34Acting as a teacher,
7:37or as an instructor,
7:40we assume that teaching is possible.
7:44But when it comes to fundamental things,
7:46like language or character...
7:50Character, right.
7:52These things can’t really be taught.
7:54They have to be learned, absorbed, by the person.
7:58That’s why I also have doubts
8:01about the idea of "teaching" Korean.
8:04But at the same time, I do a lot of
8:06one-on-one Korean lessons.
8:10It’s a contradiction, I know.
8:12But doing that, I started wondering,
8:16"What’s the best role I can play as a teacher?"
8:19"What’s the best thing I can do for my students?"
8:22And I think it comes down to two things.
8:24First, understanding the student better.
8:27That way, I can relate to them.
8:29And tailor the lessons to their preferences.
8:33Making the class fit them.
8:34But more importantly,
8:37making them want to study Korean more.
8:43Motivating them.
8:45I think that’s absolutely crucial.
8:48No matter how well I explain grammar,
8:51or define vocabulary,
8:53that’s just instruction.
8:55It’s hard to create real, lasting impact that way.
8:59But if, for example,
9:01they have fun during our lessons,
9:03or if I share my own story,
9:06like how I studied English,
9:08or how I learned German,
9:10and that inspires them...
9:13if it motivates them...
9:15That could be far more valuable
9:20than my technical explanations.
9:22Because learning a language is an internal process.
9:26It happens within the learner.
9:30I struggled with this idea too.
9:32But I found a way to think about it.
9:35In English, they say people "pick up" words.
9:38They naturally pick up language.
9:44That phrase gave me an idea.
9:46It’s like putting kids in a playground.
9:50You let them play freely in a fun space.
9:55You scatter interesting toys everywhere.
9:58And they naturally pick them up.
10:03That’s the same approach I take on SpongeMind TV.
10:06I once made a video saying the exact same thing.
10:09Really?
10:11But my analogy was a little different.
10:14I didn’t compare it to a playground.
10:17I compared it to a garden.
10:19So if anyone’s interested,
10:21you can check out that video.
10:22It’s just a short 4-minute video.
10:26It’s called "Words are birds."
10:28Words are all like birds.
10:31- Isn’t that the video on your channel’s homepage? - Yeah, that’s the one!
10:35What I meant was, when we learn a foreign language,
10:40we try to memorize words.
10:43So we don’t forget them.
10:45We catch them and try to hold onto them in our minds.
10:48But it doesn’t really work.
10:50Not only does it not work, but it can even backfire.
10:56It’s like trying to catch birds and keep them in a cage.
11:01First of all, you can only catch so many birds.
11:04It’s hard to catch them, right?
11:08Birds are faster than us.
11:10And there are so many of them.
11:12Way too many.
11:13Plus, a birdcage is a small space.
11:15It’s limited in size.
11:17So the number of birds you can keep is restricted.
11:22In the video, I said something similar to what you said.
11:25Almost exactly the same.
11:29Just let them be.
11:31Think of your brain as a garden.
11:34Then, scatter bird food.
11:36Seeds, peanuts, things birds love.
11:39Let the birds come and go freely.
11:45If they come, they come.
11:47If they fly away, they fly away.
11:49Don’t try to cage them in.
11:51But if birds come back once, twice, ten times,
11:56some of them will start to feel like it’s their home.
12:00They’ll settle down.
12:02Their numbers will grow.
12:05So there’s no need to force them to stay.
12:12That’s exactly how we learned our native language.
12:14We never memorized words as babies.
12:17We didn’t sit down and study Korean.
12:20That’s why your playground analogy is so perfect.
12:23Scatter interesting toys everywhere and let them play.
12:26Let the words play.
12:29Let the language play freely.
12:31What you said and what I said are basically the same.
12:34Just different metaphors.
12:36So there’s no need to struggle.
12:38Exactly.
12:39You don’t have to work hard.
12:42What matters is doing a lot of it, not doing it with great effort.
12:46And those are two different things.
12:48Working hard vs. doing a lot.
12:50I’m not sure if this is a good example, but...
12:54A few months ago, when I got COVID,
12:58I couldn’t do much, so I played a lot of video games.
13:03I started playing Cyberpunk 2077...
13:09and got so addicted that I played over 150 hours.
13:16Saying that out loud is embarrassing.
13:18Anyway, after playing 150 hours...
13:21I memorized all the fictional car brands in the game.
13:26The names of the models, the gun brands...
13:30I remembered them all.
13:34And I thought, "If only I learned a foreign language like this..."
13:41I totally fell for their marketing.
13:44Right.
13:45So instead of trying to catch the language...
13:47let it catch you.
13:51Don’t chase it.
13:53Let it pull you in.
13:56As a content creator,
14:00I started thinking, "How can I make something that pulls people in?"
14:05That became my focus.
14:07Language acquisition is actually
14:09a very passive process.
14:13It’s not about achieving something.
14:17It’s not about accomplishments.
14:20You just spend a long time listening, speaking, reading.
14:26And it just soaks into you.
14:31Like, think about this.
14:33If you leave a book in the sun for 10 years...
14:36the pages turn yellow.
14:38The paper, which was once white, changes color.
14:42But it’s not because the book
14:44tried hard to do that.
14:46It just happened.
14:49It’s a passive process.
14:52Language learning is the same.
14:53It’s a passive process.
14:55I get that it might sound boring.
14:58Some people prefer being more active.
15:00They like taking action.
15:04That’s understandable.
15:07But in a way, this is actually comforting.
15:10You don’t have to force anything.
15:12You don’t have to make anything happen.
15:14Just let it come naturally.
15:16Even if I try hard, it doesn’t just happen.
15:19Instead of focusing on effort,
15:22I just enjoy reading, listening, watching YouTube.
15:26Talking to interesting people.
15:29And as I spend time with Korean, it naturally improves on its own.
15:34I don’t need to push myself to improve.
15:41Instead, I should focus on spending more time with the language.
15:46That’s what really matters.
15:48Finding time for it.
15:49Not trying to "get better" at Korean.
15:52Where you focus your effort makes all the difference.
15:55Some things are out of your control.
15:58You can’t force certain results.
16:00Like vocabulary growth.
16:06Or fluency, comprehension.
16:08That’s not something you can directly control.
16:11It’s like the weather.
16:13It just happens.
16:15So why waste energy worrying about it?
16:18There’s no need to stress over that.
16:20Instead, focus on spending more time with Korean.
16:24Investing time in it.
16:25That’s something you can control.
16:28If you used to study for 30 minutes a day,
16:32make it an hour.
16:34That’s something within your power.
16:38And from there, so many new discussions open up.
16:40There are so many things we could explore.
16:45Maybe in another episode.
16:47Or maybe when I join Jonson’s podcast.
16:52But the real reason I invited Jonson here today...
16:59A few months ago...
17:00Back in September, you did something really interesting in Korea.
17:05Yeah, it was fun.
17:06It really was.
17:08Jonson ran a program in Korea.
17:14And one of my close foreign friends joined it.
17:20Later, they told me, "I joined this program."
17:26"You should reach out."
17:27"Maybe you could talk to them on your podcast."
17:30At first, I replied...
17:35"Ah, but that guy is kind of a big deal…"
17:40Not a big deal. More like a leech.
17:42Once I latch on, I suck everything dry.
17:45Oh, really?
17:46Yeah, not a big shot. Just a leech.
17:49Anyway, I felt too intimidated to reach out.
17:51That’s what I told my friend.
17:54But they encouraged me to just go for it.
17:58So I finally got the courage to send an email.
18:02And you kindly accepted, so here we are today.
18:05Yeah, I had nothing else to do...
18:07You’re way too humble.
18:09No, really.
18:11So, let’s talk about that program.
18:15Actually, when I was running it, I was super busy.
18:18I put so much time and effort into preparing it.
18:23Even while running it,
18:25I put in a huge amount of energy.
18:27I really poured my soul into it.
18:30It was my first time doing something like that.
18:33So, what kind of program was it?
18:37It was called the SpongeMind Korean Immersion Program.
18:41Korean immersion—basically a language and culture program.
18:46A program where you absorb both the language and the culture.
18:50So, what was it exactly?
18:53Korean learners all came to Korea.
18:57We gathered in Seoul, rented a hanok (traditional house),
19:01played games, hung out, had fun.
19:05But the key was—who we spent time with.
19:08Not just among themselves.
19:09They weren’t just talking to other learners.
19:12They spent time with native Korean speakers.
19:15People who actually live in Korea.
19:18We played games, did traditional activities like yutnori.
19:21We went to jjimjilbang (Korean sauna), had picnics at Han River Park.
19:26We went to concerts.
19:29Drank tea, ate meals, even had drinks together.
19:33Basically, it was a huge 10-day party.
19:38But with native Korean speakers.
19:45We even went hiking together.
19:49For 10 days, like it or not,
19:52you had to live with Koreans.
19:53But there were no "lessons."
19:56No whiteboards.
19:59No instructors standing in front teaching.
20:01Instead, it was all experiential learning.
20:04It happened naturally.
20:06And more than anything, what people valued most was...
20:10building friendships.
20:15That’s what meant the most to them.
20:18In just 10 days, they made real Korean friends.
20:21And the Korean participants also bonded with the learners.
20:25When it ended, nobody wanted to leave.
20:30We even have a group chat now.
20:32Both the Korean speakers and the learners.
20:35They still talk there.
20:37I’ll send you some pictures.
20:40Maybe you can show them in this video.
20:44It’d be nice to share them now.
20:49Anyway, we had an amazing time for 10 days.
20:54But how did people even find out and sign up?
20:57Some were longtime podcast listeners.
21:00Well, not just past listeners—current ones too.
21:02People who still follow my podcast.
21:04And some who used to watch my YouTube videos.
21:06I also had email addresses from people
21:09who had previously asked me for study materials.
21:12I didn’t have everyone’s email, of course.
21:16But I had the ones who contacted me before.
21:18So I just emailed them saying, "Hey, I’m running this. Want to join?"
21:24- So it was like an exclusive early subscriber benefit? - Exactly!
21:28That’s nice.
21:30So these were people who had been trying to learn Korean for a while?
21:36- Mostly? - Yeah.
21:38Were they already somewhat fluent?
21:42Some were really good. Others were absolute beginners.
21:47But since this wasn’t a "class," their level didn’t really matter.
21:51It wasn’t about skill.
21:52Even if someone didn’t speak much Korean...
21:57they could still interact with Koreans.
21:59Because most Koreans can speak some English.
22:02They learn it in school.
22:05So in a way, it was more about enjoying connections.
22:10Building relationships in a fun way.
22:13That was often more valuable.
22:15Especially for beginners.
22:17But if someone spoke decent Korean...
22:19they could practice even more.
22:21So there were no strict "No English" rules?
22:29- No, we didn’t enforce that. - No such rule.
22:34None at all.
22:35But we did have a lot of activities.
22:39Some games had a "Korean only" rule.
22:41For those games, English wasn’t allowed.
22:44That part was specified.
22:46I actually spent a lot of time designing those games.
22:50I spent months planning them.
22:52I wanted them to be accessible...
22:55even for people with very little vocabulary.
22:59So they could still participate.
23:01Even if their grammar wasn’t strong.
23:04I designed situations
23:07where they had to use Korean naturally.
23:11But it wasn’t like, "You must speak only Korean for 10 days."
23:15It depended on the activity.
23:17During parties, it was totally open.
23:21A real party atmosphere.
23:23And since some Koreans weren’t great at English...
23:27they naturally had to use Korean.
23:30There were situations where they had to use Korean.
23:32So they’d draw pictures, use gestures.
23:35And somehow, communication worked.
23:37Oh, really?
23:40But I’m really curious about the Koreans who joined.
23:45Why did they come?
23:47Honestly, before starting this program...
23:51I thought they’d all come to practice English.
23:55But that was only a small part of their reason.
24:00Some Koreans even asked me,
24:01"I don’t have to speak English there, right?"
24:03Some really wanted to avoid it.
24:06That’s even better.
24:07For the Korean learners, that’s great.
24:10But if it wasn’t mainly about English practice...
24:14then what was their main reason? So I asked them.
24:18"Why did you join?"
24:21And the foreign participants asked me too.
24:24"For us, it’s obvious."
24:26"We’re here for the culture and language."
24:29"We want to improve our Korean."
24:32"But why did the Koreans come?"
24:34So I asked them directly.
24:39"Why are you here?"
24:40And they said they wanted the foreign guests
24:44to leave Korea with good memories.
24:49That was their reason.
24:53They wanted to help foreigners
24:57have a great experience in Korea.
25:01That’s why they joined.
25:03I heard that a lot.
25:05Among all the reasons I heard...
25:08that was the most common one.
25:12Another reason was...
25:15they wanted to make foreign friends.
25:17It’s not easy to meet people from different cultures.
25:21Even in Korea.
25:22Yes, there are a lot of foreigners in Korea.
25:25But usually, Korean and foreign communities...
25:27don’t mix much.
25:31They tend to stay separate.
25:34Foreigners in Korea mostly hang out with other foreigners.
25:37Koreans mostly stick with Koreans.
25:40Of course, you could travel the world.
25:46But in this case, the world came to them.
25:49People from the U.S., Japan...
25:52Europe—all coming to Korea.
25:57And the Koreans asked me...
25:59"You’re doing this again next year, right?"
26:01Oh, really?
26:02Next year, someone even said...
26:04They don’t have a full-time job.
26:05They mostly do part-time work.
26:07And next year, during the event,
26:09they want to clear their schedule completely.
26:13And participate full-time.
26:16That’s how much they loved it.
26:18The response from Koreans was amazing.
26:20And I was honestly surprised.
26:23I didn’t expect Koreans to love it this much.
26:26Right?
26:27They said it was so much fun. An unforgettable memory.
26:31Is Korea really this warm and welcoming to foreigners?
26:40Well, not all Koreans are friendly toward foreigners.
26:44For example, if a foreigner is walking toward them...
26:49some people will avoid them.
26:51Because they don’t want to speak English.
26:53That happens quite often.
26:55I’ve heard that a lot.
26:57But the foreigners at this event...
27:02were a bit different.
27:05They were people who were interested in Korean.
27:08They were learning the language.
27:11And Koreans seem to love that kind of foreigner.
27:16Right? They really do.
27:19It also feels less burdensome.
27:21Since they’re learning Korean, it’s like...
27:24"If things get hard, just speak Korean instead of English."
27:28So they don’t feel pressured.
27:31That constant need to speak English...
27:33is really stressful for some Koreans.
27:38Some say there’s nothing more stressful
27:41than dealing with foreigners because of that.
27:45But in this case, since everyone was learning Korean,
27:48there was no need to use English all the time.
27:50It felt so natural and free.
27:51Like they were just hanging out.
27:55I totally get that feeling.
27:59I mean, I can communicate in English.
28:02So before, whenever I met foreigners...
28:07I just naturally spoke English.
28:13But after doing YouTube and working in Korean education...
28:17I’ve met so many foreigners who speak Korean.
28:20And now, whenever I meet a foreigner...
28:23I just want to speak Korean.
28:24It’s just easier.
28:26Right?
28:28In a way, I’ve kind of regressed.
28:32But still, most people...
28:35aren’t fluent in Korean.
28:38Learning Korean...
28:39and actually speaking it fluently are two different things.
28:42So, Tae-woong, if you speak some English...
28:47and can have deep conversations in English...
28:49you’ll probably make friends faster.
28:53That’s true.
28:55- Yeah, definitely. - There is an advantage to that.
28:59Right.
29:00I know a lot of foreigners learning Korean.
29:03I have so many friends studying it.
29:07But when it comes to deep conversations...
29:08I always have to switch to English.
29:12There’s no other way.
29:13But it’s probably the same for Koreans.
29:17Right, the other way around.
29:18If a Korean has a foreign friend...
29:20Even if their English is pretty good...
29:23when it comes to deep, meaningful conversations...
29:26or even just funny stories...
29:29they’d probably prefer to do that in Korean.
29:34Back to the main topic.
29:36The Korean Immersion Program.
29:40- It’s kind of tempting. - Yeah, but when I first explained it to people...
29:43they’d ask...
29:45"Wait, is this some kind of group tour?"
29:47That’s what some people thought.
29:49So, it was actually hard to explain.
29:53Is it tourism?
29:54Or is it a language class?
29:57It’s neither.
29:58It has elements of both, but it’s not really either one.
30:02It’s not a class. And it’s not just sightseeing.
30:05So what is it then?
30:07After the event ended, I thought about it.
30:10And I realized—it’s not about tourism.
30:15It’s about relationships.
30:18It became a program about connections.
30:22That’s what it naturally turned into.
30:26Korean learners and native speakers...
30:29ended up becoming really close.
30:32And funny enough, even the Koreans got closer to each other.
30:37After the event ended...
30:40and the foreigners returned home...
30:42the Koreans kept meeting up.
30:44They had after-parties, and after-after-parties.
30:48Meanwhile, the foreign participants...
30:50were back in Alabama, Florida, Europe...
30:53Norway, Japan...
30:56So they couldn’t physically meet up.
30:58But based on the feedback they sent me...
31:04Even among themselves, they became really close.
31:07The Korean learners bonded so much.
31:10It was like a sense of camaraderie.
31:13Like they were comrades on the same journey.
31:15So, seeing all this...
31:19I realized this was ultimately a relationship-based program.
31:25That’s the conclusion I came to.
31:31And another thing.
31:33There’s another way to use the word "relationship."
31:38The relationship between the learners and the Korean language itself.
31:43Over the course of these ten days...
31:47as they went through this program...
31:50I think their relationship with the language changed.
31:55Their connection with Korean.
31:57It became, in a way, more intimate.
32:01More personal, more familiar.
32:06Before, it was just a language they were learning.
32:08Just a "target language."
32:10But now, it’s something more.
32:13They can’t quite call it their native language...
32:18but it moved a little closer to that.
32:21It became more familiar.
32:26Of course, it’s not the same.
32:27Right.
32:28But for ten days, they were surrounded by Koreans.
32:33Listening to Korean nonstop.
32:38Some even got mentally exhausted.
32:42Just being around so many people constantly...
32:46day after day—it’s not easy.
32:49On top of that...
32:50they were speaking a foreign language.
32:53Spending all day with native speakers in a foreign language.
32:58Eating lunch, dinner, drinking coffee, having drinks...
33:01Makgeolli, going on picnics, visiting museums...
33:07Some people's brains just shut down.
33:09Some got physically exhausted too.
33:12Later on, people started saying, "This schedule is intense."
33:18They started asking for more free time.
33:23But since they were completely immersed in Korean...
33:28it was natural.
33:30Their relationship with the language changed.
33:33But it’s really hard to explain in words.
33:37Maybe saying it became more "intimate" in English?
33:41Their relationship with the Korean language...
33:45became something more personal.
33:49I think that’s the best way to describe it.
33:53When I was a kid— they probably still have these now...
33:55there were English camps.
34:00Honestly, this program...
34:01could almost be called a "Korean camp."
34:05There were so many Koreans participating.
34:08So many.
34:09If you see the pictures, you’ll understand.
34:12But for the Koreans, it wasn’t a "Korean camp."
34:14They weren’t learning Korean.
34:16Exactly.
34:17For them, it was like traveling the world through language.
34:23They were still at home.
34:26Traveling isn’t easy, right?
34:28Especially traveling abroad.
34:29You have to take vacation days.
34:31If you have kids, you have to find someone to take care of them.
34:34If you have a job, you need time off.
34:36It’s not easy.
34:38But in this case, they could keep their daily routine...
34:43while meeting people from all over the world.
34:46For Koreans, that was a huge benefit.
34:50Right. That was a great aspect.
34:53For the Korean participants.
34:54So for them, it was a "global camp."
34:57A world tour—without paying for a plane ticket.
35:01Exactly.
35:02And without needing to speak English.
35:06Yeah, I remember one woman.
35:09I asked if she could take some guests to a jjimjilbang.
35:12Her first question was...
35:14"I don’t have to speak English, right?"
35:16That was her main concern.
35:18I told her, "No need."
35:20"Just speak Korean slowly, and don’t let them get lost."
35:26So, this event created all sorts of unique relationships.
35:34In some groups, where Koreans were fluent in English...
35:37the conversations were mostly in English.
35:39And deep connections formed.
35:41But in other cases, everything was in Korean.
35:44Especially when Koreans talked among themselves.
35:48And even if a learner wasn’t fluent...
35:51just being surrounded by Korean conversation...
35:57was incredibly helpful.
35:59They could observe how native speakers talked.
36:02How two Koreans naturally conversed.
36:04Just listening to that was a huge benefit.
36:07Even if they couldn’t actively participate.
36:10In English, we call that "being a fly on the wall."
36:13Just quietly listening.
36:16Blending into the background.
36:19Focusing entirely on the conversation happening around you.
36:21Absorbing every word.
36:26Taking in the language like a sponge.
36:29Like sipping it through a straw.
36:31That kind of experience is really important.
36:33Because that’s how babies naturally learn their native language.
36:38That’s actually the goal of this podcast.
36:40Right, exactly.
36:41For a Korean learner...
36:44sitting with two native speakers over coffee...
36:48and participating as an equal—it’s not easy.
36:52Because their Korean skills are often not strong enough.
36:56But in this case...
36:57they could just listen to Koreans chatting.
37:01Just absorbing the conversation.
37:05In a way, it’s still participation.
37:07But it’s passive participation.
37:09There’s no pressure, just listening and taking it in.
37:14Like the people watching this video right now.
37:18We’re not going to ask them any questions.
37:21Being asked questions is stressful.
37:24Especially when you don’t fully understand.
37:28But here, there’s no pressure.
37:29That’s why conversational podcasts...
37:32are so helpful.
37:35But in my program, it wasn’t just a podcast or video.
37:38It was live.
37:40Real-life, face-to-face immersion.
37:43That brings a totally different energy.
37:46- It’s... - Completely different.
37:47The absorption level is on another level.
37:50I think it’s at the top of the possible learning experiences.
37:55It really is.
37:56That’s why I didn’t include grammar lessons or lectures.
38:00No structured lessons.
38:02But despite that...
38:05people said they learned so much.
38:08Especially when drinking makgeolli.
38:11Really?
38:11Hanging out with Koreans...
38:13and drinking—Koreans drink a lot.
38:16Of course, you don’t have to drink to socialize.
38:17But among the participants...
38:21there were two guys who loved makgeolli.
38:24They drank a lot.
38:27Those two really enjoyed it.
38:31Koreans?
38:32No, foreigners.
38:34Foreigners?
38:34Both of them were American.
38:37- They loved makgeolli. - And after a few drinks...
38:41doesn’t speaking a foreign language get easier?
38:43Of course!
38:46That happened to me too at first.
38:48But it doesn’t mean you actually get better.
38:52It just makes you think you’re speaking better.
38:56- Really..? - I mean, I’ve never tested it.
38:58But if you record yourself, you’ll know.
39:03- If I record myself drunk, speaking a foreign language... - That makes sense.
39:06If you listen to the recording...
39:08you’ll know if drinking actually...
39:12improves your foreign language skills...
39:15or just makes you think it does.
39:19Are you improving? Or is it just an illusion?
39:23You’d find out by recording yourself.
39:25But I’d bet 500 won on the illusion.
39:31Oh, that could be true.
39:33Try recording yourself.
39:35Not on this channel, but another one.
39:37I actually did a live stream after drinking a few highballs.
39:43Oh, really?
39:45But that was in Korean, right?
39:47No, no.
39:47I do game videos in Korean.
39:52But when I have deep discussions with viewers...
39:56In English?
39:57Yeah, I often switch to English.
40:00So, how did it sound when you listened back?
40:04I don’t have the courage to listen.
40:08I never rewatch my live streams.
40:10Oh, really?
40:12It’s better for your mental health.
40:14That makes sense.
40:17I don’t like watching my own videos either.
40:21- And also... - Yeah, it’s not easy.
40:24When I talk to people normally...
40:26I usually enunciate clearly.
40:29But when I record videos...
40:31I focus so much on my thoughts...
40:34on what to say next...
40:35that I forget to focus on pronunciation.
40:36I don’t pay attention to it.
40:39Even though Korean is my native language...
40:41sometimes my pronunciation gets messy.
40:44But since I create Korean learning content...
40:49and do 1:1 tutoring...
40:52I try to be mindful of my pronunciation.
40:54So when it doesn’t come out clearly...
40:57it frustrates me.
41:00Like, "Why is this happening..?"
41:04Even right now, I’m aware of it.
41:06If I were just chatting with a friend casually...
41:09without recording, it wouldn’t matter.
41:12But in this setting, where people are listening and watching...
41:18Because I know this is for Korean listening practice.
41:22So I want to do better.
41:24But it doesn’t always work out.
41:25So when my pronunciation is off in a video...
41:30whether in English or Korean, it’s disappointing.
41:35That’s why I don’t rewatch.
41:36Except when editing.
41:37But yeah, it’s a bit stressful.
41:41It’s just something I have to deal with.
41:47Anyway, back to that program.
41:49I’ve been thinking.
41:50At the start of this podcast, we talked about this.
41:54The difference between being "taught" and actually "learning."
41:57We discussed that earlier.
41:59And whether it’s the SpongeMind program or something else...
42:02when you spend time with Koreans...
42:04native Korean speakers...
42:07for an extended period...
42:10the advantage is this:
42:13You skip the "teaching" step and go straight to "learning."
42:19You don’t even realize you’re learning.
42:21You don’t think, "Am I learning something?"
42:22You’re not even aware of it.
42:26Learning happens naturally, like a phenomenon.
42:31That’s the biggest strength of spending time with natives.
42:34That’s the most powerful aspect.
42:39That’s literally the foundation of my content.
42:43Oh, really?
42:43Wait, was this called All Things in Korean?
42:46At first, yes. But I removed the "in."
42:48So, just "All Things Korean."
42:49Wouldn’t that work as a live event?
42:51Gather some Korean learners...
42:54even just a few.
42:56With a live audience.
42:58Wait, you mean live-live?
43:00Not a live stream, but an actual live event?
43:03Yeah, exactly.
43:04With a real audience.
43:06Like stand-up comedy.
43:08- Yeah! And take questions live. - Like, real-time interaction?
43:13And if someone in the audience...
43:14wants to join the conversation...
43:16they can come up and talk.
43:20Even say a few words.
43:22Should we include this in next year’s SpongeMind Immersion?
43:28Yeah, let’s try it!
43:31I’m always open. Feel free to use me.
43:34Got it. You’re invited.
43:37Thanks!
43:38This is the first time I've met someone...
43:43who shares my values.
43:45That's great to hear.
43:46But honestly, I sometimes wonder...
43:49"Do I even have strong values?"
43:52Values?
43:53Like, ways of thinking?
43:54Mindset?
43:55But as human beings...
43:58we naturally develop those.
44:00But in my case, my goal is...
44:03to have as few strong opinions as possible.
44:06I try to minimize them.
44:12Fewer opinions, fewer judgments.
44:15I don't want to over-categorize things.
44:17Like, "This is important to me."
44:19Or, "This isn't important."
44:23I try to break down those distinctions.
44:26Same with political views, religion, beliefs.
44:30I try not to hold onto them too tightly.
44:32Right now, that's my personal goal.
44:35Because it feels easier.
44:39When I don't cling to rigid ideas...
44:43- My mind is more open and at ease. - Open-mindedness.
44:45And I can experience so much more.
44:49But at the end of the day, I'm human.
44:51So of course, I have values.
44:53There are things I care about.
44:55And while talking to you, Tae-woong...
44:57I realized something.
44:59The values I believe in...
45:03are the same as yours.
45:07We think alike.
45:08That realization makes me really happy.
45:13We've been recording for about an hour.
45:15Are you getting bored?
45:17No, no, not at all.
45:19Two weeks ago, I meant to talk for 15 minutes...
45:23but ended up talking for 90.
45:27So today, I'm focusing on sticking to the planned topics.
45:33I'm being extra careful.
45:36There were so many moments where I almost went off track.
45:42By the way, like I said before...
45:44could you invite me to SpongeMind?
45:49I'll think about it.
45:50Oh... okay.
45:52No, no, I'll invite you! For sure.
45:54- Please consider it positively. - Of course! No hesitation.
45:56There's nothing to think about.
45:57Honestly, nobody else is lining up to join.
46:00Oh, really?
46:01Did you know?
46:02Koreans actually dislike appearing on broadcasts.
46:05Right.
46:07- They don't like it. - But how do you...
46:10find so many Koreans...
46:12for your podcast and YouTube channel?
46:16Do you just invite them?
46:18Actually, 9 out of 10 are just my friends.
46:24I guess I just have a lot of good friends.
46:28But in Korea, many people...
46:31feel uncomfortable being on camera, right?
46:34Of course, this is just my assumption.
46:37But I don't think I'm exactly...
46:43a typical Korean either.
46:45My experiences, personality, and way of thinking...
46:51are not really conventional.
46:54You know how people say,
46:55"Birds of a feather flock together"?
46:58I think I just have many similar people around me.
47:02Some of my office worker friends tell me...
47:07that everyone in their circle...
47:10is just like them.
47:12They followed the typical path:
47:14graduate high school, go to college,
47:17prepare for a job, and become an office worker.
47:21That's how their lives go.
47:23Not that it's bad or anything.
47:25But they don't have many unique people around them.
47:28For some reason, I have quite a few.
47:32So, you have a lot of "weird" people around you?
47:35I do! Lots of unique ones.
47:38Interesting people.
47:38"Weird" might not be the right word.
47:41They're interesting.
47:42Right. Unique, fun, special kinds of friends.
47:46How should I put it?
47:47They're a bit unconventional.
47:49You know how people have different kinds of energy?
47:52It feels like similar energies attract.
47:56Right, and those kinds of friends...
48:02tend to be less afraid of being on camera.
48:08That makes sense. Also, I’m pretty persuasive.
48:12Nobody really watches, anyway.
48:13No, you're great at hosting.
48:15You lead conversations really well.
48:18I don’t do much, though?
48:20No, I mean...
48:22leading a conversation doesn’t mean talking a lot.
48:25It’s about guiding it naturally.
48:28Talking a lot or speaking well
48:30doesn’t necessarily make a conversation flow smoothly.
48:32That’s not really the key.
48:35I think there are two important things.
48:37First, knowing how to ask
48:39good and interesting questions
48:41that get the other person talking.
48:44Second, knowing when to let them talk
48:47and when to step in
48:49to subtly change the direction of the conversation.
48:52Figuring out that timing is really important.
48:56And you’re really good at that, Tae-woong.
48:58Really?
48:59Thanks.
49:00That’s why conversations with you are fun.
49:03Honestly, I’m not even learning Korean,
49:05but I’ve watched a few of your videos.
49:07Really?
49:09Which ones?
49:10The one with two female guests.
49:14But since you talk about so many topics,
49:16-it’s hard to remember specific details. -Yeah, I tend to do that.
49:19Honestly, talking about just one topic for an hour...
49:23that’s really hard to listen to.
49:25It’s hard to stay focused.
49:28That’s why when I structure my podcast,
49:30I always divide it into three different sections.
49:34First, "Today’s Korean."
49:36We take one Korean word or expression
49:39and just talk about that.
49:42Second, "Interesting Korean Stories."
49:45This could be about Korean culture, society, or history.
49:49Like Dangun mythology or Korea’s delivery culture.
49:54Things like that.
49:57The third section is more philosophical.
49:59It’s not directly related to Korean language or culture.
50:03But they’re topics that everyone, as humans, can relate to.
50:08That’s how we divide it up.
50:09Three different sections.
50:11So you don’t have to talk about just one thing for an hour.
50:15And now, many Korean language podcasts
50:20are following this format.
50:24You were ahead of your time.
50:26Really?
50:28Honestly, I don’t consume
50:30much online content.
50:32I rarely watch YouTube, don’t use Instagram much,
50:37and barely touch social media.
50:40So sometimes I wonder...
50:42"What have I been doing all day?"
50:46But anyway, even though I don't browse the internet much,
50:49or consume content there, I also don’t watch the news at all.
50:52I don’t watch the news, I don’t watch dramas.
50:54But somehow, I’m busy all day.
50:56And I don’t even know why I’m so busy.
50:57I should write it down.
50:59To track what I actually do all day.
51:01Oh, that’s similar to me.
51:03You don’t really watch stuff online, no dramas?
51:05I deliberately avoid them.
51:07I block certain sites on purpose.
51:10I hide the news tab.
51:12I deleted social media apps and only use them on my computer when necessary.
51:16This could actually be a really long discussion.
51:19The way we consume content online...
51:25It really affects our thinking, emotions,
51:31and even mental health.
51:32It has a significant impact, right?
51:35Talking about this could be interesting.
51:37Yeah, that’d be fun to discuss.
51:39Honestly, we could probably talk about this for an hour.
51:41Right, right. I totally agree.
51:43But today’s main topic is my Korean Immersion Program.
51:46And in that program, we actually talk about stuff like this.
51:48Of course, we explain Korean words.
51:50But more than that, it’s about real conversations.
51:53When people meet and interact naturally.
51:57When humans just talk to each other.
52:01It’s that kind of genuine conversation.
52:04The only difference is, the people speaking are Koreans.
52:06Of course, language barriers exist.
52:09That’s an undeniable fact.
52:10Koreans aren’t exactly fluent in English either.
52:12Most of them don’t speak it well.
52:15Considering the time and effort Koreans spend on English...
52:18our English proficiency isn’t as high as it should be.
52:22It’s definitely not at the level you’d expect.
52:26But even with those language barriers,
52:28people became close really easily.
52:33I actually asked the Korean participants about this.
52:35They got really close with each other.
52:37As I mentioned before, they kept meeting up even after the program.
52:40They went out for meals together, hung out.
52:44So I asked them, "If there were no foreign learners,
52:49do you think you would’ve become this close?"
52:52And they all said, "No, probably not."
52:55So I asked, "Why not?"
52:58And they told me that having the foreign learners there...
53:01made them feel a sense of responsibility.
53:04They wanted to help them have a good experience.
53:06Or to help them learn Korean better.
53:08They felt a sense of responsibility to do something.
53:11Like a shared mission among the Korean participants.
53:16It was almost like a common goal.
53:20And that goal brought the Koreans together.
53:24So they naturally got close through that.
53:28But if you just put random people together...
53:33without a purpose, mission, goal, or task...
53:36and say, "Go make friends"...
53:39that’s really difficult.
53:41Without a common focus, it’s hard to build relationships.
53:44Just putting people together and saying,
53:46"Figure it out yourselves" doesn’t work well.
53:52Unless they’re kids.
53:55Kids just start playing immediately.
53:58But adults are different.
54:00Earlier, we talked about personal values.
54:04"I am this kind of person."
54:06"I think this way."
54:08"I like this. I dislike that."
54:10Our values and opinions shape who we are.
54:15They form our identity.
54:17A strong, solid sense of self.
54:20And while that can be useful in life...
54:23it can also create barriers.
54:25If you put people together randomly,
54:28without a common goal,
54:29it’s hard to connect deeply.
54:36Our personal beliefs can sometimes block new relationships.
54:40Our identities, opinions, and preferences...
54:43They all create walls.
54:47That’s why kids make friends so easily.
54:50Because they don’t have those walls yet.
54:53They don’t have strong identities.
54:55Right.
54:56They don’t have rigid values yet.
54:59They haven’t fully developed opinions.
55:02They don’t have firm political or social beliefs.
55:07But adults do.
55:09That’s why this program worked so well.
55:11It gave people a shared goal beyond personal differences.
55:17And that common goal brought them together.
55:20They had fun for 10 days.
55:23That was the core of this program.
55:26But now I have a question.
55:32Did you ever have to step in and mediate conflicts?
55:38Of course, conflicts happen.
55:41When you have that many people together...
55:44Dozens of people.
55:45Yeah, naturally.
55:46When so many people are together for 10 days,
55:49of course, small conflicts and misunderstandings happen.
55:53That’s just natural.
55:54But surprisingly, it was all very minor.
55:58I never had to step in to mediate something serious.
56:01The participants handled things themselves.
56:04And I think that’s because...
56:06everyone was so open-minded and understanding.
56:10That was really impressive to see.
56:14People from different backgrounds, cultures, and languages...
56:17all coming together.
56:20And yet, they naturally resolved any small issues.
56:24That’s great.
56:25I think the key was...
56:28everyone entered with the right mindset.
56:31They were there to learn, to grow, and to connect.
56:35So even if there were small misunderstandings...
56:39they worked through them quickly.
56:42But there was one situation...
56:46where I almost had to step in.
56:50What happened?
56:52It was a cultural difference thing.
56:54One participant...
56:56accidentally offended a Korean speaker.
57:00But they didn’t mean to.
57:02They were just expressing themselves naturally.
57:06It was completely unintentional.
57:09But the Korean participant felt disrespected.
57:13So I checked in with them separately.
57:17And I explained that this was just a cultural difference.
57:20It wasn’t personal.
57:22Once I explained, they understood right away.
57:25Oh, that’s good.
57:28So it didn’t become a big issue.
57:30No, not at all.
57:32It was resolved quickly and peacefully.
57:36But it showed me how important cultural awareness is.
57:41That’s a really interesting point.
57:46People don’t always realize when they’re crossing a cultural line.
57:50Yeah, it’s never intentional.
57:53Most misunderstandings happen innocently.
57:56But small things can sometimes mean different things in different cultures.
58:00I remember one moment during the program.
58:03A foreign participant didn’t realize bowing is important in Korea.
58:07They casually greeted someone without bowing.
58:09And the Korean person was a bit surprised.
58:13But once they explained, "Oh, in Korea, bowing is polite,"
58:16the foreign participant immediately adjusted.
58:19They weren’t trying to be rude.
58:23They just didn’t know.
58:08That’s just a fake memory.
58:11It’s too artificial, too manufactured.
58:14It’s like...
58:16plugging my brain into a computer and saying,
58:18"Hey, AI, just give me good memories."
58:21It’s basically the same thing.
58:23I once read somewhere...
58:26you know fruit juice? Like juice.
58:28Orange juice, apple juice.
58:30People think it’s really healthy.
58:32And they drink a lot of it.
58:34But apparently, it’s not that good for you.
58:35I asked why, and they said it's because it’s separated.
58:39The pulp—so, the fiber.
58:41You need to eat it together with the juice.
58:43Even now, we don’t fully understand...
58:45what nutrients an orange contains.
58:47There’s still way more we don’t know about food...
58:51than what we do know.
58:54We know it has vitamin C.
58:55That’s good.
58:56That’s something we understand.
58:57But what else is inside this orange?
59:00What effect does eating a whole orange have?
59:02How does it actually impact our body?
59:04We don’t fully understand this yet.
59:07We don’t have all the answers.
59:10But we do know one thing.
59:12Eating an orange is good for you.
59:14It’s healthy.
59:15Eating an apple is good for you.
59:16But just drinking the juice from an orange...
59:19or only extracting the sweetness from an apple...
59:22can actually have negative effects.
59:25You need to eat the whole thing.
59:27Chew the apple, feel the texture.
59:29The peel isn’t as tasty as the inside.
59:31But apparently, the peel has so many nutrients.
59:34So, eating the whole fruit—even if it’s a bit dry...
59:38even if it’s not as sweet...
59:41is still better for you.
59:44And I think memories are the same way.
59:48You need to take them in as a whole.
59:50So, about whether conflicts happened...
59:54That was a long answer, huh?
59:56But it really makes you think. 1197 00:59:59,260 --> 00:59:01,910 I always feel responsible...
59:01for minimizing conflicts as much as possible.
59:05But in the end, you just have to let it be.
59:07Honestly, I used to have that pressure, too.
1:00:09So actually, conflicts in human relationships
1:00:13can be really stressful.
1:00:15But as someone organizing this event,
1:00:17of course, I wanted to minimize people's stress.
1:00:21So I thought, "Should I step in?"
1:00:25But everyone told me to just stay put.
1:00:28They said, "There’s nothing you can do."
1:00:30That’s what they told me.
1:00:33And honestly, it's not just for big events.
1:00:35The same goes for friendships too.
1:00:38For example, let’s say you have two friends.
1:00:40And those two get into a fight.
1:00:42They’re not on good terms anymore.
1:00:43They had an argument.
1:00:44You can’t take sides.
1:00:46Right, you can’t.
1:00:48And even if you sit them down together and say,
1:00:49"Hey, why are you guys like this?"
1:00:51"Just get along, okay?"
1:00:53I doubt that would really help.
1:00:56Of course, it’d be best if conflicts never happened, right?
1:01:01I used to think that way.
1:01:01I also really hated conflicts.
1:01:04I was someone who avoided them as much as possible.
1:01:08Of course, everyone dislikes conflicts.
1:01:10But I think I disliked them even more than most people.
1:01:14I just couldn't stand having conflicts with others.
1:01:17Actually, in my marriage,
1:01:20since my wife and I have been together for a long time,
1:01:22this became a problem.
1:01:25My wife told me,
1:01:26"Hey, there are so many married couples in the world, and they all argue sometimes."
1:01:33"But why is it that every time we argue,"
1:01:37"you act like it’s the end of the world?"
1:01:40"That reaction makes me even angrier."
1:01:41"And it actually worsens our relationship."
1:01:45"If we fight, we fight. That’s it."
1:01:47She told me this all the time.
1:01:50And now, looking back, I think she was right.
1:01:53Now that I reflect on it.
1:01:56So instead of thinking, "I must eliminate all conflicts,"
1:01:59"Bad things must be avoided,"
1:02:01"Everything should always be good and smooth,"
1:02:04whether it’s in a marriage, a friendship, or family relationships,
1:02:07I used to believe that.
1:02:10But now, I think differently.
1:02:14Just like how eating a whole apple is better.
1:02:18That’s an interesting realization.
1:02:19You should try picking a fight with your parents today. Just for fun.
1:02:24Oh, really?
1:02:25I used to fight a lot when I was younger.
1:02:27With your parents?
1:02:29Yeah.
1:02:31And honestly, even though I said otherwise earlier,
1:02:34I think I actually enjoy arguing.
1:02:39So whether I was traveling or anywhere else,
1:02:43if I felt something was unfair, I would challenge it.
1:02:48I’d argue back and question everything.
1:02:51With my parents too, I never backed down.
1:02:53I would keep arguing until I completely won.
1:02:56But after that, my family’s peace was broken.
1:03:00Happiness disappeared, and all that was left were scars.
1:03:04Still, don’t you think it was better
1:03:08to learn that lesson with your parents?
1:03:10If that happened later in marriage,
1:03:12the scars would be even deeper.
1:03:16It’s better to learn that lesson now.
1:03:21That’s true.
1:03:22It’s like I got early training.
1:03:25So as I said earlier, conflict
1:03:29isn’t always a bad thing.
1:03:32It has positive effects too.
1:03:34If I had to sum it up, I’d say it’s about learning.
1:03:39-Whenever conflict happens, -You grow.
1:03:41There’s always something to learn from it.
1:03:43And interestingly,
1:03:44nowadays, I don’t try to avoid conflict.
1:03:47For example, with my wife—
1:03:52I don’t actively try to please her either.
1:03:55I don’t go out of my way to do that,
1:03:57but we fight way less than before.
1:04:00We barely argue now—almost never.
1:04:04Before, I treated conflict like an allergy.
1:04:06I thought, "No matter what, I must avoid it."
1:04:07"Fighting is absolutely bad."
1:04:09But ironically, that led to even more fights.
1:04:12Now that I don’t overthink it,
1:04:14we barely fight at all.
1:04:17Honestly, I can’t even remember the last argument.
1:04:21It’s interesting—when you cling to something,
1:04:25it pushes further away.
1:04:28But when you let it go, it comes to you naturally.
1:04:32Things like harmony and love—
1:04:34they just come on their own.
1:04:36And I think it’s the same with language learning.
1:04:39If you become obsessed with learning Korean,
1:04:43like, "I must improve!"
1:04:46"I have to get better!"
1:04:48That mindset actually makes it harder to absorb.
1:04:51It slows down the learning process.
1:04:55But on the other hand, I don’t obsess over whether I’m good at Korean or not.
1:04:59It’s not that important to me.
1:05:03I just do it because it’s fun.
1:05:04And this person, without any pressure,
1:05:07spends 2, 3, or even 5 hours a day watching YouTube,
1:05:11reading, listening, and practicing.
1:05:15If they spend time with Korean in such a friendly way,
1:05:17then naturally,
1:05:20they’ll improve much faster.
1:05:24The moment they let go of the obsession with improving quickly,
1:05:29that’s when they truly grow.
1:05:31It’s all about relationships—relationships with people,
1:05:35and relationships with language.
1:05:38For a relationship to grow in a healthy way,
1:05:40you first need to let go of obsession.
1:05:43It’s similar to what Johnson said earlier about avoiding conflicts.
1:05:49Before, you treated conflict like an allergy and avoided it at all costs.
1:05:55And I used to be the opposite—addicted to conflict,
1:05:59hurting everyone around me.
1:06:01So between these two extremes,
1:06:05there’s a middle ground that’s more subtle.
1:06:09Truth is always somewhere in the middle.
1:06:11But it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where that is.
1:06:16And it changes slightly depending on different contexts.
1:06:22That balance is always shifting little by little.
1:06:26But society today demands clear-cut answers.
1:06:32People want a single, universal answer that applies to everything.
1:06:37A "right answer society."
1:06:39-"What’s the correct answer?" -"Exactly."
1:06:40"Tell me the right answer."
1:06:41-"Whose side are you on?" -"Exactly!"
1:06:43"Which side are you on?"
1:06:45"What’s your personality type?"
1:06:46"Are you introverted or extroverted?"
1:06:50"What’s your MBTI type?"
1:06:52People keep demanding clear labels.
1:06:54Right.
1:06:55But that actually creates more internal conflict.
1:07:03And even worse,
1:07:06it limits the range of experiences we have.
1:07:09Like saying,
1:07:11"From now on, I’ll only hang out with people who think like me."
1:07:13"I’ll only consume information that aligns with my views."
1:07:17"I’ll only watch YouTube videos I agree with."
1:07:19"I’ll only follow news that supports my beliefs."
1:07:22"I’ll only do what suits me."
1:07:24"I’ll only eat foods I already like."
1:07:27"I’ll just drink juice."
1:07:29"I don’t like apple peels."
1:07:31But is that really good for us?
1:07:34I have a lot of doubts about that.
1:07:35Right.
1:07:36Just like two weeks ago...
1:07:38when a 15-minute conversation turned into an hour and a half.
1:07:42Earlier, I thought, “Let’s not talk about vague topics.”
1:07:46But then, that topic hit me hard.
1:07:49Should we stop here?
1:07:50Should we just say goodbye and end it?
1:07:52No, no.
1:07:54How do you usually end your conversations?
1:07:56Usually, when the discussion lands naturally.
1:08:00Like when the topic safely "touches down."
1:08:02Then, I just say, “See you next week,” and wrap it up.
1:08:06I usually invite people back for another time.
1:08:09But are you not going to invite me?
1:08:10Of course, I will! I want to be invited myself!
1:08:14Come anytime!
1:08:15Like I mentioned earlier,
1:08:17it’s not easy to find Korean guests.
1:08:20Koreans are just too busy.
1:08:22Compared to Westerners, they have way less free time.
1:08:25That’s what I feel.
1:08:26Of course, Tae-woong, you’re kind of in a jobless phase.
1:08:30-I’m unemployed. -Yep, jobless.
1:08:31Not "kind of." I’m just fully unemployed.
1:08:33Being jobless is great.
1:08:36You’ll be busy working in the future anyway.
1:08:39Whether you get a job or start a business,
1:08:43you’ll work a lot eventually.
1:08:44So why not do what you love while you have the time?
1:08:48Right.
1:08:49People always say, "You must be productive."
1:08:54"You must always be producing something."
1:08:58Basically, it means,
1:08:59"You must make money."
1:09:01But that idea is kind of ridiculous.
1:09:04Where did that even come from?
1:09:06People think, "If you don’t make money, you have no value."
1:09:09But isn’t that a weird concept?
1:09:10Right.
1:09:12By the way...
1:09:13Where do you live?
1:09:14You live in Busan, right?
1:09:15Yeah, I live in Busan.
1:09:17Then next time,
1:09:18when I host the SpongeMind Korean Immersion Program,
1:09:21you’ll have to come to Seoul.
1:09:22I’ll probably only be doing it in Seoul.
1:09:25Of course, I’ll go to Seoul.
1:09:29Come on over!
1:11:45We need to have a proper discussion about this.
1:11:48Let’s dig deep into it.
1:11:50Yes, that’s right.
1:11:53This is what my subscribers have been wanting.
1:11:56Honestly, the name of this channel is so good.
1:11:58Comprehensible Input Korean.
1:12:01It's really great how it's specifically tailored for Korean learners.
1:12:05That concept is excellent.
1:12:08I think it's a brilliant idea.
1:12:10People probably subscribe
1:12:12just because of the channel name.
1:12:14Exactly, that’s what happens.
1:12:16Usually, people decide whether to subscribe
1:12:20after watching a few videos.
1:12:22They watch some content first.
1:12:23Then they make their decision.
1:12:25But in your case, I think
1:12:27some people just subscribe first
1:12:29and then check out the videos later.
1:12:33So in the next Comprehensible Input episode,
1:12:37we’ll discuss this more, but actually...
1:12:41I'm thinking about changing the channel name.
1:12:43Why? Why would you change it?
1:12:47- Are you changing it to "Incomprehensible Input"? - No, no, nothing like that.
1:12:51Should I talk about it now?
1:12:52Or save it for the next episode?
1:12:53Should I just give you a little hint now?
1:12:55Yes, go ahead.
1:12:58I think there should be more channels
1:13:02creating content based on Comprehensible Input.
1:13:07But I feel like I’m making it seem like it belongs to me alone.
1:13:12Why does that matter?
1:13:14Really? You think so?
1:13:16Isn’t life about competing with others?
1:13:19Just kidding, I don’t actually believe that.
1:13:22I don’t see it that way.
1:13:24But anyway...
1:13:26Changing a channel name isn’t easy.
1:13:29That’s true.
1:13:30It’s technically difficult.
1:13:31YouTube doesn’t really like it.
1:13:34And even subscribers don’t like it much.
1:13:37Because on Reddit or other forums...
1:13:38people talk about your channel.
1:13:40They say, "There’s this YouTube channel."
1:13:42"This channel makes these kinds of videos."
1:13:45"It’s run by a guy named Tae-woong."
1:13:47Then the other person asks, "What’s the channel name?"
1:13:50They say, "Comprehensible Input Korean."
1:13:52And at that point...
1:13:53That would end up giving people the wrong information.
1:13:56Right.
1:13:57If you change the channel name...
1:13:59I don’t think it would be a good idea.
1:14:03Of course, I’m not in a position to tell you what to do.
1:14:07But if it were me, I wouldn’t change it.
1:14:09Yeah, it’s not the best idea.
1:14:12Instead of that, you should focus on...
1:14:15making the content more comprehensible.
1:14:17How can the videos be even more comprehensible?
1:14:19I think that’s a better thing to think about.
1:14:21In my opinion...
1:14:24- That would be fun. - Thanks for the advice.
1:14:27There aren’t that many, actually.
1:14:29There aren’t that many comprehensible input resources.
1:14:32Creating them is really difficult.
1:14:34Yeah, it’s tough to make.
1:14:36For learners, it’s super helpful and easy to use.
1:14:41Exactly.
1:14:41But from the perspective of content creators or teachers...
1:14:45it’s really hard to make.
1:14:46It’s much easier...
1:14:48to just teach whatever you want to teach.
1:14:50- Let’s continue this in the Comprehensible Input episode. - Yeah, let’s save it for later.
1:14:56Should we wrap up for today?
1:14:57Yes, let’s end here for now.
1:14:58Before we lose control and this conversation stretches on forever...
1:15:05let’s conclude here.
1:15:07Sounds good.
1:15:08Today’s conversation was really special, fun...
1:15:12and full of useful information.
1:15:16I truly appreciate it.
1:15:17Next time, I’ll make it even more interesting.
1:15:19Oh, I’m really looking forward to it.
1:15:21And next week, I’ll be back with more...
1:15:24useful and engaging discussions.
1:15:27See you next week!
1:15:29See you next week!

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