Interview with Torobai kyzy Gulnaz of KSI Bishkek, who achieved an excellent result in the 2nd Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA)

The Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA) is a Korean proficiency assessment of KSIF. Those who are learning Korean language as a second or a foreign language will be tested for their Korean communication skills across four domains: listening· reading· writing, and speaking. The know-hows of Torobai kyzy Gulnaz, who studied at KSI Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and achieved excellent results in the 2nd Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA) conducted in May! Shall we find out more?

Greetings Ms. Gulnaz! First of all, please tell us about yourself for the readers of Monthly Knock Knock.

Hello! I am from Kyrgyzstan, and I majored in Korean at Kyrgyz National University in Bishkek. I learned about KSI Bishkek when I participated in the Sejong Culture Academy in 2019. I started studying Korean at KSI by experiencing Korean language, Korean food, and Samulnori. As best efforts never fail you, I studied diligently and got accepted in a Korean government invitation scholarship program in 2023. I am now a graduate student in the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Kyung Hee University.

I would like to know when you first became interested in Korean language, and how you started learning it.

When I was in middle school, I watched the drama Dream High and learned about school life in Korea. I started having a dream to study at a Korean school someday. From that day on, I studied Korean hard to achieve my dream, but studying by myself had its limitations, so I decided to attend KSI Bishkek.

Amazing! As a graduate from KSI, would you please introduce KSI Bishkek and classes at KSI?

First of all, there are excellent instructors. I remember that the classes were good, and they talked comfortably with the students and gave a lot of advice. I think the strongest points of KSI is the textbooks and learning materials. On the Nuri-Sejong Hakdang website, you will find many books and videos on Korean culture, as well as Korean language textbooks for each level of beginners, from intermediate to advanced. I took a Korean writing class for a semester, and it helped me a lot. I learned to write letters, cover letters, and proposals, as well as writing on specific topics. I learned Korean spacing rules, and took the TOPIK writing test. Afterwards, I participated in a writing contest and KSI Writing Contest and achieved good results.

I wonder how you felt when you first learned Korean. Was it easy, difficult, or interesting?

At first, I wasn"t interested in foreign languages, and I thought I lacked the ability to learn new languages. However, unlike many other languages, Korean is very attractive. The language itself is very pretty, and there are many similarities with Kyrgyz, such as word order, particles, and grammar. The more I learned, the more I became interested.

You achieved an excellent result in the 2nd Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA) that was conducted in May. What is your secret to studying Korean that gave you the good result? How do you usually study for Korean?

I was very disappointed in the result of the 1st SKA that I took last year, but I was able to see the areas where I needed to improve on, and where I needed to pay more attention. I am very proud that my efforts paid off in the test this time.
My secret to studying Korean is “practice.” I utilized the words, grammar, and expressions I learned through textbooks while communicating with instructors and friends. I also filmed myself speaking in Korean for 10 to 15 minutes in front of a camera. Through these practices, I developed my ability to familiarize with pronunciation, share my opinions on topics, and organize my thoughts. For listening, I watched a lot of Korean contents. By doing so, I could learn the Korean way of thinking, daily life, trends, and even about the events that were happening in Korea. One more important thing, I would like to advise others to to read books in various fields.
Lastly, it is better to have the will to show off what you learned, instead of just learning Korean. Participating in speaking or writing contests will allow you to grow further.

The Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA) is divided into listening, reading, writing, and speaking sections. In what section did you get the best score, and which section was the most difficult?

The questions of SKA were very good, and I felt they were quite sophisticated. Among those four sections, I did the best in listening and reading. On the other hand, I was a little disappointed in my results for writing. It wasn’t exactly difficult, but I think the problem is time management. I think I will do better if I keep the time in mind while I practice writing in the future.

Please give advice on learning Korean and preparing for the Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA) for Korean language learners who will take the test.

First of all, it helps one in planning and getting into the habit of practicing every day, until the day of the test. I did not study grammar and vocabulary separately, but studied them at the same time as I worked on the past exam questions. And I tried to watch and read a lot of Korean news broadcasts and articles. So, I would say never be afraid or give up, just because you failed once! I am here by overcoming many failures myself. Always remember what you started studying Korean for and show them what you have learned with confidence!

What was the best thing and the happiest moment you had learning Korean language and culture?

As I already mentioned, I experienced many failures while learning Korean. I participated in speaking contests three or four times, and I was disappointed because the results weren’t so good. Then in 2022, I won the grand prize for the first time, for my presentation on the topic “May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement,” in the 18th Korean Speech Contest for University Students in Kyrgyzstan in 2022. That was my most memorable moment.

This year, you were selected for Global Korean Scholarship (GKS) Program and have been studying in Korea since August. How are you adjusting to life in Korea?

I was selected for Global Korean Scholarship (GKS) and am currently attending the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Kyung Hee University. It was amazing to come to Korea and live the life that I had only seen in TV dramas. The first thing I wanted to do in Korea was to “go to the Hangang River and eat Korean chicken!” — and I am so happy to have achieved one small dream.

Tell us if you have any goals or plans in the future regarding learning Korean.

The semester recently started, and I am attending classes. I am also enjoying my life in Korea, going out with friends and eating a lot of delicious food. There are so many goals I want to achieve. One of my goals for the near future is creating YouTube content. I am thinking about creating vlogs on “My 20s,” “Life in Korea,” “Daily life as a college student,” or “Learning Korean.”