study vlog 🇰🇷 italki class, textbook recs + q&a (free resources? 반말? how to start?)

[@NataliaGarza]

Registration for the group trip to Japan open on Saturday, Feb. 17th at 10 AM KST!! 🇯🇵 Japan Trip Email Notification ↳ my.trovatrip.com/public/l/email/natalia-garza

[@brelove1414]

i would love more intermediate and advanced textbook reviews!! :)

[@cockola2936]

Me too!!😊

[@eda.98]

+1

[@NataliaGarza]

I will try to get one out in the next few months~!

[@dream_plaza]

Man I wish we had all those textbooks in the bookstore, Korean textbooks here in the states can be limited. I haven’t done italki classes yet but I’d like to have that teacher who can tell me exactly sentence by sentence how a native speaker would speak.

[@kaydreamies]

I love your Korean studying content, Natalia! I hope to see more similar content in the future~

[@myuniverselove]

I'm 5 months in learning Korean on my own and I love your videos! Seeing your success, I have to keep going now. :)

[@KoreanTeacherYujin]

우와~~~~~! 제 책을 소개해 주셔서 감사합니다! 한국어 공부 파이팅!!👍❣️

[@imthestealez]

girl you don’t understand how much you motivate me like PLEASE DON’T STOP POSTING 💋

[@sunny-tn1ix]

I would love to see more reviews on books to help intermediate learners get out of this hell of a level lol😭 I’ve been lower-mid intermediate for almost 3 years… I would just like to take the next step but not a step so big I can’t understand a single thing I’m studying, if that makes sense🥲

[@Robinteeken896]

My biggest issue with my Korean studies is that I just don't know how to go about studying.. might sound a bit weird but what format do I use. I've never really been the best when it comes to studying and doing it in a good way. Would appreciate some feedback and tips on ways to go about it. 🙏

[@MadeleineMedia16]

One tip is to get a private tutor on italki! For me it made such a difference!

[@hebs.bakeryy]

love your videos! I've been trying to transition from classroom learning to self study for Korean, but I'm having a hard time. Seeing your videos and ig content always motivates me!!💜

[@NataliaGarza]

It's definitely a transition ㅠㅠ I feel like you have to be very disciplined to be successful in self studying~

[@justyna2026]

비타민 한국어! :) I would love to hear your thoughts about this series :) I am about to start vol 2 and I think they are as good as 이화s :)

[@koreanwordsforbeginners]

Interesting! enjoyed your video.

[@Odysseus_Outis]

0:20 According to the 손금 (palm lines), I found you have a strong 재물 복(財物 福; Financial Blessing) throughout life. Anyway,, Natalia, you're becoming more stylish and prettier every day, in my astute perspective.

[@NataliaGarza]

Interesting~~ I didn't know that word before~ Thank you for sharing it. I feel like I'm less stylish than before ahah I want to wear my dresses again but they aren't considered work appropriate so 😓😓😓

[@krissyleinen]

I’m all for the book reviews! Also, love that cafe but I haven’t been there in ages!

[@NataliaGarza]

I love that you know which cafe it is without many cafe clips hahah

[@madisonmarie0613]

I love these videos! I feel like I made so many mistakes with textbooks and resources as a beginner and I definitely think it affected how I speak even now as an intermediate learner (mostly because I'm studying for TOPIK but also want to have good speaking skills in Korean since I want to move there... it's hard to cover both of those goals ㅠㅠㅠ) If you have any recs for intermediate and advanced I'd love that! (and i'd love to see your review on the YTN news book...)

[@Daez.]

Yes, I needed a video to motivate me today. Thanks for uploading >w< !!!

[@NataliaGarza]

💕💕

[@cdsjjav]

I love your energy in your video! I have been listening to your speaking since last week for my English study 😅 Thank you!!!

[@corgisrule21]

Midliners are my FAVORITE highlighters!!!

[@NataliaGarza]

Mine too~~ I wish they dried a little quicker on glossy textbook pages, but that's more the textbook's fault than the highlighters ㅠㅠ

[@steveroberts3512]

I would love to be able to walk into a book store with that selection of books!!! I would probably be a daily visitor !!!! (Yes I am a bookworm).

[@NataliaGarza]

The bookstores here are HUGE!!

[@emmaluisar.6005]

I’ve started taking italki lessons last year, thanks to you and since than my Korean is constantly improving. 🤩💜 13:00

[@NataliaGarza]

WE LOVE THAT!! While definitely an investment, they are so worth it!! 🤍

[@SomedayKorean]

Always enjoy a study vlog with you! I'm actually curious about how that YTN textbook compares to my experiences just watching the news and looking up words 🤔 it might be nice to have structured activities around the news clips I also had no idea italki has group classes now! That might make me finally break down and try italki... I've been wanting to try it for years, but I just keep putting it off and studying alone. I know that regular italki classes would help my speaking and writing skills catch up to my listening/reading skills, but regularly paying for one-on-one lessons has always seemed like too much for my frugal self..

[@NataliaGarza]

I'll let you know once I've used it more~ I think with a teacher, it's definitely beneficial, but I haven't used it enough to determine if it's beneficial enough to recommend it for self-study given Korean news is is accessible for us haha I know what you mean, you really have to commit to regular classes on italki for it to be beneficial, which can add up quick

[@123_Army]

The pen you use to study on your iPad went into my dream 😂 I think I've been studying korean too much alongside your videos 😅

[@jenniferalmodovar2500]

Love this kind of video. Motivate me.😊

[@NataliaGarza]

I'm glad! 💕💕

[@davigomes1113]

Oh my goodness, what is the name of the song playing at the minute 0:42? I freaking loved this song😂

[@kimtaecation]

Dasloe - make you mine😊

[@Coralinemz]

Omg I knew I which cafe you where from the clip of you in the stairs 😂 I love this cafe thanks to you 🥰 Love your video as always ❤

[@NataliaGarza]

Pwahahah it's the club-like lights in the stairwell!!!! Doesn't match the cafe vibe at all ahaha

[@Coralinemz]

@@NataliaGarza EXACTLY 🤣🤣

[@tlovesbooks]

Your videos are so helpful! Thank you for the recommendations!

[@NataliaGarza]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@yourkoreanpodcast]

Thank you for introducing a book to study Korean! I hope that the book I wrote will soon be introduced to people studying Korean!

[@cz5981]

happy february natalia!! 😊 yay a study vlog! this will make me motivated to do my own homework LOL

[@NataliaGarza]

You and me both!! 😂😂

[@cz5981]

@@NataliaGarza twins!! 🤣🤣

[@Pastor_Madeline]

My husband and I are headed on a trip to Korea in July. It’s a mix of work and exploration. HUGE question - need help!! I have a severe stomach allergy to MSG. Is it hopeless?? Any tips or suggestions? ❤

[@NataliaGarza]

Hi! At the risk of sounding ignorant, does an MSG allergy mean you can't eat certain types of food at all or does it mean that you just need to check with the waiter about if MSG is used in a dish? I assume you will be eating most at restaurants during your stay, and so I think it's important to mention that the only dietary restriction considered common here is an allergy to seafood -- which isn't actually that common. I bring this up because there is a very good chance the waiters you encounter here won't know what MSG is or if it's in the dish you're asking them about. To emphasize just how much dietary restrictions aren't common here, restaurants don't note when dishes are made with nuts. Even bakery items that are prepackaged won't say they contain nuts, which is even more problematic when you see that many places don't list the ingredient list on the packaging at all. In addition, even if your waiter says there is no MSG in the dish please be cautious because there is a good chance they don't realize that ingredient is used. During my time here, there have been a good number of occasions where the waiter said there was no fish/nuts/etc in the food and then once we were served we could SEE/taste that exact ingredient was used in the dish. I'm not trying to scare you, but if your allergy is severe enough to ruin your day, I'd try to stick to whatever food as typically safe for you to eat. I wouldn't trust the restaurant staff to know if MSG is used unless you're somewhere that is run by a westerner and is a known hotspot for westerns in Korea (ex. vegan restaurants, gluten-free cafes, etc).

[@Pastor_Madeline]

@@NataliaGarza Thank you for taking the time! This is very helpful. TMI: My MSG intolerance has me running to the restroom within minutes of the meal. When it is naturally occuring in food (soy, parmesan, etc) I’m not as reactive. When it’s added to a dish, it’s terrible. Someone else suggested asking if “Miwon” was used (the most popular MSG brand). But I think the safest bet is to go to the kind of places you suggested. It’s just going to take some research!

[@paulwalther5237]

I'm always down to go to the bookstore. Good choice. That's so cool that you're taking group lessons on iTalki. So am I. Level A2 conversation 😂. I love the group lessons though. It's so much more fun when there's other people around my level so I don't feel so dumb. And it's really fun to meet other learners too. Regarding accountability... if it's just a one on one lesson I didn't feel as pressured to review material etc before lessons. In fact, I basically didn't - I still studied Korean between lessons but my ad hoc method of reading random books/articles or watching KZbin. But if it's a group or class then I feel SO much more pressure to do lessons. Only the group lessons around my level are not the kind where you get homework or even prepare for class. You just show up. This is similar to when I took Japanese group lessons online years ago too. What a shame. I think rather than do homework which to me feels like busy work, if they gave me a test of some kind then that would work for me. I get the impression that other students love homework and hate tests though so teachers don't do it this way. Regarding casual and formal speech... when I was in Japan I just got so used to using regular polite Japanese that it just came out without me thinking about it. I am sure some other Korean learners will have the same thing. In general it's not hard to speak casually.. you just drop the yo and you're most of the way there to casual speech. Anyway, I just told people I use polite speech due to habit. I was very up front about my speaking level and the issues I had. I would do the same thing in Korea. I mean, strangers don't need to know about my Korean level but if someone wants to be friends with me and is speaking casually then I'll just tell them. This is super theoretical though - right now I struggle just to talk.

[@YogaWithGail]

I see that Texas A&M shirt you have on. Did you go there? My high school senior got into the Engineering program there. Did you do study abroad through your undergraduate degree? My oldest did that twice from UT. Bath UK and Thailand.

[@NataliaGarza]

Yes, I did! I'm an aggie~ Yes! I'm not sure how many Korean partner schools TAMU has now, but, when I attended, there were only two. Of the 2, only one allowed students of all majors to apply -- Soonchunhyang University. I have a mini series about my exchange program if you'd like more information about it if your student is considering studying in Korea through TAMU~ 🇰🇷 everything you need to know for your exchange year in korea 💕 kzbin.info/aero/PLYBNFhpwariYLEnC6NvROp1PSSge39IvM&si=s_qTVJXUNRlm5I_z

[@YogaWithGail]

@@NataliaGarza That is awesome! Thanks! Oklahoma Aggie here!

[@hopegate9620]

The gap between reading/listening/writing and speaking skills is so real. I've recently started reading YA novels, which I can do without too many problems as long as I have a dictionary on hand, and my writing and listening skills are around low intermediate, but I still sound like a beginner. The vocab is there, it's just that nearly all of my sentences sound super awkward because of the grammar I'm using (or rather not using).

[@NataliaGarza]

The gap is so frustrating,,, Especially because I feel like others judge out ability to understand by how well we speak 😓

[@aa1yannn]

I love your videos, thank you for showing us parts of korea, because of that, am now very interested in going there and meet amazing people! *hopefully you heh* also, wished the subtitles would be in korean too. (just optional no hate)

[@NataliaGarza]

You definitely should~!! I love it here~ I don't add Korean subs because the Google translations offered via KZbin aren't great.. and neither are my Korean translating skills 😓😓 I'd also like to keep my audience as foreigners~~ I have friends who added Korean subs and their demographics completely changed to 60-70% Korean viewers

[@calmontes651]

❤❤❤ as always I love your videos

[@NataliaGarza]

🤍🤍

[@sm00re2]

i didnt realize they were doing group classes! i prefer groups cause i dont like all of the attention on me lol. ill have to look into those:) i thought itd be cool to travel japan with you and others, but i dont think the date works with my work schedule 😭 oh well. i gotta few daysbto figure it out lol either way i hope you guys have a fun trip! ❤ and im glad youll get to explore japan!😊

[@NataliaGarza]

That's true~ I feel like there is more time to process things when there are other students there Awww that's too bad ㅠㅠ Maybe next time!!!

[@amsi1904]

Would it be possible to join the group trip as a vegetarian? Because I heard that it is pretty difficult to be vegetarian in japan and since the restaurants are probably chosen by the organization I figured it might be a problem...😅

[@NataliaGarza]

Hi~ So the travel agency organizes all of the breakfasts and the welcome/farewell dinners. My understanding is that the rest of the meals can be whatever we want them to be -- like we break into smaller groups of who wants want and go eat. In those cases, I don't think you'd have any issues -- but then again I've never been to Japan 😓😓😓 In regard to the meals provided by the travel agency, the breakfasts will be buffet style with western food options -- regular 4-star hotel breakfasts. As for the 2 dinners, I'm not too sure as the restaurants and food will be completely organized by the travel agency. If you do end up registering for the trip, please let me know via IG DM so that I can let the travel agency know that we will have at least one traveler with dietary restrictions!!

[@amsi1904]

Okay thank you so much for your response 🥰

[@mandsikka1125]

please make a video in korean!!!!

[@Hangeulpark]

OMG🤍🩶Thank you☺️

[@MyConfianza]

Hi there. Do you have a setup Video for your digital Notebook/ipad whatever one calls that? I have one (Microsoft Surface ) However I always use the pen and paper😢

[@alice-elizabeth]

I love buying new language textbooks 😏 (even though I don't need more 🤭)

[@NataliaGarza]

AAHAHAHAHA I also don't need any news ones 😂 I literally have no space, but here we are buying new ones~~

[@alice-elizabeth]

@@NataliaGarza I don't have any space either and there's me randomly thinking 'Hmm maybe I should learn Norwegian and buy some books 🤔' 😂🙈

[@katherinearthur]

Don't be sorry for Korea not being available in those durations, I'm happy either way 😂

[@chaniandjoe8326]

That figureen is cute yet terrifying 😂😳 Do you happen to have any foreign friends that work in the sciences in korea? I'm interested in working in korea at some point but don't know how different the lab working culture would be ( of course taking into consideration the obvious cultural differences that would already be present). Or what level of education they would prefer you to have. For example in my country, in the govt research scientist positions ( govt only) are mostly open to PhDs and technician roles are for college and university graduates without a PhD or masters :)

[@alice-elizabeth]

Wait, italki do group lessons now? That would make me feel way more comfortable about taking lessons on there! Idk why but I'm a bit wary about having one-on-one lessons in case they turn out to be a creepy man or something 😆

[@NataliaGarza]

OMG ahaha I've never met a creepy italki teacher~ I've met some I didn't vibe well with, but never one that I felt uncomfortable with~ If that helps haha

[@alice-elizabeth]

@@NataliaGarza Oh that's good! I'll look into iTalki! 😊

[@lisamaxwell5876]

I'd have no money if I lived near Kyobo...........The closest I have near me is artbox and morning glory but Kyobo is so much better. I've been trying to find a book that helps with Korean language AND Korean history made easy kind of book but I guess thats a tall order

[@yalou0933]

OMG hiiiiiiiii

[@NataliaGarza]

Hello~ 👀

[@paulwalther5237]

When you take group lessons on iTalki do the other learners freak out because they watch your channel?

[@NataliaGarza]

LOL No not yet~~ Or not any that have said anything ahah

[@WhitneyChakara]

Thanks for recommending the group classes! I just started taking lessons again for Korean and Spanish on italki and I was curious about the group classes. It’s really difficult to plan classes these days as a full time worker and on top of that I am on call for 12 hours a day so I can literally plan to take a scheduled class at 5 pm and then get called at 3pm and then I will not only have to cancel my class, but I will forfeit whatever i paid for the class 😅. Omg, you are using your PTO to take your subscribers on a trip ?🥹

[@NataliaGarza]

I know the struggle of working full-time and then having little to no energy afterwards 😓😓 I'm still adjusting ☠️☠️ LOL I mean.. I'm technically going on a trip too 😂😂 I planned the trip to be during Chuseok, so I won't have to use too many PTO days

[@영임노-u5x]

나탈리 시간지난후에 한국어교과서 책 내실의향있으신가요? ?