Miah Learns to Write

Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) For many people who are aspiring to study or work in Korea, learning Korean is a must. It helps you have an easier life in Korea. It enables you to communicate with the locals, navigate your way around the cities, and it gives you access to the same conveniences that Koreans do. One of the measures for gauging your level in Korean is the Test of Proficiency in Korean or TOPIK. It's a comprehensive exam which features listening, reading, and writing portions. A new separate speaking exam has also been recently launched. There are six levels of TOPIK, where TOPIK 1 signifies a beginner level of understanding while TOPIK 6 signifies advanced fluency. TOPIK is also divided into two different categories namely TOPIK I and TOPIK II, with TOPIK I targeted for lower to upper beginners from levels 1 and 2, and TOPIK II for intermediate to advanced levels from levels 3 to 6. For TOPIK I, one must have scored at least 80 out of 200 points to achieve level...

Bayanihan sa Bukid by Carlos "Botong" Francisco Let me be frank, has there ever been unity in the Philippines? Not just in clusters, I mean the nation as a whole, what moment in the history of the Philippines has national unity been displayed? Some may point to the People Power or EDSA Revolutions of 1986 and 2001, but I don't see how those can be categorized as symbols of national unity. I say that because I don't think that those are representative of every people group in the Philippines. I wasn't there, but based on pictures and stories, it doesn't seem to depict national unity at all. Furthermore, the nation wasn't at all in agreement or involved in those two events. I'm pretty sure many Ilocanos didn't agree with the deposition of the former Pres. Marcos Sr. And we don't even know if the Visayas or Mindanao provinces had any say in those two civil resistances. I would even dare to say that those two "revolutions" were actually c...

Photo by Marten Bjork on Unsplash Finding jobs in Korea might be difficult at first, especially if you don't know where to look for them. On top of that, it might be slightly different from how you are used to doing it in your own country. But, once you are able to familiarize yourself with the culture and the work ethic in Korea, then looking for a job will be a piece of cake. If you are new to Korean culture and don't know where to start, then here are a few tips on how to find jobs in Korea. 1. Look for jobs on job boards (Saramin, Job Korea, Albamon) There are a few popular job sites or job boards in Korea. Some of them are Saramin, Job Korea, and Albamon. Check out this article on 5 Sites to Find Jobs in Korea to learn more about them. Generally, these websites are written in Korean, so it would be best if you have some rudimentary understanding of the Korean language and the writing system, hangeul. Otherwise, you can just use the Google translate extension to give you a...

When I was looking for jobs in Korea, I heard from several of my peers where to find them. I tried them out, and they are quite legitimate. Some of them require you to have a bit of knowledge in the Korean language. You need to know how to read hangeul. But apart from that, they work just like the usual job site you would find in any country. Here are some of the job sites I used while looking for jobs in Korea. 1. Saramin The most popular job site in Korea for both Koreans and foreigners is Saramin. When you search for jobs on Saramin, it allows you to filter based on the area or field of expertise, the location or region where you prefer to work, and keywords if you have a specific job or criteria in mind. Saramin also gives you job recommendations based on your profile and resume. Not only that, but employers think highly of Saramin because of its track record and credibility. 2. Jobkorea If you have no luck finding a job in Saramin, you can try out the second best site I have found...

I studied in South Korea for three years under the Global Korea Scholarship Program or GKS, formerly known as the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP). The GKS program provides opportunities for people all around the globe to learn the Korean language, be exposed to Korean culture, and do their undergraduate or post-graduate studies in South Korea. It has a rigorous selection process which lasts for approximately six months from the time you apply until you fly to Korea, if you are fortunate to be selected as one of the scholars under the program. Each year, the Korean government opens the application period for the undergraduate program around August or September, and for the graduate programs in February. Generally, thousands of people apply every year, although that number may have increased since the popularity of Korea surged in recent times, but only a handful get selected. So, the question that I have received occasionally is, "How do I become a GKS scholar?". ...

Photo by Photos of Korea on Unsplash Disciplining a child has become less popular especially for the Gen Zs. Despite corporal punishment being legal in all states in the US, according to this article , it seems that the practice has seen a decline since the 1980s with a survey published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies suggesting that " a majority of children in the US were not subject to corporal punishment in 2014. " There have been studies which asserted that corporal punishment may harm a child's development and cause decreased cognitive ability. Others point out that corporal punishment can inflict mental distress and emotional trauma on children which can affect their psyche. So, the question then is, "Should parents discipline their children by spanking?". I'm not a child psychologist, a pediatrician, a lawmaker, or a parent. But as someone who experienced receiving corporal punishment as a child, I will try to weigh in on the issue given ho...

Image by  Kjerstin Michaela Noomi Sakura Gihle Martinsen Haraldsen  from  Pixabay I have had acne problems since I was 12 years old, and my mother tried almost everything available to us to resolve the issue. However, it wasn't until about two years ago when I finally had my acne problems dealt with properly. I had no expensive procedure done on my face. I merely used the right skincare products to target acne and maintain a healthy skin. So, I am going to share to you five skincare products that helped me solve my acne problems. 1. Oil cleanser Oil cleansers are emollients. That means they lubricate your skin so that whatever gets stuck on it can more easily slide off. A good oil cleanser helps get rid of dust, excess oil, and other dirt particles that get stuck to your skin. This should be the first step in your skincare routine. Wash your face with water and rub a few drops of the oil cleanser on your face. After a few minutes, rinse it out. I have used a few oil clean...

Photo by Clark Gu on Unsplash After staying in Korea for almost four years, I decided to leave Korea and go back to the Philippines. At the moment, I'm still uncertain whether I will go back or not. If I do decide to return to Korea, I need to do so within a year, or else my visa would be revoked. But some of you might be asking why I even decided to leave Korea in the first place. It wasn't an easy decision since undoubtedly my life in Korea was more exciting and more pleasant than in the Philippines. Nevertheless, I felt the need to take a break and return to my home country, at least for the time being. Here are three reasons why I decided to leave Korea: 1. Lack of employment opportunities and career advancement Now, don't get me wrong, I was able to find several jobs while I stayed in Korea. However, the kind of jobs that I had didn't align with the career path I wanted to take. In the first place, I decided to go to Korea because I wanted to pursue a career in the...

Photo by Sava Bobov on Unsplash For the past four years, I lived in South Korea. It was a chance of a lifetime that I didn't want to pass, so when I got the opportunity to study abroad, I grabbed it. After three years of studying and a year of working there, I decided to take a little break, and I went back home to the Philippines. It's hard not to compare the differences you notice between the two countries, and after spending almost a month back home, there are definitely a few things I will miss about Korea. 1. Accessibility Photo by Janosch Lino on Unsplash Korea has an efficient public transportation system. You can go anywhere within the city as well as outside in a matter of a couple hours at most for intercity commutes. Furthermore, they have designated loading and unloading points which makes it easier for commuters to know where to catch the bus. They also have a centralized digital tracking system so that you will know how long it takes for the next bus to arrive....

I have been asked this question far too many times than I could count. Almost as much as a woman in her 30s being asked by friends and family, "Why aren't you married yet?". Or, a newlywed couple during the first couple of years in their marriage being asked, "When are you going to have kids?", particularly by aging parents who have become impatient, and are wondering when they will get to have a few bundles of joy bouncing on their lap. To be honest, I have been trying to come up with the best way to articulate my position without causing any misunderstandings. My usual response used to be "I'm not yet ready" or "I haven't found anyone yet". But that doesn't exactly encapsulate everything that's going through my head when it comes to this matter. You see, I have thought about romance, relationships, marriage, and other related subjects for over 10 years now. And the answers to those questions are rarely straightforward. So, I...