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I swear i aspire to be on your level...👌🏻

today’s accomplishments ✨

• finished reading the sequel to “to all the boys i’ve loved before”! have any of you read it before? if so, feel free to message me about it (i have MANY thoughts on it and i want to scream about it with someone hehe)

• reviewed 3 chapters of japanese grammar

• reviewed a lesson of advanced korean vocab, twice

• reviewed 3 lessons of korean vocab

• wrote a poem on the train!

• watched a kdrama without subs and understood nearly all of it wooOO

• befriended a new language exchange partner + reconnected with an old friend + language exchange partner, it has been a v good day! 💫

organised my laptop, cleared my table, and began some research for a phd

Day twenty three - What do you do when you need comfort? Peak comfort for me is having a cozy space to destress in before bed. Given that I study and work from home, it can be quite hard sometimes to unwind in the same space. This is why my bedroom is a no-work zone and is where I thrive in comfort lol

hey guys just uploaded a new video! hope you check it out! enjoy!

College tips

I’m in college, no surprise there. I’ve had many experiences already in my 2 years of college. Let’s just say, chaos likes to follow me. I’ve passed, failed, been to the hospital, gotten on a first name basis with the dean, almost got backer acted, all that good stuff. So I have quite a few tips between balancing school and two jobs, recovering from failing, how to pass, when to call a class quits, etc. Some of these you may think I’m crazy for and that’s ok. Some like just giving up on a class or two may sounds stupid but believe me, when you work two jobs, are almost hospitalized, have family on the verge of death, one already dead, living an hour from school, and relying on a car that likes to work most of the time, there will be times you need to just quit. These tips may not be for everyone, but I’m sure that at least one of these could help you.

Find a sleeping schedule that works for you. Once you do, fit your classes around it, and work around your school. Trust me, if you put sleep second, you will never sleep enough and you’ll half ass all your classes.

Not only try to avoid 8AM’s, try to avoid classes that end at 9-10PM. I always here people advise against 8am classes, but never heard anyone advise against these. As a female getting out that late and walking to your car or dorm can be very scary especially on a college campus and that’s for good reason. It’s just not safe. Not to mention, you’ll get back to your place of sleeping and not be tired enough to sleep and probably won’t go to bed until around midnight at the earliest. Then cue next morning hatred for signing up for that class. Trust me, these classes are just as bad as 8ams

If the police want to talk to you, be honest and polite. The more polite you are, the gentler they will be and the less likely they are to threaten to arrest you as an accomplice or something. Just be honest and polite, but never compromise your rights. Ask for a lawyer but do so politely if it comes down to it. They hate talking to you just as much as you hate talking to them

Go ahead and hook up, but make sure your roommate(s) are fine with it and make sure to use protection. Don’t rely on plan B

Never let your drink leave your sight. Always keep it in hand and close to the front of your torso. Pass on the food at parties too unless you see it get delivered, opened, and served. People love getting people high and giving them drugs without their knowledge and consent as a prank

If you know you’re going to a place with alcohol, bring at least one friend you can completely trust even if you don’t think you’re going to drink

Don’t let someone talk you up and don’t fuck someone because you feel guilty

Make time to study. Put it in your calendar and don’t make plans for those times. Believe me, you’ll be so happy you did

Take notes in whatever way works for you. Study however and wherever works for you. Don’t be fooled into thinking there’s a correct way to succeed in academia. The only correct way is the way that works for you. Music? No music? Outside? Flashcards? In your bed? Whatever works my dude

Make your bed when you first get up. It will make your room appear more put together and if you do nothing all day besides that, at least you can tell yourself that you did do something worthwhile that day

If you’re sick, go to the clinic. Most campuses have free clinics where you can go and get seen for free or really cheap if you’re a student. Don’t suffer and be miserable

If you’re sad, cry. Be dramatic. Turn on the shower and start showering and then slowly slide down the wall as you breakdown hysterical over that breakup and just let the water gently flow over your skin as your tears blend with the drops spiraling down the drain. Trust me, you’ll come out feeling so much better while also wanting to die. But you’ll have more confidence and an easier time than you would if you tried to play it off like it didn’t bother you

Do stupid, harmless things like confess to your crush or tell that girl you think her hair is gorgeous. Go for a walk in the park and go out to your favorite restaurant alone. Buy the cheapest bottle of wine and drink it while watching a Disney movie. Live. Feel the rain fall and the sunlight wrap you. Feel the wind flow around you and the snow cover you. Feel the shadows cast down from the clouds and the ground beneath your feet. Pick that dandelion and make a wish or two or twenty. You could walk around in nothing but a snuggie and flip flops while drinking a piña colada from a coffee mug that says “fuck you” on it and I can guarantee you at least one person will think you’re a genius

Actually talk to your roommate(s) because you’ll be living with them for a while. Try to be on their good side. And if you really don’t like them, befriend your RA and bitch about him/her to them

Go bake something at 2AM

If you’re drinking and begin to feel buzzed, stop. The alcohol will hit you even more as the night goes on. No one does anything they want to talk about while shit-faced. Every drunk person becomes the person everyone laughs at and talks about for days. Save yourself the embarrassment and stop with a buzz. And besides it’s much better than a hangover

If you’re failing a class and you have no hope in reviving your grade, then don’t be afraid to drop it or just stop trying. In my chem 2 lecture, all three tests I took so far I got below a 65 on. I need a 72 to pass. There’s no way I would pass the class and I can’t drop it so I stopped going and studying and worrying about it. There’s no reason I should sacrifice efforts on a lost cause when I could put that energy to another class and excell in it.

Actually talk with your teachers. They control your grade, might as well get to know them and be on their good side. And trust me, not only will your grades be better, they may come in use later on

Don’t try to fix anyone. People have their problems and their own lives. You won’t fix anyone and you’ll just hurt yourself in the process

Be kind to people. If they piss you off, be even nicer to them. Trust me, it will be great watching them fume but not be able to do anything because you’re so nice and sweet and everyone loves you

Learn to cook real meals like chicken parmesan, shrimp alfredo, good chili, etc. They’re all really pretty simple with a little bit of practice and after a while, you’ll be able to make a delicious meal out of almost anything you find in your cabinets. I learnt how to cook at a young age and now if you just threw a bunch of random ingredients and some spices at me, I could definitely make due. This has come in handy so many times when all I have to eat is some pasta, a loaf of bread, chicken strips, and maybe a vegetable at the bottom of the fridge. I can work with that and not hate what I eat

Get off your parent’s taxes and get your own insurance

Go to the gym at least once. Even if it’s just to look

Try out some new hobbies like kayaking, painting, hiking, baking, witchcraft, writing, photography, cooking, sewing, etc. Many of these things will be useful

Learn at least one survival skill. Sewing, making bread from acorns, fishing, building a flotation device, whatever. It’ll make you look cool and like you have this whole life thing figured out

Keep your gas receipts and all receipts really

Spend cash

Learn about yourself

Record lectures when you can’t focus or don’t want to take notes

Avoid the tattoo parlor between the hours of 8pm and 10am to avoid a future regret

Talk to the people who no one else does. Befriend the outcasts. But if they do things you’re uncomfortable with, you can just as easily walk away

Don’t hang out with the person who gets drunk every weekend and smokes weed to get high and acts like college is a party every day. They usually get caught at least once or do something stupid that brings you down

Go to the beach at night when no one is around and the stars are out. Be safe though

If you don’t want to do something, don’t. You owe no one an explanation. They should respect your no and if they don’t, you don’t need them around

Don’t let someone get handsy with you just because they’re drunk. Tell them no if it makes you uncomfortable. Walk away

You are in school, your grades are important, but they’re not the end all be all

Start learning how to rely on yourself and yourself only

Avoid fights. They’re not cool and can land you in jail

People almost always have a motive

Spend time with your family and friends. The older you get, the older they get and the more likely they are to die. You never want to hate yourself for not spending time with someone

You are not to blame for someone else’s actions

You are responsible only for yourself and your actions. But don’t let that be an excuse to let someone else do something stupid

Take at least one afternoon every week to just have fun and pretend work and school doesn’t exist and you live in a perfect world

No one is perfect. Everyone fucks up. A lot. But it’s ok to cut people out of your life who fuck up. Never feel guilty for it

It’s ok to be picky

Don’t trust what people tell you. Fact check. Everything

Wash a dish after you use it and put stuff away when you’re done with it. Taking an extra 5 seconds will save you hours of stress and hate later

Turn your phone on do not disturb or on silent when studying for something important that you need to focus on

Take thousands of pictures of everything

Try to laugh every day

Do your homework even if you know the teacher won’t collect it

Constantly review past sections if you know the final will be cumulative

Keep your silibus for each class

Learn people’s stories. Not just the exciting ones. Learn about how their mother would wake them in the mornings as a kid. Learn about the silly stories they have. Learn about their scars, both happy and sad

Take care of your skin, teeth, hair, and brain

Change diets for a day

Find something that really excites you in every class you take

For everything you hate about yourself, find at least something you somewhat like about yourself

Happiness is just as much a mental thing as sadness. Find things that make you happy. Like the color orange or rain drops on leaves

Wear what ever the fuck you want. No one will care

Go to your classes even if attendance is not mandatory unless you could teach that lesson to everyone else in the class with 98% accuracy

Do things that make you happy and healthy

Make friends with people in your classes

You don’t need to be involved in 5 different clubs

You’ll only have a couple good friends and maybe one real friend if you’re lucky

Get to know someone who has a pet

Learn to respect yourself and your wants

You aren’t your parents or anyone else and you won’t have the life anyone else has

It’s ok to need a break sometimes. Just don’t give up

You are loved despite what that annoying brain of yours says. You are wanted and your friends care about you. And I do too

You matter just as much as anyone else does and if you’re struggling at all, you deserve help just as much as anyone else

You have a voice and a say. Use them wisely

09.10.21

im back after 4 or so months... hi

i don't really have much to post and im going to be spending the weekend and next week revising for the first exams of the academic year, as well as the first exams of a-levels. looking forward to posting again so i'll see you all soon :)

Is ㄹ pronounced as L or R?

This is probably one of the most common questions that beginners ask when learning 한글. Just like every beginner learners, I went through this as well which is why I decided to study pronunciation rules too. I created this post to help clear up any confusion.

When ㄹ is located at the beginning of a word, it sounds more like an R.

Example: 라디오 (ra-di-o), 레슨 (re-seun), 로맨틱 (ro-man-tik)

When ㄹ is located between two vowels, it sounds like an R.

Example: 다리 (da-ri), 사랑 (sa-rang), 어렵다 (eo-ryeob-dda), 모르다 (mo-reu-da), 노력 (no-ryeok), 매력 (mae-ryeok)

When ㄹ is located at the end of a word, it’s pronounced more like an L.

Example: 딸 (ddal), 아들 (a-deul), 월 (weol), 달 (dal), 칼 (khal), 연필 (yeon-pil), 교실 (gyo-sil)

When ㄹ is followed by a consonant or followed by another ㄹ, it sounds like L.

Example: 딸기 (ddal-gi), 힘들다 (him-deul-da), 몰라 (mol-la), 살자 (sal-ja), 고릴라 (go-ril-la)

When ㄹ comes after any consonant except ㄴ, ㄹ is pronounced as N.

Example: 생리 (saeng-ni), 국립 (gung-nip), 능력 (neung-nyeok)

When ㄹ comes before or after an ㄴ, both ㄹ and ㄴ are pronounced as ㄹ.

Example: 한류 (hal-lyu), 신라 (sil-la), 신랑 (sil-lang), 달나라 (dal-la-ra)

Disclaimer: Hope this helps but remember not to rely too much on romanizations and listen to the sounds properly as well.

This is a post that I shared on Amino app and I decided to post it here as well.

100 Days of Productivity | 2020

Day 3 of 100

10-12th Feb 2020

Finishing some interesting pre-readings, going on even more interesting class field trips (and completing some successful dorm meal prep) has made for a great few days! 

Currently reading: Circe by Madeline Miller (and am loving it!)

Insta @ isthisnametakenyet

Goodreads @ isthisnametakenyet

YouTube @ isthisnametakenyet

Something amazing will happen to you in May 2019.

Back to School: How to Get an A*/8 or 9 in an English Lit Essay!

Happy September, everyone!

As we all get our gears in motion to start a new year, I thought I would share my top tips for scoring the highest marks in English Literature essays. 

(P.S. Lots of these tips are applicable to other subjects too)

1. Don’t write about the character as if they are real

Unfortunately, this is a common error in English Lit essays. It is absolutely imperative to remember that a character is not a person, but is a construct of the writer in order to present an idea or theme. No matter the question, you should be linking your answer back to the writer’s ideas and theme of the text, even if it doesn’t seem obvious what the theme is on the first inspection of the question. Using the author’s name frequently in your essay will demonstrate that you recognise the character is not a real person - ‘Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as a tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle as…’

2. Don’t analyse the plot

Avoid analysing the plot or when things happen in the text. Don’t write ‘When X happens it makes us think Y’. Instead:

Analyse the writer’s use of language, structure and form to create meaning

Do a close language analysis of specific words/phrases, including a sound analysis (plosives, assonance, etc.)

Do a structural analysis of what happens when and why that’s important (Freytag’s pyramid)

Do an analysis of form (stage directions, dramatic monologue, etc.)

3. Keep your answer relevant throughout

You need to be explicitly answering the question - not going off on a tangent nor trying to change the question to suit an answer that you want to write. One way of avoiding this is by starting each paragraph with a topic sentence, summarising what that paragraph is going to be about and how it answers the question. Another method is simply by rewording the question into your answer at the start and end of every paragraph. At least. For greater impact, include synonyms of the word, which can also help with the readability of your answer.

4. Avoid PEE/PEEL/etc. where you can

Thousands of students are taught the same, basic Point-Evidence-Explain (or variant) analytical paragraph structure. If you want to stand out, show academic strength, and achieve the highest marks then you must break free from the chains of PEE! (This also applies for your introduction format. ‘In this essay, I will argue…’ gets pretty dull after reading it 100 times)

For my students, I will be teaching them to write What-How-Why paragraphs:

WHAT has the writer done?

HOW have they done it?

WHY have they done it/is it effective?

This way, your focus is always on why the writer has chosen to use that specific language/structure/form, but it allows you to be creative in crafting your response. Being able to discuss the ‘why’ of literature is the key to unlocking the highest grades. Reading through examiners’ reports this summer has made one thing clear - it is not enough to merely spot linguistic devices or structural features. You must explain why the writer has chosen them and why that is an effective choice (or not).

5. Avoid sweeping statements about context

The main advice here is to only include comments about the context of the text if it adds to the analytical point that you are making. They should not be a bolt-on sentence, but they should enhance your answer.

Further, sweeping claims like ‘All Jacobean women were oppressed by society’ is far too vague. On the other hand, a comment like ‘Lady Macbeth is a disturbing example of womanhood because she denies her gender at a time where the role of a woman was clear-cut, even patriarchal, in Jacobean society’ suggests that you have a greater understanding of how context can influence the writer’s choices.

6. A plan is your best friend

Always, always make time to plan your answer. A method I recommend is, first, circling the key words in the question (character/theme, what you are asked to do, where in the text you are asked to look, etc.). Secondly, write all of your ideas down onto the page, highlighting parts from the extract if you have that in front of you. Finally, select a judicious number of points that you are going to talk about (quality not quantity here) and number the order in which you are going to make them.

If you are writing a comparative essay, each paragraph must start and end with a comparative point about whatever it is you are comparing (characters/themes/etc.) I suggest the following format:

‘X is presented in both text A and text B. However, in A the author uses device 1 and 2 to demonstrate X. On the other hand, in B, the author demonstrates X via use of device 2 and 3.’ Then write one paragraph for each text. Repeat this again for another similarity. And again for a third - if you think that is appropriate.

Click HERE if you want more top tips/resources/essay advice/study motivation!!

Click HERE if you want more top tips/resources/essay advice/study motivation!!

Photo credit @eintsein 🌻