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Staff Reporter
A 10-year-old Korean girl, who has never lived overseas, has released a 180-page novel in English.
Hwang Seo-yeon (Engela is her English name), a fourth grader at Chorim Elementary School in Bundang, south of Seoul, wrote an adventure story of a little girl over six months and 7sEnglish, a private language institute where Hwang is studying English, published the fantasy, tilted ``Heartmane's Quest.''
``Heartmane'' is the pen name of Hwang, who also drew illustrations for the book.
Her mother started to read English books to her daughter when she was one and Hwang has gone on to flourish in the language.
``I have been influenced by my mother and father as well. Both of them are not native English speakers. My mom used to read English books to me and it was just fun,'' Hwang told The Korea Times in an interview over the phone. ``I began reading English books by myself at the age three.''
Her father is a professor at a medical school in Seoul and her mother is also a medical doctor. Hwang wants to be a professional writer or stage performer.
Calling herself a ``pure Korean,'' Hwang said English is easy for her. She can speak both Korean and English fluently.
Although she likes reading English books, she didn't like writing that much. Hence, her parents decided two years ago to enroll her at a hagwon (private English institute) in order to balance her speaking and writing skills.
``I just wrote in English over and over at the institute and at that time, it seemed pointless, but later I realized it helped me a lot,'' she said. ``I don't think I am a genius in English but I agree that I am not an ordinary girl. I am just proud of my book and writing skills.''
Last December, she took TEPS, an English proficiency certificate test, and got 819 points out of 990. She said the exam was easy but she had a slightly hard time in solving the reading questions.
She studies at the hagwon twice a week for six hours and supplements it by studying by herself at home.
Asked whether English classes at her elementary school are rather boring, considering her English skills, she said she can still learn a lot through the classes.
``I need to improve my English more and more and keep learning and progressing. I believe a person has a lot of things to learn and they should keep learning until they die,'' she said.
She plans to write an English novel every year and is currently working on another book titled ``White Wolf,'' which is half completed.
Hwang is also considering writing books in Korean in two or three years time.
kswho@koreatimes.co.kr
