BLACKPINK Lisa’s Language Teacher Reveals The Grueling Method She Ednured To Master Korean In Six Months

While BLACKPINK member Lisa is best known for her multi-faceted talents on the stage, she is also widely acknowledged for her skills as a polyglot. Born in Thailand, Lisa grew up speaking both Thai and English. But after she moved to Korea, she had to start learning Korean right away, which was no easy task.

BLACKPINK’s Lisa | @lalalalisa_m

According to Lisa’s language teacher at YG Entertainment, the idol was able to learn the language as a young trainee despite very challenging circumstances.

Lisa’s Korean teacher at YG Entertainment | @IdolKoreanTeacher/Instagram

The language teacher recently appeared in a YouTube video where she talked about her experience working with the top YG idols since starting at the company in 2011. While sharing her experience of teaching Lisa, she recalled spending even the weekends with her at cafes and zoos, so that she could fully internalize the Korean language and culture. “That’s why she debuted at a level similar to a Korean person,” she added.

At the beginning of her trainee period, Lisa had no other way to communicate with her fellow trainees except for speaking in English. “But she didn’t improve her Korean as fast as she thought she would,” her teacher recounted. So, as a special measure, the teacher suggested to Lisa’s managers that they only let her speak in Korean to help her improve.

“Maybe Lisa got frustrated,” the teacher admitted, but the BLACKPINK maknae never gave up on studying hard. “She practiced Korean about 4 times a week in the practice room, and she only spoke in Korean,” Lisa’s teacher revealed. Thanks to these relentless efforts at such a young age, Lisa went from beginner to intermediate in just six months!

Lisa’s teacher called this feat extraordinary, explaining, “It’s more difficult for Thai speakers because their language isn’t related to Chinese characters. So, Korean grammar or words must have felt more difficult.” She also revealed that Lisa had to study four textbooks, four workbooks, and even a vocabulary book, on top of doing her homework, as a part of her Korean lessons.

Thanks to these grueling methods, the BLACKPINK member internalized the Korean language so much that she started speaking in Korean even in her sleep. Lisa’s teacher shared an anecdote from one of their lessons back in the day when she was dozing off after having lunch and started mumbling in her sleep, “Teacher, Chaeyoung has started!” in Korean. That was one of the milestone moments when Lisa’s teacher realized that her student had become “just like a Korean.”

Despite uprooting her life and moving to a new country at such a young age, Lisa was able to make her mark in the world thanks to her hard work and meticulous efforts. Her impeccable Korean skills are yet another testament to it.

BLACKPINK