01Where is Jenny from?
제니는 어느 나라에서 왔나요?
Choose an answer to check your understanding.
FREE COMPLETE STORY · BOOK I · STORY 01
제니의 새로운 친구
A new school, a nervous first day, and a classmate who makes Jenny feel at home.
From Korean Short Stories for Beginners: Learn Korean Through Everyday Situations by CGSI Linguists Team. Chapter pages 3–10. Published by CGSI Books.
Complete Korean story with its original English translation.
제니는 새로운 학교에 갔습니다. 그녀는 한국에서 처음으로 친구를 사귀고 싶었습니다. 학교에 도착했을 때, 제니는 긴장했습니다. "오늘은 좋은 친구를 만날 수 있을까?" 제니는 생각했습니다.
Jenny went to a new school. She wanted to make friends for the first time in Korea. When she arrived at school, Jenny felt nervous. "Will I be able to make a good friend today?" Jenny thought.
첫 번째 수업 시간에, 제니는 옆에 앉은 소라를 만났습니다. 소라는 친절하고 밝은 성격이었습니다. 소라는 제니에게 "안녕! 나는 소라야. 너는 어디에서 왔니?"라고 물었습니다. 제니는 웃으며 대답했습니다. "나는 미국에서 왔어. 나는 제니야."
During the first class, Jenny met Sora, who was sitting next to her. Sora had a kind and cheerful personality. Sora asked Jenny, "Hi! I'm Sora. Where are you from?" Jenny smiled and replied, "I'm from the United States. My name is Jenny."
점심 시간에 소라는 제니를 학교 식당으로 데려갔습니다. 제니는 떨렸지만 소라가 있어서 안심이 되었습니다. "여기 음식은 정말 맛있어. 한번 먹어봐!" 소라가 말했습니다. 제니는 김밥을 먹어보았습니다. 김밥은 맛있었고, 제니는 소라에게 "고마워, 소라야! 너와 함께 있어서 정말 좋아."라고 말했습니다.
At lunchtime, Sora took Jenny to the school cafeteria. Jenny was nervous, but she felt reassured with Sora there. "The food here is really delicious. You should try it!" Sora said. Jenny tried kimbap. The kimbap was tasty, and Jenny said to Sora, "Thank you, Sora! I'm so glad to be with you."
그날 오후, 제니와 소라는 함께 숙제를 했습니다. 제니는 소라가 도와줘서 행복했습니다. "너는 정말 좋은 친구야, 소라!" 제니가 말했습니다. 소라는 웃으며 "너도 좋은 친구야, 제니!"라고 대답했습니다.
That afternoon, Jenny and Sora did their homework together. Jenny was happy that Sora helped her. "You are such a good friend, Sora!" Jenny said. Sora smiled and replied, "You're a good friend too, Jenny!"
집으로 돌아가는 길에, 제니는 생각했습니다. "한국에서의 첫날은 정말 재미있었어. 소라 같은 친구를 만나서 정말 다행이야." 제니는 미소를 지으며 집에 돌아갔습니다.
On her way home, Jenny thought, "My first day in Korea was really fun. I'm so glad I met a friend like Sora." Jenny smiled as she walked back home.
Selected from the book’s vocabulary list for this story.
Choose one answer for each question. You can try again or return to the story at any time.
제니는 어느 나라에서 왔나요?
Choose an answer to check your understanding.
점심 시간에 제니와 소라는 어디에 갔나요?
Choose an answer to check your understanding.
제니가 처음 먹어본 한국 음식은 무엇이었나요?
Choose an answer to check your understanding.
Questions selected verbatim from the book’s Post-Test (1, 3, 4); answers and evidence added for this web lesson. Answer choices are adapted for this web lesson.
WEB LEARNING TIP
The story uses polite formal endings such as 갔습니다 in narration, but the friends use casual speech such as 나는 소라야 and 고마워. Notice who is speaking; casual speech is not the default when meeting an unfamiliar adult.
Story and original English translation © 2024 CGSI Books. All rights reserved. This page shares one complete story with selected vocabulary and selected or adapted comprehension questions. The learning tip and answer feedback are added for this website.