Due by 5pm on Sunday, March 23: Discussion Post #7 on the Ning
Go back and watch the recording of your presentation of your learning plan on the class PanOpto collection on Blackboard. Comment briefly on how things are going. What has changed? How have you incorporated materials and insights from class into your efforts? Have discussions regarding language structures and learning strategies helped you to understand the target language and culture? If so, how?
Reflect on your language learning so far. How would you describe the relationship between language and culture? What do you need to do to improve your communicative competence? Based on the readings by H.D. Brown, what kinds of competence are emphasized in your plan?
Replies
My review of my initial learning plan has revealed progress and points of improvement to make in the coming weeks. I have learned some harder vocabulary words especially in the realm of politics and medicine which was what I was aiming for initially. I think I have a better grasp as to how to have a conversation about a more serious topic in Korean. I saw that my initial plan was to have a somewhat structured plan centered around books, exercises, and repetition, but I have realized that a more nuanced view to learning the language would be more beneficial. I think if I could dive deeper into more cultural items such as tv shows, music, and news, it would be very beneficial to me. Conversation is another tool that I have realized is hugely beneficial to me. Actively and regularly applying the words and skills I learn is something that is quite foreign, yet refreshing as I have come to realize. I have also had to tap into my writing skills a good bit and that has been challenging, but rewarding. To be able to articulate my thoughts better feels like a breakthrough in my learning experience. The grammar of Korean is still challenging and difficult to remember, but I believe this will come with time and usage. Overall, I am looking forward to pressing onwards and seeing how I can further develop this language that I thought had a handle on.
After reviewing my video, I definitely see progress in the learning process for Korean. One big thing is that I think the topics of what I wanted to learn were kind of vague and I was able to explore a greater range of topics and expound on my interests. For example, I mentioned how it would be nice to be able to hold a conversation with a native Korean speaker. I think that speaking with my language tutor and just having regular conversation about recent happenings, news, or our daily life has been very helpful in improving my speaking skills. Moreover, I think that I am learning a lot of new things about Korean society, language, sentence structure, and cultural norms and practices that I was not too familiar with. I initially planned to keep a regular log of my learning journey and take note of unfamiliar words to reinforce my vocabulary. However, I haven’t been as consistent with this as I had intended. Moving forward, I aim to establish a more structured system for documenting new words, grammar patterns, and cultural insights to better retain and apply what I’ve learned. Overall, I am encouraged by my progress and the depth of understanding I am gaining through this process. With more consistent tracking and intentional practice, I believe I can continue refining my skills and becoming even more confident in my Korean language abilities.
Over the past few weeks, my Hebrew learning has continued to progress steadily. I have noticed significant improvements in my comprehension, fluency, and ability to form more complex sentences. One of the most notable changes has been my growing comfort with gendered grammar in Hebrew, though I still find spontaneous speech challenging, especially when trying to recall the correct forms quickly. Incorporating insights from my sessions with Rabbi Sherry has been very helpful. Our discussions on grammatical structures, particularly gendered forms and connector words, have enhanced my understanding of how Hebrew functions both linguistically and culturally. This aligns well with the structured study outlined in my learning plan, where I focus on vocabulary drills, advanced dialogues, and immersive media exposure. Duolingo has also been a valuable tool, reinforcing patterns and expanding my vocabulary.
My exposure to Hebrew media, including news clips and podcasts, has deepened my appreciation for the relationship between language and culture. Through these materials, I have observed the nuances of modern Hebrew speech, including slang, idiomatic expressions, and formal versus informal tones. This exposure has shown me that learning a language is not just about memorizing vocabulary and grammar, it’s about understanding the historical, social, and cultural contexts that shape communication. To improve my communicative competence, I need to focus more on spontaneous speaking. I plan to engage in more conversational practice, possibly by finding additional speaking partners or increasing my time in immersive dialogue sessions. Expanding my exposure to varied dialects and formal written Hebrew will also be beneficial. H.D. Brown's concept of communicative competence is very applicable to my learning plan. My approach emphasizes several key competencies, including grammatical competence, reinforced through structured grammar drills and vocabulary study. Sociolinguistic competence, developed through discussions with Rabbi Sherry and exposure to Hebrew media, helped me navigate cultural and contextual nuances. Strategic competence, strengthened by learning connector words and strategies for overcoming communication gaps. Lastly, discourse competence, improved through extended dialogue readings and interactive discussions.
My review of my learning plan presentation helped me reflect on my progress and areas for improvement. Since the beginning of the semester, I have made some progres in learning Hangul and understanding basic pronunciation. However, I still struggle with listening comprehension and forming sentences by my own. One key change in my approach is incorporating more listening practice through beginner-friendly Korean YouTube videos, which have helped me recognize common phrases and improve my pronunciation. Through class lectures, I have gained a better understanding of language structures, politeness levels, and learning strategies that make Korean different from English. For example, learning about articulatory phonetics helped me understand how Korean sounds are physically produced in the vocal tract. I became more aware of how Korean includes sounds that are obstruents and sonorants, and how features like aspiration, voicing, and pitch affect pronunciation. Speech levels in Korean are not just about vocabulary, but also about how sounds are pronounced more softly or formally in polite speech. This deepened my understanding of how phonological features like stress, intonation, and segment combinations reflect cultural values like politeness and hierarchy. It showed me how closely language form and cultural meaning are connected, especially in a language like Korean, where the way you say something matters just as much as what you say.
The relationship between language and culture has become clearer to me as I continue learning Korean. The importance of respect and social hierarchy in Korean culture is reflected in the use of different speech levels, and I now see why mastering these distinctions is essential for effective communication. Based on H.D. Brown’s framework, my learning plan emphasizes grammatical competence (understanding Hangul and sentence structures) and strategic competence (using learning resources like apps and language exchange platforms to improve fluency). To improve my communicative competence, I need to increase my speaking practice and interact more with native speakers. I plan to engage in more structured language exchanges, practice speaking daily to refine pronunciation. Using shadowing techniques will also help improve my fluency and confidence in speaking. By adjusting my study methods, I believe I can make steady progress toward my goal of achieving basic conversational proficiency by the end of the semester.
After reviewing my recorded presentation on my learning plan, I can see how my approach to learning Korean has changed. Initially, my plan focused primarily on structured study, such as vocabulary building, grammar drills, and pronunciation practice. But as I have progressed, I have incorporated much more authentic materials, such as Korean dramas, music, and conversation with native speakers, which have provided greater exposure to natural usage and cultural nuances. My understanding of Korea has deepened through researching these class discussions, especially when learning where Korean came from and why we use honorifics. Through my research, I see a clear connection between language and culture. Korean is deeply intertwined with Confucian values, politeness norms, and historical influences. These all shape the way people communicate. To improve my communicative competence, I need to increase my speaking and listening practice, particularly in real life interactions, to develop fluency and confidence. I can engage in more active conversations with native speakers and immerse myself in media. Based on H.D. Brown, my plan emphasizes sociolinguistic competence because I want to work on navigating social contexts appropriately, adjusting my speech to reflect formality and respect in different settings.
It's funny thinking about the fact that we recorded our lesson plans over a month ago. Reflecting back on that time, I am struck by the rapid changes we experienced while creating these plans and by the fluid nature of language itself. Initially, having a rigid structure when first approaching a new target language was beneficial. A solid framework provided direction and allowed me to focus on the task at hand, rather than trying to consider every possible aspect of the language all at once. That structure helped me concentrate on learning vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation without being overwhelmed by the language’s complexity. However, as time has progressed, I have realized that road bumps occur and the path of learning is not linear. My initial vocabulary acquisition was slower than expected, and I found that I needed to adjust my approach. To address this, I incorporated more structured memorization techniques. For example, I began writing new words on sticky notes and placing them around my study area. This constant visual exposure has gradually improved my recall, even though progress is incremental. I have also remained consistent with my exposure to authentic materials, particularly through music. Listening to Korean songs has not only familiarized me with common phrases and vocabulary but has also provided insight into the natural rhythm and intonation of the language. Although my pronunciation has improved thanks to this exposure, I still find it challenging. Classroom discussions on language structures have reinforced the importance of understanding syntax and honorifics early in the learning process. These discussions have underscored how essential it is to grasp the grammatical framework that underlies everyday communication in Korean. In addition, learning strategies shared in class have significantly refined my approach to retention. Techniques such as repetition and contextual learning have helped me to gradually build a more robust linguistic foundation. I have learned that revisiting the same material in different contexts and with different methods is key to retaining new information. My learning approach has also shifted slightly to place more emphasis on culture. In Korean society, where social hierarchy and respect play critical roles in communication, understanding cultural norms is just as important as learning vocabulary and grammar. Recognizing the subtleties of honorifics and indirect speech has helped me understand how language reflects social structures and relationships. To improve my communicative competence further, I know I need to continue practicing with my language learning advisor and actively seek opportunities to engage with native speakers. Based on H.D. Brown’s readings, I am aware that I must focus on several types of competence. First, grammatical competence is vital; I plan to work diligently on sentence structure, verb conjugation, and honorifics to build a solid foundation. Next, I aim to enhance my discourse competence by learning how ideas connect in both spoken and written Korean. Finally, developing sociolinguistic and strategic competencies is crucial. Understanding when to use formal versus informal speech and using context clues or circumlocution to bridge gaps in my vocabulary are skills that I am actively working to improve.