I suddenly think back to when I had first realized I was finally understanding Korean and for once all the sounds turned into words, I was listening to the song BABY BABY by Winner and was simply amazed at how I could pick up and understand words or phrases. As someone who was introduced to this language from a non-student or studying perspective I had felt no pressure and could calmly absorb all the information in front of me. Until suddenly I understood what was being said and did not need to look over at the subtitles did I suddenly feel the need to improve my Korean skills. I wanted a more formal approach however I didn't want to start at level one and feel stuck. SDLC has honestly been a savior in that sense, and while I do miss a more classroom and daily approach to my language learning I do not want to give up the control. I found it fun to plan out my week ahead and try to find new ways and resources to practice and expanding my grasp of the Korean language. My language partner Jannette was an extreme help and I honestly would not be able to move past this slump without her. From the one on one conversation practice to finally being able to ask someone what I was curious about without feeling self-conscious. She really helped make my experience in this class ten if not twenty times better. I learned to get over my fear and speaking in public finally having the chance to practice my speaking skills again. Many people may think only living in the country of your target language will help you dramatically improve, however just daily practice and immersion is much more helpful. During my time in Korea, because I was completely surrounded by English speakers I never had to go out of my comfort zone to practice my speaking skills. I also felt this innate fear and it would make me second guess my speaking and pronunciation. However, this class has helped me overcome this fear and become a more confident speaker. SDLC has also helped me understand more deeply what language really is and its profound impact on us as people. Language honestly becomes a lens and through each language, I start to learn my world starts becoming wider and wider. I wouldn't call myself a polyglot but I will say that I am a polyglot in training. By just telling myself "listen you can understand, you can read, and you can keep a basic conversation" you are fluent even though I am not at the level of a native speaker, having that confidence really helps. By just telling myself this simple fact "you are fluent" my mindset has definitely shifted and it makes me feel more inclined to study and better my language skills. I will continue to study and practice so that I can confidently interact with other students at Yonsei. I will make sure I can practice my Korean and will try to go out of my comfort zone.
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