Recently, I had the opportunity to research deep into the fascinating realm of Korean study culture through a presentation I had delivered. Although the presentation was homework that we had to do, it was also a reflection of my journey in learning Korean that significantly helped me gain better insight of the Korean educational system and honed my language skills.
What struck me the most during this process was the realization of my progress in reading the Korean alphabet. Previously, trying to read through Korean texts seemed like a daunting task, since it is a type of language that is outside of what I usually learn which happens to be neo-latin languages. Korean is made up of characters, therefore appearing a bit abstract to me, therefore there have been times that I would get frustrated. But as I kept revising and studying using the materials that my language tutor has given me, the texts that once used to be indecipherable characters began to form coherent words and sentences. So I was proud of myself for being able to do so because this presentation essentially represents what I have accomplished so far in learning korean.
I was able to learn a lot of the vocabulary pertaining to the Korean education system, which is something I wish I knew before I studied abroad in Seoul, just so I had a better idea on the lives of the students there. Here are some examples of what I have learned so far:
단과학원 : a hagwon for one specific subject
입시학원 : a hagwon where the students study all the subjects that will be on the Suneung
같이 공부하자 let’s study together !
어디서 할까 where should we study ?
카페 + 가자 let’s go to the cafe !
I feel like I have learned a lot of phrases that would help me better communicate with the people by being able to have a simple conversation. Therefore, moving forward, I plan to build on what I have already learned about the Korean language by continuing to keep immersing myself in Korean media, for example movies, dramas, and music. Also, I plan to expand my vocabulary and deepen my understanding of grammar through structured language lessons and self-study materials that I have already learned from my language tutor.
Throughout this learning journey, I've experienced a wide range of emotions, from pride in my progress to frustration with challenges that I have faced. However, with each experience, it has helped fuel my enthusiasm for learning Korean, especially in exploring its cultural heritage. By embracing both successes and challenges, I have been able to gain a much deeper appreciation for the language and even more for the culture, driving me to continue my language learning journey since I will be traveling to Korea this summer.
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I also struggled a lot with pronunciation. I found that Korean is a language where it may look like you're saying one thing but it sounds like it's something else. To combat things me and my partner worked on listening toward the latter half of the semester and it helped improve my skills.
This semester has been quite busy as a first yer student I had to adapt to many new experinces and one of them was exploring the Korean language. My learning journey has been quite straight foward I would think. In February I was introduced to Hangul which is the Korean alphabet where I learned that I had to pair vowels and consonants in order to make a words. Then we moved on to parts of the body and more about relationships. In March I began learning how to introduce myself and learning colors, days of the week, and informal vs. formal. Lastly in April I learned the two number systems such as native Korean that are used for counting and telling time. Sino-Korean numbers are based on Chinese characters and are used for counting large quantities, money, dates, and addresses. As I learned these topics through the semester I learned that I am a combination of a visual and auditory learner. After I found this out I was able to use specific study method to achieve my language-learning goals
Some of the challenges I encountered while learning Korean was understanding spoken language at native or natural speed, because it requires the ability to recognize words, phrases, and intonation patterns in real-time speech. Pronouncing sounds accurately in Korean is also difficult I am working on building my confidence when speaking in Korean. Lastly finding the opportunities to practice especially as a busy college student being able to self-study was difficult.
I have really enjoyed being able to learn with such a great learning partner. I was able to gain cultural insights that are not found in a textbook, enriching my understanding of Korean culture, customs, and societal norms. I will continue my learning journey by setting clear goals on what I want to achieve with Korean learning. Whether it's basic conversation skills, reading fluency, or understanding lyrics having clear goals will help me be motivated and focused. Watching Korean dramas, movies and a variety of shows is also a great way to immerse myself. I also want to start with reading children's books or webtoons with simple language and gradually progress to more complex materials.
Some reading I found the most useful were neuroscience readings. Crystal D. has great readings on how neuroscience plays a significant role in understanding how language learning occurs in the brain and how it can be optimized for effective acquisition. Something I would like to learn more about is how emotions play a significant role in memory formation and retention. I read an article say that language learning experiences that evoke positive emotions, such as enjoyment and curiosity, are more likely to be remembered and integrated into long-term memory. I would like to continue learning more about neuroscience and the overall valuable insights that its provides to language learning. Overall I found it very interesting to identify specific areas in the brain that are dedicated to language processing.
It was nice reading your progress in your korean studies. I totally agree with you on how it is a bit difficult to fully grasp the language, especially in terms of pronunciation since I also struggle with that. I also have learned a lot of korean culture that I did not know before.