Due by 5pm on Sunday, March 24: 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?
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I did not follow my initial plan very closely. I found understanding podcasts and the radio in Portuguese very difficult, likely requiring more level than I had to gain much from it. So I pivoted to other media: youtube channels, instagram, other things like this that was created either by Brazilians or by ex-pats living in Brazil. From there I was able to interact much more with the language on a day to day basis.
Thinking of syntax and grammar as we did in class was very useful to my progression. Sometimes I found myself mindlessly remembering tenses when I previously learned languages, but really considering how each sound like 'ou' (for past tense of voce, ele, ela) changed the meaning of the main root has helped me come a long way, if that makes sense. Thinking of languages as very repetitive, following a few key rules, has also been very useful and encouraged me to really work on the basics before I branched off into much vocabulary.
The language and culture are definitely connected, but I feel that Portuguese is a great counter-example to this. It is spoken across the world in places that have very little in common except for a shared colonial history. While there are concepts like saudade that may be only present in Portuguese, I see other cultural factors as much more important to the development of Portuguese-speaking societies than any linguistic influence in itself. Going forward I need to work on more complicated concepts like the personal infinite (to avoid the subjunctive) which are used in speech but not in writing by most Portuguese speakers. This difference between written and spoken Portuguese is hard for me to learn much about due to the nature of how I am learning it, but I hope to continue consuming spoken media and improve.
Your adaptation to using different media for learning Portuguese was a smart choice, and focusing on syntax and grammar has clearly paid off in your understanding. Exploring spoken media will likely continue to be beneficial in mastering more complex linguistic concepts and improving your overall comprehension.
In the presentation, I found some of the parts that I could have improved. For instance, I could have been focusing more on the number itself instead of focusing on the example of utilizing each number system. However, I am satisfied with my presentation by the fact that I could learn the reason why there are two different ways to count numbers in Korean. From the class, I could learn that students wanted to learn something that differs from English, so I put effort into finding something different from English. It helped me about the language and culture as I learned why there are two separate ways to count and how the number system originated. From the class, I could learn that language is part of the culture as it is one of the factors that show the country's color. I believe I need to further research the culture and deep meaning of the language to improve my communicative competitiveness. After H.D. Brown's reading, I looked back on my study as I was solely focusing on the language itself and possibly a little bit of culture. However, focusing on sociolinguistics could have also improved my language as I could have been able to advance my language more like a native by truly understanding the usage.
It's commendable how you reflected on your presentation, recognizing areas for improvement while also acknowledging your achievements. Focusing more on the numerical systems themselves could enhance clarity, but it's great that you grasped the reason behind the dual counting methods in Korean. Your effort to provide content different from English highlights your adaptability to student preferences and your dedication to understanding Korean culture. Indeed, delving deeper into sociolinguistics could further elevate your language skills by providing insights into native-like usage. Keep up the insightful reflection—it's a valuable part of the learning process!
After watching my presentation I realized that I am indeed going on pace to what my learning plan originally was. I've learned that I needed to slow down and really hone in on the basics I've before jumping into more complex topics. that has been the only large change that I've had to implement. Even with things like the alphabet just learning the ins and outs of Hangul, having the basics down is definitely enough to be able to read very basic words but when things become more complex knowing an immense amount of information helps with the minut details. I still have to keep in mind that this is a three-semester plan and not to jump ahead, I tend to want to learn complex things that will have more life application, but when learning a language you have to start as if you're a baby and work towards an adult. Encompassing this baby to adult idea will allow you to not have gaps within your knowledge and truly understand how to speak read and write the language that you so choose. In regards to the reading from HD Brown, I feel as if I am really honing in on the socio-linguistics competence. When working with Isaac I'm always asking questions about when to use this form versus another, I'm also trying to understand what cultural context I would use specific words. For instance, when speaking to someone who is older to you you always speak to them in a formal manner which is somewhat different than in America. I've also been immersing myself in culture, trying to learn more about pop culture and the gaming scene within Korea. I've been doing this by watching videos and asking Isaac questions about Korea, even though he does not live there and hasn't lived there he still has an immense amount of knowledge that I've been tapping into.
At the moment, things are going decently well. This is the first time in my life where I am learning a different language in a setting that is not a classroom with fixed lessons and materials. Although adapting to this new, more independent, learning model has not been easy, I can see some of its benefits shining through on many occasions. By using non-conventional resources like sporting events and movies, I can get a different perspective on the ins and outs of the Korean language and mannerisms.
Also, using materials from class such as the IPA and its advantages in recognizing phones in different languages has been incredibly helpful in tying some loose ends I had when learning Korean when I was studying abroad. Some of these topics include distinguishing some letters and phones, in terms of how much air is put into them, and some vowels that can be differentiated by their location. By using these universal concepts of linguistics, I believe that my Korean learning experience, as well as any other possible ones in the future, will become so much more enjoyable and easier to navigate.
Reflecting on my language learning experience to this point, I would describe the relationship between language and culture as bone-deep. In short, without culture, a language most certainly won't exist as an independent system of communication. The particular culture of an area or people is the one that determines how a language functions, which sounds one uses, how sentences are structures, what are the formality levels, etc. For example, one could understand that because Korea is a very hierarchical society, there is a strong emphasis on formality of speech when addressing superiors.
Based on the readings by H.D Brown, I can say that my learning plan emphasizes mostly on grammatical competence, since I am still a beginner and have not nailed down enough vocabulary and fluency, as well as sociolinguistic competence, which tackles topics like figures of speech, mannerisms, and other cultural aspects of a language. By addressing these two competencies in my current and future learning plans, I expect to grasp a basic understanding of the structure of any language I learn, as well as the cultural aspects that simply cannot be grasped with a textbook or app, and only by interacting with the said culture first-hand.
Your approach to learning Korean outside of a traditional classroom setting sounds both challenging and rewarding! It's great to hear how you're using unconventional resources like sporting events and movies to gain a deeper understanding of the language and culture. Incorporating tools like the IPA and linguistic concepts into your learning process shows a thoughtful approach that will undoubtedly enhance your language skills in the long run. Keep up the fantastic work!
It's going well overall. Learning Korean has been quite different from any other language I've attempted in the past. It's been interesting to see the disparities between what I thought I could achieve in a couple of months versus the reality. Despite this, I've still managed to learn a lot from my tutor, Hannah. One particularly helpful thing, in addition to the work my tutor has provided, is using Duolingo. I find that it really emphasizes repetition and helps highlight my strengths and weaknesses throughout the learning process.
One significant challenge I've encountered is grappling with Korean grammar. Unlike many Western languages, Korean grammar operates in a very different structure, with the subject-object-verb (SOV) word order being a notable difference. This inversion of word order often requires a shift in mindset when constructing sentences, which can be quite challenging for non-native learners. Additionally, the intricacies of honorifics and politeness levels in Korean speech add another layer of complexity.
Discussions regarding language structures and learning strategies in class have helped me understand the target language and culture better. By dissecting language patterns and cultural nuances, I've gained a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of language and culture. For instance, understanding the importance of honorifics in Korean not only helps with language proficiency but also offers insights into Korean social norms and etiquette.
Reflecting on my language learning journey so far, I see a profound relationship between language and culture. Language is not just a means of communication; it's a reflection of cultural values, traditions, and societal norms. To improve my communicative competence, I need to continue immersing myself in both the language and the culture. This involves not only studying vocabulary and grammar but also delving into Korean literature, media, and daily life practices.
In terms of the competencies emphasized in my learning plan, H.D. Brown's readings emphasize a holistic approach, focusing not only on linguistic competence but also on sociolinguistic and strategic competence. In my plan, I aim to develop not only my grammatical skills but also my ability to navigate various social contexts and employ effective learning strategies. This comprehensive approach aligns with the principles outlined by Brown and underscores the importance of addressing multiple facets of language learning for proficiency and fluency.