https://drive.google.com/file/d/12KjlkJI9-2BL3jFzGj_L2myKnYZa6mR0/view?usp=sharing

Some insights that I’ve gained as a language learner is that I should never be afraid. One thing I realized when I was speaking Korean in Korea was that I was very anxious about saying the wrong thing or my pronunciation was not accurate. There were actually a lot of times where I attempted to say something in Korean but they weren’t able to understand it. But I learned that I will never grow if I am always so conscious about my Korean language because I will never know if I try. During the last several weeks, I felt that I had really improved and developed my Korean skills. My initial objectives for this class were to increase my vocabulary, improve my grammar (particularly in terms of subject markers and verb conjugations), and engage in daily conversation. I was pleasantly pleased at how much I was able to learn, particularly in terms of vocabulary, when I utilized and practiced them on a regular basis. In contrast to my Korean lesson, I only had to memorize them for a week before forgetting about them. However, every week with Vivan, we went over all of the vocabulary we rehearsed and revisited the terms from the previous week. Same thing with grammar, reviewing the previous concepts helped me grasp the new concepts. And in the long term, helps me actually learn the language better

Something I found difficult was definitely the sentence structures of the Korean lanauge because they are in SOV form. An example would be 나는 피자 먹어요 (I eat pizza). From Korean, it would literally translate to “I pizza eat”. This sentence structure was very hard for me to get familiar with because when I learn languages, I usually link the English to Korean, but it was more difficult with Korean just because I had to think ahead about what the object was before.

Something that I have enjoyed was learning about the culture along with the language. We were able to get some cultural immersion experience by going to get Korean BBQ at Korea Garden in Richmond. During this experience, I could use my Korean skills to order in a restaurant. I remember being in Korea I was a bit uncomfortable speaking the language because I didn’t have anyone there to check or correct me. But getting to go to Korean BBQ with Vivian was as helpful as she was in our classes. If I used a wrong measure word, she would correct me right away on the spot, which I feel is the most useful way to learn something. 

I will continue my learning by continuing to seek out free resources, such as Youtube. There are some good videos that I could invest in that are ideal for speaking, engaging, and pronunciation. Also, I hope to be able to watch K-dramas and understand everything without subtitles. There is a feature in Netflix called Netflix Language Learning, which offers translated subtitles in two languages. In this case, I could do it in English and Korean at the same time so I can actively be studying the subtitles while watching. 

I was able to reflect on my learning styles and find out what kind works best for me. I was always a visual learner, but I realized that my learning styles may be different from the way I learn in my business classes vs. Korean classes. I also found out that I learn best through repetition, as many others may, with languages. I found out about an app called Drops, which is a vocabulary builder game. Everyday, you can play matching games but the special thing about Drops is how repetitive it is. Unlike Quizlet, everytime you click on a word or match a word, it says it. Hearing it along with thinking about it really helps it stick in my brain. It also repeats it over and over many times even if you get it the first time. I still remember the first word I learned from that app because it stuck with me. Something also really helpful that Vivian did was create weekly tests for me. Although no one likes to take tests, I think they were really useful in helping me study and retain the information that I learned.

Something I would like to learn more about is Korean Pop Culture. Specifically, the history, and how it grew to be a global phenomenon that has garnered millions of fans throughout the world. Overall, this class has been very interesting to me because I have always found the growth of Korean culture and its effects in music, movies, dramas, brands, and many more aspects around the world very compelling. One of the most prime examples is K-pop, K-dramas, and movies in the United States: BTS thriving in America, Korean dramas taking over American Netflix, and the movie Parasite making history by being the first non-English film to win best picture at the 2020 Oscars. These factors push me to explore how and why Korean culture grew all around the world and how it has impacted other cultures as well. 

Korean Cuisine 

For this week, I wanted to focus my cultural artifact on Korean cuisine. For numerous reasons, Korean cuisine is a distinctive feature of their culture. The first is that food is inextricably linked to Korea's environment, which includes the country's location, topography, and climate. Korea is a peninsula with a climate similar to that of the United States' north central region: chilly winters, mild summers, and lengthy, beautiful autumns. Korea features several microclimates since the terrain is largely made up of mountains and stretches from the North Asian mainland to milder oceans in the south. Rice, beans, and vegetables are produced in the lowlands, while mushrooms and a variety of wild plants, such as bracken and bellflower, are picked or farmed in the mountains. Each location has its own set of foods that are specific to its climate. The country's rugged northeastern region. The topography (peninsula), temperature (hot, humid summers and bitterly cold winters), closeness to China and Japan, and the Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945 all influenced Korean food. The introduction of chili peppers to Korea by Portuguese traders in the 17th century had considerable influence on the cuisine. Chili peppers were commonly employed in the making of Korean cuisine by the 18th century. Much of today's Korean food, as well as the conventions that surround it, are derived from royal cuisine and the intricate customs of the ancient court. The cuisine is a balancing study, with particular attention paid to temperature, spiciness, color, and texture, as well as thoughtful presentation. 

The main meal is constructed around a variety of shared side dishes that compliment each other, beginning with ritual bowls of rice and soup. The amount of side dishes served can range from two to a dozen or more, although most meals will have at least a handful. Rather than being served in courses, all of the foods are presented all at once to be shared. A Korean banquet consists of a variety of meals that have been steamed, simmered, pan-fried, and stewed, among other methods.

Many side dishes are plucked, fermented, or salted, and many are spicy, since the Koreans have perfected the technique of preserving food. Kimchi, Korea's famed spicy cabbage, comes in over a hundred distinct types made with other veggies and is a staple of every meal. It's loved for its sour, acidic crunch as well as its ability to assist digestion. Sesame and sesame oil, chili pepper paste (kochujang), soybean paste (daenjang), garlic, ginger, and chilli pepper flakes are all popular spices and sauces. Korean cuisine is known for being flavorful, spicy, and pungent. Charcoal grills in the middle of the table, a sort of indoor barbeque, are common in traditional eateries. Bulgogi (meaning "fire meat") or beef ribs (kalbi) are marinated, grilled, then wrapped in lettuce leaves with garlic, chili, and soybean paste. They're eaten in one mouthful since biting into a lettuce packet is considered impolite.

References: 

https://www.pbs.org/hiddenkorea/food.htm#:~:text=Korean%20cuisine%20is%20also%20a,were%20many%20kinds%20of%20cabbage.

http://upbproducts.co.uk/2016/04/06/korean-food-regions-history-tradition/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352618116300099

https://hannaone.com/korean-cooking-blog/the-amazing-history-of-korean-cuisine.html

My Personal Interests in Korea and Study Abroad Experience

During the Fall 2021 semester, I had the opportunity to study abroad at Yonsei University in South Korea. This was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Growing up as Chinese, I’ve had the privilege of being raised in a multicultural home and visiting my home country Shanghai in China often. My parents were Chinese immigrants, which gave me the chance to explore the complex layers of my Asian-American identity. The thing that captivated me the most was the duality of being able to coexist within different cultures and experiences. From universal ideas like our bond over family and food, there is nothing more important than accepting and understanding not only what brings us together, but what makes us unique as well. Since an early age, I have always been curious to see and experience Asian culture beyond my home country, but never had the chance to. And growing up with many Korean friends, I’ve become exposed to many of their cultural practices and traditions. 

I gained first-hand experience of the important traits that lead to success in the business world. Being immersed in Korean culture, learning Korean, having access to historical resources, and overcoming the challenges of living in another country will all help me be successful in my future career. An aspect of South Korea’s culture that intrigues me is the music and entertainment industry. The growing popularity of Korean pop culture, such as K-pop groups like BTS and movies such as Parasite, the first non-English film to win a main Oscar, has made them a global phenomenon and success. My strategy for engagement is to integrate myself into the culture as much as I can. In the classroom, I took cultural elective classes such as Popular Culture and Korean Wave, Contemporary Korean Cinema and Society, and Korean Food and Culture and learned more about how Korean pop culture and the Korean wave contributed to the increase in worldwide popularity. Outside the classroom, I explored the city during my free time and visited historical landmarks relevant to my interests, like Dongdaemun and Deoksugung Palace. 

My experience returning home was like the opposite of going to Korea, reverse culture shock. I felt fatigued and exhilarated in many ways, just as I did when arriving at Korea a few months earlier. It felt good to be home, enjoying home cooking, phone calls from old friends, and sharing adventures with my family. However, just as I felt my initial excitement at being back in a familiar place, I began to also feel discomfort. Things that I thought were familiar may now appear strange. Hearing English spoken all around sounded strange, I was hesitant to spend $50 on lunch when I considered that I would have subsisted on that amount for a week. I think that I never felt more American when I was in Korea and never felt more alien when I returned to the United States. However, I know that this feeling is normal and is an opportunity to learn not only about myself and how I've developed while in Korea, but also about home from a much more objective viewpoint.

To reflect on my experience, I learned to not take anything for granted. As cliche as it sounds, this means to meet as new people as possible, go to all the places, take on new experiences, and go into the uncomfortable. Whether that means exploring a place by yourself or learning new things, you push yourself to learn how to navigate and assimilate with the way things function. When confronted with severe and demanding conditions, you learn to rely only on yourself. You may learn something new every day and gain confidence in your talents. I learned the importance of spending time by myself and self care. At Richmond, we often get caught up with our friends or roommates, so we barely have any time to spend with ourselves. In Korea, I could say I was alone for most of the time. Also living in a single room, I often felt lonely and homesick at times. Especially during the first few weeks, I did not have many close friends or people I could turn to. But after some time, I realized that I’ve experienced some of the best things in Korea by myself. I learned how to be truly comfortable with the uncomfortable and independent. But I do regret not doing many things, such as not meeting as much people as possible or traveling to more places. I only realized the things I am going to miss after I leave them. For me, this was Korea, the culture, and the people. But now, my mindset in what I accomplish has changed because if I can live in a nation for six months knowing barely any of their language, then I can accomplish anything. 

Korean “Bali Bali”  Lifestyle 

Korea’s lifestyle is a very fast paced and competitive one, known as “bali bali” culture. The word "bali bali" refers to a society that embraces a fast-paced lifestyle. "bali" literally means "quickly" or "hurry up." The desire for speed is tremendous, and everything is done in the blink of an eye, from eating to erecting a thirty-story structure. "Bali bali" has become a distinctive characteristic of Korean culture, as well as one of the pillars of the Han River Miracle.

Even with enjoyable vacations, education is vital to the Korean people, and the holidays should not divert students' attention away from their studies. The literacy rate in South Korea is 99.2 percent for males and 96.6 percent for females. If you believe school in America is difficult, you are mistaken. In Korea, most high school students attend school from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extra night and after-school classes. Students, on the other hand, only attend high school for three years because a year in a grade is often longer in Europe than in America. 

The thousands of food delivery motorcyclists you'll see traversing the streets of Seoul are one of the most visible manifestations of the "ppalli ppalli" lifestyle. Regardless of what you want or where you reside, food will be at your home very soon. Food is on the table in restaurants in a matter of minutes, and people are on their way to the next assignment after a brief lunch. "Getting things done" appears to be a life mantra that pervades the entire culture. Even marriages are brief occasions, with the majority lasting only a few hours. This also applies to building and infrastructure. In just a few years, entire communities have been built, and the 428-kilometer Gyeongbu Expressway has been completed.

Public Wi-Fi is available across Seoul, and with one of the world's fastest internet speeds, everything is accessible at any time of day. It is a vibrant country where everything moves at the speed of the internet. At the corner, there is a BBQ restaurant one day and a coffee shop the next. High-speed industrialisation and rapid technological innovation have become the norm, and the rest of society is following suit. This "ppalli ppalli" catchphrase, on the other hand, was not introduced with high-speed internet. After President Park Chung Hee pushed for rapid industrialisation in the 1960s, the need for speed grew. The Miracle on the Han River was made possible by industrialization. 

Even if the Republic of Korea is ahead of the curve in terms of technology and infrastructure, simple phrases like "ppalli ppalli" should not be used to define a full civilization. Because, while foreigners usually use the phrase to describe the Republic of Korea, Koreans do not always use it to describe themselves. However, there has been a national conversation about work-life balance in recent years. The idea is to provide individuals less work time and more leisure time, as well as more time to relax. Koreans appear to be attempting to slow things down in order to find peace.

References: 

https://medium.com/bigberry/korean-pali-pali-culture-9c7ab4d5e516

https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/no-en/brd/m_21237/view.do?seq=103

Korean Holidays 

One of the interesting cultural concepts to me is Korean holidays, festivals, and celebrations. These aspects became a very important part of Korean culture because during the early days, Korea was predominantly an agricultural nation until the mid-twentieth century, and the lunar calendar controlled the seasonal rhythms of daily life. Because farming was so vital to the members' survival, such societies evolved a wide range of semi-religious activities to pray for a successful crop and plenty of food. Eventually, these gatherings became communal celebrations and festivals.

Chuseok, also known as hangawi, is one of Korea's most important holidays, occurring on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, alongside Lunar New Year's Day. On this day, the entire family gathers and performs a rite with newly gathered crops and fruits to show their gratitude to the gods. Koreans also celebrate the Lunar New Year's Day (Seol or Seollal) with tteokguk, or rice cake soup, a distinctive holiday delicacy. They think that by eating a cup of rice cake soup on that particular day, they will grow one year older. In addition, younger people give their elders a deep ceremonial bow and wish them a good new year. These are two major Korean festivals. Both years are marked by visits with relatives and the consumption of a wide variety of foods. Tteokguk (rice cake soup) is a traditional dish served in Seollal. They think that by eating a cup of rice cake soup on that particular day, they will grow one year older. In addition, younger people give their elders a deep ceremonial bow and wish them a good new year. Songpyeon, a Korean traditional rice cake stuffed with sesame seeds and honey, but with additional ingredients such as black beans, mung beans, cinnamon, pine nut, walnut, chestnut, and jujube, is eaten and traded with neighbors during Chuseok. Koreans pay homage to their elders and ancestors on both festivals by wearing traditional Korean clothing called Hanbok, which is also worn by the bride and groom at weddings. Both holidays have no set date and fluctuate year to year based on the Lunar calendar. Aside from these holidays, Koreans celebrate a variety of unique occasions. On November 11th, for example, it is Pepero Day. This day has no significance, but it is a pleasant day when Pepero offers special discounts and promotions. Because 11/11 is like the Pepero sticks, it's on November 11th. There are also a slew of other pointless yet entertaining "holidays", such as Pepero Day. Children's Day, for example, is another holiday. When I was studying abroad in Korea, I got to celebrate this holiday. Even though I didn’t have a Valentine, my friends and I still did a Pepero exchange. In the end, it is a day to appreciate your loved ones. 

These are just some of the few interesting holidays and traditions that are part of Korean culture. It is a vital part of community building and engagement. 

References: 

https://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Korean-Life/Festivals

https://english.seoul.go.kr/service/amusement/traditional-culture/koreas-four-major-national-holidays/

https://asiasociety.org/korea/chuseok-korean-thanksgiving-day

During the final weeks, I felt like I really had developed my Korean skills and improved a lot. My goals at the beginning of this class was to expand my vocabulary, improve my grammar in terms of using the correct subject marker and verb conjugations, and speak in daily conversation. I was really surprised at how much I could learn specifically for vocabulary, I was actually able to accumulate when I used them and practiced on the daily. Unlike my class in Korea, I just had to memorize them for the week and then would most likely forget about them. But with Vivan, we went through all the vocabulary we practiced every week and reviewed the words from the week before. Same thing with grammar, reviewing the previous concepts helped me grasp the new concepts. And in the long term, helps me actually learn the language better.

Also, during this time I was able to reflect on my learning styles and find out what kind works best for me. I was always a visual learner, but I realized that my learning styles may be different from the way I learn in my business classes vs. Korean classes. I also found out that I learn best through repetition, as many others may, with languages. I found out about an app called Drops, which is a vocabulary builder game. Everyday, you can play matching games but the special thing about Drops is how repetitive it is. Unlike Quizlet, everytime you click on a word or match a word, it says it. Hearing it along with thinking about it really helps it stick in my brain. I still remember the first word I learned from that app because it stuck with me. 

We were also able to get some cultural immersion experience by going to get Korean BBQ at Korea Garden in Richmond. During this experience, I could use my Korean skills to order in a restaurant. I remember being in Korea I was a bit uncomfortable speaking the language because I didn’t have anyone there to check or correct me. But getting to go to Korean BBQ with Vivian was as helpful as she was in our classes. If I used a wrong measure word, she would correct me right away on the spot, which I feel is the most useful way to learn something. 

This week was also the preparation stage of my final presentation for the class, so I decided to explore the topic of Hanja, which I was specifically interested in because of my background in Chinese. Hanja are Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation. Korean has many Sino-Korean words because they had adopted the Chinese character, Hanja, which allowed for both an acceptance of Chinese culture and for the expression of the Korean spoken language. What first sparked my interest in this idea was after seeing a video of people speaking Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and Japanese. They spoke specific words that all somehow sounded the same throughout the four languages. I was really intrigued because in class, we learned about language trees, language families, and how different languages actually stem from the same parent language. I actually didn’t know that Korea used Chinese characters in their language before, so this gave me the opportunity to explore more of the history and cultural significance of Hanja. 

During these weeks, my main focus was to develop more grammar skills because I had minimal grammar skills. In other words, I could form sentences together, but they were usually half gibberish because there were many grammar aspects I was lacking in, such as using the right grammar structure, subject marker, verb ending, etc. So, I wanted to make sure that my grammar was more specific to what I wanted to learn.

This week, I also had to revise my learning plan a lot because of how general it was. I had a basic idea of what I wanted to learn and achieve, but my goals lacked definition and it wasn’t well organized based on my learning style. For example, one of my goals was to “learn more grammar”, but I didn’t have a goal in mind of what specific grammar structures I wanted to cover. So, Vivian and I spent some extra time revising specific grammar topics. In the end, one of my main goals was to get better at daily conversation, so the grammar structures centered around those that would be used on the daily. 

These topics that we covered included the basic sentence structures of: SOV. An example would be 나는 피자 먹어요 (I eat pizza). From Korean, it would literally translate to “I pizza eat”. This sentence structure was very hard for me to get familiar with because when I learn languages, I usually link the English to Korean, but it was more difficult with Korean just because I had to think ahead about what the object was before.

 In addition, another important structure was the verb 이다 (ida - to be) is one of the most distinctive sentence constructions in the Korean language. This is especially true for English speakers because the word "to be" changes form when you conjugate it when talking about yourself or to other people so you can define what people or objects are. It's an important aspect of learning Korean, and it's pronounced similarly to how it’s said in English. For example, the sentence 저는 학생입니다  means “I am a student” or more literally in Korean to English, “I student am”. This sentence structure combines the knowledge of verb conjugations and verb endings from the previous weeks. 

Another topic I learned was about subject markers. A topic marker helps to indicate the subject of a sentence. For example, 저는 고양이를 봐요 means “I see the cat”. But after each subject word (I and cat), there needs to be a subject marker to complete the sentence. This sentence has the particles 는 (neun) after the word for “I” (저 | jeo) and 를 (reul) after the word for “cat” (고양이 | goyangi). This topic was easy to learn but challenging to master because there is nothing like it in English. Also, because there are so many variations of subject markers and rules for which one to use, I often get confused with another subject marker. I find myself having to think about which subject marker goes with the sentence I am trying to speak. But after more practice, it will come more naturally. 

During the next couple of weeks, the main task I was working on was to develop my vocabulary. For each week, Vivian and I planned it out so that we would study a certain subject along with a certain topic. For example, one of our weeks was to study vocabulary with the focus of food and ordering food. Before we started learning more words, I wrote down a list of topics and specific words I wanted to not only learn but to memorize as well. When I was taking Korean lessons in Korea, I had to memorize about 50 words each week, which we were tested by reading. To meet that goal, I challenged myself to learn around 20- 25 new vocabulary words each week. Some words that fell into the food category were 파 (yangpa) Onion, 마늘 (maneul) Garlic, 봄양파 (bomyangpa) Scallion, 당근 (danggeun) Carrot,  무 (mu) Radish. Along with the vocabulary words, we would learn things such as how to order food, restaurant courtesy such as not tipping the waiter, and how to use correct measure words when referring to each item. In addition to using flash cards, I have been using a lot of different apps and texting with my language partner. For example, if one of my vocabulary words was “breakfast” and I am asking her to get breakfast, I would text her in whatever I could in Korean. Instead of saying “breakfast”, I would use “아침식사” instead so I can practice typing and also reading and saying the vocabulary word. I think I learn best through an interactive environment, meaning I want to be exposed to the words as much as I possibly can and use it on a daily basis. 

The good thing about separating my learning into different topics each week was how much my language partner and I could cover because of how they relate to each other. In addition to the vocabulary itself, I was also able to learn how to conjugate verb endings with words to describe food such as 쓴 맛 (sseun mat) Bitter taste, 매워요 (maewoyo) Spicy,  두거워요 (dugeowoyo) Hot,  달콤해요 (dalkomhaeyo) Sweet, and 맛있어요 (masisseoyo) Delicious just to name a few. When I would describe a specific food, for example, 떡볶이(tteokbokki), which is a spicy sweet rice cake dish, I would say “떡볶이는 맵다”, which means “tteokbokki is spicy.”  In the original form, the word 맵다 has a different ending, but when you conugate it,  ‘매’ remains, and ‘ㅂ’ changes to ‘우’ and add ‘어요’ after that. It becomes ‘매워요.’ Verb endings are important to keep in mind especially when speaking to different people. When speaking in a more formal setting, “매워요” should be used instead of the original form. 

At the end of each week, Vivian would test me on the vocabulary that I’ve been studying that week by giving me the English word and then I had to say the Korean word and write it. If I could get the word on the first try, then I would move on but if I didn’t get it within two tries, Vivian would also put that word onto next week’s pile so I get an extra week to review and study those words. 

Coming into this class, I had minimal knowledge of Korean culture and language. During studying abroad, I was actually able to take a Korean language class and really enjoyed it. Through that class, I got an introductory understanding of the Korean alphabet, grammar structures, and developed reading abilities. Although that class was only one semester long, I didn’t have enough time to learn everything I wanted to or develop my skills to the fullest potential. I actually had no idea about this class until some of my other friends told me they were going to enroll in it. After studying abroad in Korea, my interest in Korean culture I built a greater interest in the language and really wanted to continue learning. Although Richmond doesn’t provide any formal Korean language classes, I still thought having a language partner would be valuable. 

I met with my language partner, Vivian first to develop a schedule around what times every week we would meet. We decided to meet every Wednesday for two hours in the evening. Then, we had to put together around eleven to twelve learning subjects and preliminary ideas in order to create a semester syllabus. Korean slangs, memorizing the Korean keyboard/improving my writing, reading Korean articles, learning more Korean vocabulary words relevant to everyday life, learning more about Korean culture through youtube videos and Korean dramas, texting in Korean practice, and practicing speaking scenarios in Korean were among these goals and ideas. Although our list was very extensive, we had to narrow down the ideas later to really emphasize what specific topics we wanted to focus on. 

During the first couple of weeks, Vivian and I started with some review from what I learned when I was in Korea. This included the alphabet, reading simple words and sentences, and reviewing pronunciations. Vivian created a simple worksheet for me to review the alphabet and she quizzed me after. I also brought her my Korean textbook and workbook that I used in my beginner Korean language class. She was able to go through that with me and review the concepts that I had learned. It really made me realize just how important practicing and exposure to a language is important. Because I had stopped Korean lessons for about a month, I actually had forgotten some things, but didn’t even realize it. When I was in Korea, I was also surrounded by the language everyday. And coming back to America, it’s been harder to get that exposure just because the language is different now. Because of this, we spent some extra time on the basics to make sure I had the skills to move forward. This meant that I had to be comfortable with speaking and reading at least the alphabet and simple words. So at the end of every week, Vivian would test me on reading, speaking, and vocabulary. We did this for about two weeks after I had a more solid understanding and was more comfortable with the basics before we moved onto learning new things. 

Where are you now? What can you do? What do you know?

Interpersonal Communication: Low
Interpretive Listening: Low
Interpretive Reading: Low
Presentational Speaking: Low
Presentational Writing: Low

What is your ultimate goal? What is your goal for this semester?
What do you want to be able to do with this language at the end of this semester and in the future?
I want to be able to speak everyday conversation in Korean with people. Although there may be some words I may still not understand or know by the end of this semester, I want to gain enough vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension to be able to piece together conversations and speak to others.

Learning Objectives:
- Vocabulary, reading, writing
- Tools: workbooks, Quizlet, flashcards

Week 1:
- Review alphabet, pronunciation, and vocabulary
- Worksheets created by Vivian and Quizlet

Week 2:
- Review and learn new grammar structures
- Workbooks

Week 3:
- Read passages from workbooks and everything in Korean (signs, books, menus, etc.). Test reading skills every week to see if reading speed and comprehension increases

I reviewed the alphabet and the sounds/pronunciations. I also reviewed and learned some new vocabulary words

I will continue using the textbook I used for learning Korean 1 when I was at Yonsei.

I want to learn a language with honorifics, which will allow me to understand how language works with expressing high status, politeness, or respect. Also, I want to go back to Korea and be able to talk to more locals and Korean people.

Study abroad, Korean friends, and Korean pop culture.

Growing up as Chinese, I’ve had the privilege of being raised in a multicultural home and visiting my home country Shanghai in China often. My parents were Chinese immigrants, which gave me the chance to explore the complex layers of my Asian-American identity. The thing that captivated me the most was the duality of being able to coexist within different cultures and experiences. From universal ideas like our bond over family and food, there is nothing more important than accepting and understanding not only what brings us together, but what makes us unique as well. As a result of my parents speaking Mandarin around the house, I picked it up quickly, which became my first language. However, when I started to attend school, I had to switch to learning English. This was a difficult transition for me because since my parents were immigrants, they did not know much English themselves so they had a hard time introducing me to the language and practicing at home. The only exposure I got of English was during school. Up to 1st grade, I was also enrolled in ESOL, which is a program to help children whose first language isn't English learn the language. This program helped me tremendously, as it was an additional exposure and time to practice English. However, as I got older, I used English more than Mandarin so my Mandarin skills started to go down. I try to keep up these days by watching videos in that language and reading books. During high school, I had the opportunity to learn Russian. I remember I was captivated by the Russian alphabet. When the Olympics happened in Sochi, I remember looking at the banners and wondering how “Cо́чи” spelled “Sochi”. As a result, I wanted to learn more and successfully learned the alphabet and how to read at an elementary level. However, because of the timing, I was only able to take 2 years of Russian since it was only offered at my high school. During the Fall 2021 semester, I had the opportunity to study abroad at Yonsei University in South Korea. While I was in Korea, I had the opportunity to take a Korean Language introductory course, which taught me the alphabet, grammar, and basic conversational skills. I really enjoyed expanding my knowledge in languages and thinking in different ways. I think it works a different part of your brain when you have to think or speak in another language vs. learning another subject in English. However, learning languages is difficult and hard to keep up, especially if you are studying on your own.

I am an insightful thinker and a visual learner, therefore I learn best when reading and seeing pictures. For example, this may include learning vocabulary with photos. I also believe that the surveys accurately reflect my learning styles because I like to think of new ways to do things or shortcuts to things that are already done. I think I should expand my learning activities by hearing as well as seeing. During my trip to Korea, I realized that hearing sentences over and over again has a big impact on memorization. Combining hearing and seeing learning styles together could help me better understand the language.