Learning Journal #2

For this period, my task was to explore "untranslatable" Korean emotional concepts that don't have a direct English equivalent. My specific goal was to move past dictionary definitions of Jeong (정) and understand how it is expressed in literature and daily conversation. I hoped to reach a point where I could describe a relationship using this concept accurately without falling back on the English word "love" or "attachment."I read excerpts from the novel Please Look After Mom (엄마를 부탁해) by Kyung-sook Shin. I chose this because the narrative heavily relies on the unspoken bonds and "heavy" emotions between family members that define the Korean psyche. I brought specific passages to my language partner. Instead of asking "What does this word mean?", I asked, "Why is this character feeling Jeong here instead of just Sarang (love)?" We spent our session dissecting the differences between "active love" and the "lingering bond" of Jeong. My language partner and I set a goal: I would try to…

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Discussion Post 6

Hebrew belongs to the Afro-Asiatic language family and is part of the Semitic branch. More specifically, it is a Canaanite language. Today, Hebrew is actually the only Canaanite language still spoken. Hebrew has a very deep history that goes back thousands of years. It was originally used by the ancient Israelites as their everyday language until around 200 CE. Because most of the Hebrew Bible is written in Hebrew, Jewish people often refer to the language as“the holy tongue.”The Canaanite languages are a subgroup within the Northwest Semitic languages. Besides Hebrew, this group included languages like Aramaic, Ugaritic, and Amorite. These other languages are now extinct. Historically, the people who spoke these languages lived in areas that today include Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula, and Syria. Over time, Hebrew ceased to be used as a daily spoken language and remained mainly in religious, scholarly, and literary contexts. By about the 5th century CE, it…

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Monthly Language Learning Journal 2

Right now in my journey of learning Hebrew, I’ve been taking lessons on italki with my online teacher Patriz, who lives in Israel. These lessons have been a really helpful part of my routine. During our sessions we go over basic phrases like “I love to run” or “How is your family?” and repeat them a lot so they actually stick in my brain. We’ll practice the same structure multiple times with different words so I get used to how sentences work in Hebrew. Along with phrases, I’ve also been learning vocabulary that I can plug into sentences, like colors, fruits, vegetables, and simple descriptors like “sweet” or “sour.”Outside of my lessons, I spend time memorizing the words we learned and trying to make my own sentences. For example, I might write something like “I love sweet red apples” just to practice combining vocabulary and sentence structure. Having italki lessons with Patriz has been great for focusing on speaking and listening skills. One thing I’ve definitely realized is that…

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Learning Journal #1

Language Journal #1My primary task this period was to refine my ability to switch between Ban-mal (informal) and Jondaemal (formal) during high-pressure social transitions. Since I am already comfortable speaking, my specific goal was to stop "defaulting" to a mid-level politeness and instead master the active return to strict formalities when social dynamics shift. I hoped to achieve a more native-like "social rhythm" where my speech reflects an immediate awareness of hierarchy and atmosphere.I used the K-drama Reply 1988 as a primary resource. Unlike modern dramas, this show highlights multi-generational neighborhood dynamics. I focused specifically on the parents’ interactions, observing how they use Jondaemal with each other in public but shift to Ban-mal in private, and how the children immediately snap into formal speech the moment an elder enters the room.I met with my language partner to practice "Status Shifting." We engaged in reciprocal goal-setting where they would…

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