Claire Suh's Posts (29)
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This semester has been incredibly rewarding for me. I initially had no plans to sign up for MLC 105 and 110, but on a whim, I decided I might want to try adding it to my schedule because I wanted to take the opportunity to learn Korean formally. I approached it with a very open mind - I didn't get frustrated with myself when I wasn't able to progress at the speed that I had initially thought I could reach. It turns out Korean is even harder than I thought! I was forced to relearn many things I thought I knew, but I found that there were several words and concepts that I was entirely wrong about because of my incomplete and informal lessons. Although immersion (speaking it at home) is a great way to learn the most important and useful parts of language, it does have a tendency to put other aspects on the back burner, such as grammar and more formal concepts. Consequently, I found myself constantly rethinking things I had become accustomed to as a novice Korean speaker.
I enjoyed learning about some of the concepts that I encountered while learning my language. The concept of anomie was very familiar to me, but I had no idea it was a recognized word until our reading about cultural isolation. I enjoyed reading the various articles about different kinds of learning and case studies pertaining to language. The universality of language is almost paradoxical because they are all different, but somehow, the foundation is very similar for many of them. It was interesting to learn about the cultural aspects of language as well.
Watching the video about exchange students and about the different perceptions in various countries was both enlightening and entertaining. I was able to learn quite a bit about things that I really had no experience with - I had no idea what an exchange student's life was like. It made me reflect on how I will interact when I go abroad eventually. Also, the different gestures and intricacies of other countries were new to me for the most part, so learning about things like crossing your leg over the other is simple, but useful.
As a language learner, I think I learn best when I motivate myself through social pressure. I find that when I am in a situation where I am forced to speak with as much clarity and fluency I can conjure, I usually am able to rise to the occasion. For example, I speak in Korean with one of the language partners just for fun and because I know I would feel embarrassed if I made a silly mistake, I take extra care and spend more time thinking about what I want to say. Through this kind of practice, I have found that my conversations with my parents have become better and better, and even my friend thinks I've improved! Although learning to write and read Korean wasn't a goal of mine, I think I have had the extra benefit of a little improvement for both thanks to sheer exposure.
I've learned the significance of culture and language through my experiences as a self-directed language learner. I really enjoyed this class because I was able to learn about other languages through my peers, as well as through lessons with my language partner.
1. the audio clip of introductions and other lessons
2. interviews about korean beauty with language partner
3. powerpoint about blepheroplasty and the market in South Korea in particular
4. post about trip to Emory University for Asian-American Pacific Islander Youth Summit
I really enjoyed getting to know my language partner. She was an asset to my learning because of her insights as a fluent Korean speaker. Her background was interesting - although she was raised in Korea, she also spent a significant amount of time abroad, so she was able to develop a very worldview of culture and language, which she conveyed through our lessons when we talked about differences in both of those things. She was extremely helpful for my questions about things like beauty and food, which I ended up using for my projects and presentations. Her firsthand experience with those aspects of Korean culture were invaluable.
Our meetings were divided into different lessons based on things that I listed as part of what I wanted to learn overall in the beginning of the semester. We broke it down into subjects and then part of our lessons would be to learn the vocabulary, and the other part would be to use it in conversation. She was very helpful when it came to brushing up my pronunciation and also picking up mistakes I made (and had been making for awhile).
My favorite lesson was probably when we went to the Korean restaurant with the other language group. It was great to be able to integrate food into our lesson, for obvious reasons. I ended up realizing how passionate I was about Korean cuisine during this visit because it reminded me of home, and my parents' stellar culinary skills. Consequently, I did my final presentation about not just food, but the culture of Korean cuisine.
Brigid helped me with the culture aspect in particular. I knew a pretty good amount of things about food in general, but I didn't know things about the culture as much, because my family raised us in an American eating style. It was interesting to learn the other aspects of it!
This was a great experience and I'm so glad that UR offers this kind of specialized language and culture learning. I really enjoyed it and I have recommended it to many of my friends!
How well did you achieve your goals? I am satisfied with the things I covered this semester. I feel like I have a much better understanding of Korean culture because of my experience with my language partner. Although my parents attempted to teach us about culture, their idea of Korea is based on their adolescence and time in Korea over 30 years ago, so it was great to learn about more current things. Although I wasn't able to work on reading and writing as much, I'm still happy with the progress I made. It was a long shot to try and not only learn the vocabulary and culture, but to write and read it as well. Hopefully that is something I can tackle abroad!
What were the stumbling blocks you encountered? I was surprised at how many times my language partner would correct parts of my speech that I had no idea were wrong. I realized throughout the semester that I say many things imperfectly, and my parents didn't correct me. Thankfully, she picked up on it and was able to help me work through them. It was difficult because it was so engrained in my speech, but ultimately, we made great progress for the little things and that will be very useful to correct in the future.
How were you able to overcome them? I made sure that I made a conscious effort to fix it whenever those issues arose. For example, I had been saying a word with a s sound rather than a double ss, which made the word change from meaning surgery to liquor. These subtle differences obviously have larger implications, and I think my sheer embarrassment was enough to motivate me to stop making those mistakes!
What was most/least interesting to you?I was least interested in grammar, as I predicted. I had a hard time remembering tenses, which is just a part of language that I am overall uninterested in. However, I was taken by the similarities that Korean had to other Asiatic languages. My language partner also speaks Chinese, and she was able to explain the origin of many words based on their Chinese roots. I learned that even my name is based on Chinese characters, which I did not know.
What would you like to do next?I definitely am looking forward to going abroad to South Korea and studying through immersion. I would like to see the differences between what I imagine to be Korea, and the reality. In my mind, Korea is very much a cosmopolitan and up-and-coming country, and I would love to be a part of it and experience it firsthand!
My presentation topic was Korean Culture and Cuisine. It was especially near and dear to my heart because my homesickness tugs at me most when I think about the Korean food that my parents make. Both my parents are excellent chefs and I have been spoiled with the best and most authentic Korean food you can find in the Philadelphia region (no contest)! Particularly, my mom specializes in foods that are high in demand for catering, so she actually just started her own catering company for things like kimbap and dumplings, which is fantastic for me, the taste-tester! My dad is also a chef, but he specializes in Japanese sushi. However, he is an awesome Korean chef in his own right. Although I grew up with minimal Korean influence, my parents were sure to keep my siblings and me close to the cuisine. For example, if I go to a Korean restaurant, I can order the most elaborate meal, but I may not be able to ask for it eloquently.
My presentation touched on different aspects, such as propriety, unique aspects, holiday and ceremonial foods, and the infamous staple, kimchi. I showed my mom and she was quite impressed with the detail put into it. She wasn't so thrilled a few of the pictures I took of her dishes however (she thought the lighting could have been better).
My sources are listed on the last slide of the Prezi. I used two websites primarily, and referenced my mom and the supermarket that I was able to take pictures from.
http://prezi.com/limjlwqenwjb/korean-food-and-cuisine-culture/
Here is my prezi - YUM!
The article in the Times about Immersion versus formal class training was very insightful. I would have liked if it went into more detail about the game and the sample size, as well as a few other details that may have been significant, but the article did peak my interest. I have always heard that immersion is the best way to learn a language because you learn more than just grammar. I have found that friends who go abroad come back with a stronger sense of the culture and sound much more natural when speaking the language of the country.
For this reason, I have decided that I would like to go abroad to South Korea sometime before I graduate so that I can learn Korean in the most organic setting. I know enough that I would be able to add to my foundation, which I believe is another important factor when considering immersion as a teaching tool. Additionally, I would like to learn more about Korean culture beyond what is seen on screen, which is my primary source of instruction.
It was quite interesting to read that they believe immersion may one day be a useful tool in helping those with brain injuries. That was certainly something they could have elaborated on, but it seems probable and quite useful. I went on and looked up information about this topic, and I found an interesting website that touched upon it more in depth.
Check it out if you're interested!
The article on Sociocultural Factors was incredibly insightful. There were several aspects of culture shock that I had never heard of before - particularly anomie. The term was new for most of us in the class, but we identified the term in context of our own experiences as second-language learners. The concept of feeling alienated because of the identity crisis that is stirred through being between two cultures and becoming familiar with one while distancing from the other is a very complex emotion. It was interesting, especially because I have friends who are mixed race and have described a similar feeling for their experiences. In fact, my friend who is half Japanese and half White has said that in Japan, she is perceived to be extremely American, but in America, she is undoubtedly not white. This seems to be indicative of the dichotomy between the two identities.
I hope that when I go to an Asian country when studying abroad, I will be able to minimize the anomie that I experience. Although it is a part of assimilating into a new culture, I think it is more effective to fully embrace the culture and I will make an effort to do that. For example, I can be a picky eater, but when I went to Italy, my brother told me "When in Rome..." and I understood that I should experience the country as a native does in order to fully understand and appreciate my trip. I will try to do that when I go abroad eventually.
The Culture Shock video that was created by people on this very campus was an interesting perspective. I haven't really met too many international students, and our interactions have been limited. However, the people that I do meet seem to be incredibly interesting and intelligent, with a completely unique background and perspective. The language barrier proves to be the biggest reason why a friendship is not formed as readily and easily as it is for people who speak English as their first language. That being said, I have several cousins that speak English as a second language and I know their hardships, therefore, I put more effort into getting to know international students here. It was odd to hear of their perspectives of the university, because it seemed so different from my own experience. It was valuable to see what they thought were important parts of their college experience, as well as what they think is puzzling, like the expression, "what's up?". I've heard that is incredibly controversial in its application before, and so I have started to make a conscious effort to make sure that I follow through in a conversation when that is said.
In terms of academics, it was surprising to hear that the learning and teaching styles are so different in other countries. I've never thought of it that way, and I always attributed the international students' quietness to their shyness and own demeanor, but it seems that there are definitely other influences to consider. I can't imagine going to a country where raising your hand and being involved in class isn't encouraged - I think I would have a very hard time with that style of teaching and learning. As an American, I am very expressive and like to share my opinion, therefore, learning in a setting where it is based on rote memorization would be stifling.
All in all, I am interested in getting to know more international students, particularly because they seem to have such interesting ideas and perspectives, as shown in this video.
The cultural projects varied greatly by depth, seriousness, and topicality. I was particularly drawn to the ones about Israel because I have a trip planned after this semester (just two weeks from now!) and I was very interested to learn about their culture, and in particular, the Israeli Defense Force. It is such a different country based on so many different ideals and representations, and it was great to learn a little about its defining characteristics.
I also enjoyed the project about music that Caarn presented. He seemed personally connected to it because he listens to that genre, and it must have been a really interesting topic to research because it is so relavent. Music is also one of the things that I think are very universal in that anyone can enjoy another culture's music, despite language and cultural differences. Additionally, everyone perceives music differently which makes it particularly striking as a topic of study because what one person hears can be vastly different from another. So while I may have learn very ethnic sounding music, Caarn may have picked up on the similiarities that the music had to contemporary American hip-hop. This dichotomy is quite complex and definitely something that MLC 105 touched upon. After learning about anomie, I was able to identify it through hearing about the other languages and also when I studied my own topic.
We all seemed to have a similar experience of learning more about something that seems simple enough on the surface, like smoking hookah, but then upon further research, learning about so many more aspects of it, like the social norms attached to it.
The cultural projects were interesting and insightful.
I had a batty teacher in ninth grade who was infamous in the school for being brilliant, but absolutely crazy. She graduated from a very respectable Ivy League school and had her doctorate, which was hard to come by in my large public school. She was an odd grader, an interesting dresser, and an unconventional teacher.
Part of her curriculum for our freshman year was to learn grammar. She told us that we didn't really know grammar, and that we never were taught it correctly in grade school. So she made it her personal mission to make sure we knew our grammar by the time we left her classroom. She tried different methods, and I remember diagramming was one of them. In fact, I was surprised to see that it was something that she hadn't invented, because it seemed so outrageous. The class reacted in a pretty unanimous way - the diagramming seemed silly and superfluous, and if anything, a distraction. There are of course merits to unconventional and outside-the-box teaching, but this just seemed like it was not one of them.
It seemed contrived, and quite frankly, took away from the productivity of the class, because we spent more time learning how to construct the picture than we did learning the content. Perhaps if it is implemented at a younger age in the curriculum, it could be a more feasible way of teaching grammar and sentence structure. However, it is a different way of teaching within a system that already exists and rejects it, and therefore, is difficult to adapt to and fully appreciate.
I think this type of teaching method may be very valuable for ESL learners or young children, but it must be kept in mind that it is a method, not the solution. A teacher should experiment with other types of teaching to see which is most well-received, as each student is an individual learner. Ultimately, it sounds like a great idea, but may be a gimmick for most.
I attempted to teach my grandma about the contrasting things in American versus Korean idioms. She has been in America for about 15 years, and she is relatively well-spoken in English. However, she always has trouble understanding idioms and figures of speech because they differ so much from Korean ones, and over the years, she has taught me Korean idioms. I thought it would be appropriate and long overdue for me to return the favor!
My learning plan consisted of analyzing a few Korean idioms and phrases and then translating them into English. More often than not, there was a comparable American expression. In that case, I would teach her that phrase by connecting it to what she already knew in Korean so that it could stick with her more easily.
A few common Korean idioms:
1. refers to being glutinous
2. something appearing to be better than it is
3. in a bad situation, getting worse
4. the power of being positive
5. being lied to three times
I found the parallels in those idioms with these following English phrases:
1. eyes bigger than your stomach
2. grass is always greener on the other side
3. up a creek without a paddle
4. the silver lining
5. fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me
Although these are just a few, it was INCREDIBLY difficult conveying these to her because of the figurative language. For someone who speaks English as their second language, putting new meaning to already unfamiliar words is confusing and can be silly. She was able to retain a few, but mostly she remembered the funny part of the phrases and forgot the rest. So when I ask her about the idiom referring to the bad situation getting worse, she can remember it has something to do with a paddle but not much else. It's okay, we tried!
So far, I have learned quite a handful. When I went home for break my parents were shocked at the new vocabulary that I was able to use during our conversations. It really showed that the things I was learning were applicable and it was really rewarding to be able to achieve my goal of communicating better with my parents. We were able to talk about things that were generally discussed in half English and half Korean, like countries and studying abroad, as well as random things like foods and colors. I really appreciated the coherency in the conversation because it was primarily in one language. However, there is always room for improvement and I look forward to the other things on the learning plan that I will be learning in the future.
I also enjoyed watching a Korean television show. I watched a Korean comedy skit with my mom, and it was something that was inherently different from what I'm accustomed to through American humor. Korean humor seems very different in terms of what is considered funny and acceptable, but maybe I wasn't able to understand the subtleties that made it more similar to American shows. I picked up on some interesting mannerisms of people in the audience, such as the tendency for women to cover their mouths when they laughed. I also was able to see the general metrosexuality of the men who were on the show. They seemed very effeminate and wore flashy and trendy clothing.
I don't think there are any real changes I can think of for my learning plan. So far, so good!
http://annals.yonsei.ac.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=361
This is an interesting article that shows the varying types of time perception for Koreans both historically and currently.
Generally, In my experiences with Koreans, I have had an overwhelming sense of impatience. I am generally someone who is early or on time to most appointments and meetings, and it is difficult for me to be late to something without feeling anxious about my tardiness. However, I have learned to adapt to what is infamously called "Korean Time". In the Korean community, it is generally accepted knowledge that people will be late to an appointment by anywhere from five minutes to half an hour, on average. People are late regardless of location, importance, or responsibility. I remember even our Korean Catholic church mass started late most Sundays. I was a part of the choir and youth group at our Korean church, and it was expected that most of our events and meetings would begin after the proposed time. In fact,i began to show up late to things just to insure that I wouldn't be the only one there, waiting impatiently for fifteen minutes before the rest of the group trickled in. The interesting part is that this is a phenomenon that pervades Koreans everywhere, not just those in Korea.
I read about the history of the term "Korean Time'. Apparently, in the 1950's, during the Korean War, U.S. army officers coined the term because of the tendency of their Korean friends that were seemingly always late to appointments. Even in the 60's, the excuse for being late was that 70% of Koreans were farmers, and their lifestyle didn't call for rushing and it was contrary to their normal laid-back demeanors.
In modern day Korea, there are differing accounts of whether "Korean time" still exists. Some believe that it has radically changed and now, "Korean time" refers to being five minutes early to an engagement. Others contend that it still exists in its original form. The influence of technology has reduced the stress for being on time, because people are so connected and can rely less on precise meeting times.
Whatever the form it is, I will still be skeptical based on my experiences. You can catch me with a magazine while waiting.
My cultural project is currently "in the shop". I plan to do a comprehensive (photos included) description of some popular Korean foods. I needed to go home to do it, obviously, since I don't get to have Korean while at school. I am working on my mom who is extremely conscious of her presentation now that I sprung it upon her that I will be photographing our meals. My dad is a sushi chef, and does some Korean food on the side, so I will have some great pictures from him as well. I plan to collaborate with my mom and go to the grocery store and take more pictures, as well as learn about ingredients and some cultural food practices and report on them.
So far, I have a few pictures of things called "ban-chan", which is kind of similar to sides in American cuisine. It would be the equivalent to stuffing and mashed potatoes in a turkey dinner. However, Koreans generally have at least five of them, and are sure to have a great variety in addition to whatever the main dish is (a stew, soup, protein). Generally, these types of sides are vegetables or something that stays for longer, like pickled vegetables. They are very flavorful, either very soy saucey, salty, or garlicky. There are definite favorites, and my mom takes care to make sure there are a few of mine everytime I come home. Adults generally have a different taste for them, and especially as a Korean-American, my preferences are very different and a lot less sophisticated.
Then, there are the main dishes. Generally, this is a soup, stew, fish, or some sort of meat. Culinary prowess is generally indicated through the quality of this dish. I personally love something called kimchi chiggae, which is (the spicest) soup made of hot pepper powder, tofu, and kimchi, which is pickled cabbage. You can imagine it's very pungent and is also very much a favorite for many Koreans for its authenticity. I will be sure to take some pictures of these things! I've already been treated to kimchi chiggae twice (once by my mom, once by my dad). I won't tell whose was better!
I plan to do my culture project on food. It seems like one of the most universal things in a culture and I think it would be useful to know about korean food for several different reasons. I would be able to bond with my parents over it, who are both chefs, and it would also be one of the most basic things if and when I go to Korea myself. I have grown up eating Korean food but haven't known the names and the ingredients in Korean. In fact, many Korean foods my parents cook, my brothers and I have made little nicknames for that we identify in English. For example, my mom makes a really great fish soup, and we call it fishy-chiggae, and chiggae means soup in Korean. Obviously, that wouldn't fly in Korea if I were to order it in a restaurant.
In terms of my goals, I would love to be able to identify not only the name of the dish, but the ingredients in Korean. This would also be a good way to learn about the culture in terms of where each dish is most prominent, originated from, and if there are different variations depending on location and socio-economic factors. For example, in America, there are different types of hot dogs depending on where you go, and also things like iced tea (assumed to be sweet in the South, but usually unsweetened in the North).
As a food enthusiast, I can see that I will be enjoying this project! I will take pictures when I go home for spring break of the different dishes my mom and dad make and will be sure to upload them to whet your palates!
