Final Reflection – SDLAP 105

In the process of my Korean language learning journey, I decided to stop taking the SDLAP 110 course. I decided that the amount of coursework that the class required was a lot more than I had expected and that I probably would not have been able to expend as much energy into the class that was needed. As a result, my progress in learning the language afterwards has been limited to watching Korean reality TV shows, such as The Return of Superman, Korean dramas, such as She Was Pretty, and listening to Korean music such as K-pop and Korean ballads from dramas that I watch/watched. So as a language learner of the SDLAP 105 course, I really enjoyed my time going to class because I got to learn about Korean language and culture from different perspectives by listening to my classmates present on their chosen topics concerning Korean culture during in-class presentations. In addition to having the opportunity to learn about Korean culture in class, I also had the opportunity to learn about different cultural practices in other places of the world, such as in Italy and in Pakistan. In addition to this, I also got to learn a little more about American Sign Language (ASL), a topic I never knew much about prior to being in this class.

About myself as a language learner, I have learned that I really require a lot of time to just focus on learning my target language, by itself, without any distractions by the work that is due for other classes.  However, I was also reaffirmed of my interests in wanting to learn about other cultures around the world, and not just Korean culture. Additionally, it was really interesting to hear about other histories in class. Personally, I did not find much difficulty in completing the required coursework for the class after I dropped the SDLAP 110 course. I really liked the independence that the class allotted to students – all work being due at the end of the semester.  I found this aspect of the class very appealing because I do not like have set due dates for work every single week.

In the future I hope to continue my study of Korean by studying the language and teaching English (or Elementary Education) abroad. This summer, I am planning on going to Korea for about six weeks to study the language and experience the culture first-hand. I am really looking forward to the opportunity because not only will I be travelling to one of my top destinations, I will be traveling outside of the United States for the very first time. It is all exciting and nerve-wrecking at the same time because I pride myself on being culturally open here in the U.S., and I wonder what my reaction to an environment outside of my comfort zone will be like.

In class, I found the reading about lost and endangered languages the most helpful and intriguing because I am really interested in people’s histories, and the article showed how histories live on through people through their language, and it has inspired me to read further on the topic. 

Since I decided to drop out of the SDLAP 110 course near the beginning of the semester, I never had the time to try to read or right in my target language. Instead, I focused mainly on my listening skills and trying to gain new vocabulary words in that way. Hopefully these skills will be improved on sometime in the future.

I do not particularly agree that being bilingual makes an individual smarter than someone who speaks only one language. However, since the brains of bilinguals are wired to interpret concepts in two languages at all times, bilinguals therefore exercise their brains more than people who speak a single language. Their brains are more readily to readjust the way it understands things by creating new pathways in the brain in a process called neuroplasticity. For example, if a bilingual person had a disease such as Alzheimer’s, it would perhaps take the disease longer to have an effect on the individual since he or she would possess an alternative way to interpret things.

During my time in this class, I have learned several new words in my target language of Korean including jib (집) for ‘house,’ mannaseo bangapseumnida (만나서 반갑습니다) for ‘nice to meet you,’ nabi (나비) for ‘butterfy,’ nalssinhan (날씬한) for ‘slim,’ mulgogi (물고기) for ‘fish,’ and podo (포도) for ‘grapes.’ I have learned many of these words through listening to Korean music like children nursey rhymes and watching Korean dramas and reality TV shows. Some words were also acquired as a result of researching a topic for my in-class presentations and by listening to other students’ presentations on their chosen topics. My goals for acquiring new vocabulary has been through immersing myself in the language my watching and listening to Korean media, and so far I think that I have been gradually picking out new words after hearing them being used and repeated frequently. 

When the language of a people die, so does the cultural identity of a people. Their history disappears because they can no longer identify with their past traditions because they can no longer understand the significance of them. They will, in a sense, become extinct. However, as was seen in the assigned reading, a dying language can be revived even when there are only a handful of people speaking it. In this day and age, the way to do that is to be creative and to make use of available resources. The indigenous people of America, in this reading, made use of the internet by creating an online dictionary filled with the words of their native language, Siletz Dee-ni, to revitalize the use of the language amongst their younger generation. In doing this, they have made it possible for their history to continue within a land that is now dominated by English and Spanish, languages completely foreign and threatening to it. As long as there are people dedicated to prolonging the life of a language and doing it in effective ways, that language and the history of its indigenous people will be passed down from one generation to the next.   

Learning a language’s history can help me to learn the language because through learning about the history, I can learn about what aspects in life are considered important to that society. For example, through the Korean hierarchical treatment of people, I can deduct that respect for one’s elders and those who hold a superior ranking to one’s own is considered very valuable. I can also deduct through the familial dynamics of Korean culture, that family life is very important. Gender roles are also very important as can be seen in the speech of both men and women. Males call their older brother ‘hyung’ while females call their older brother ‘oppa.’ The same can be seen when addressing an older sister. Males call her ‘noona’ while females call her ‘unnie.’ These differences are all reflections of Korea’s past history and are unique when considering the use of the word for brother and sister in English. There exists only one description for both, whether one’s sister or brother is older or younger. In this regard, I guess it can be accepted that hierarchical respect is not as pronounced among those living in English speaking countries as much as it is in Korea. The histories of these countries were very different.

As of now in my Korean language learning journey, I am no longer taking the SDLAP 110 course. I have decided that the amount of coursework that the class required was a lot more than I had expected and that I probably would not have been able to expend as much energy into the class that was needed. As a result, my progress in learning the language afterwards has been limited to watching Korean TV shows, such as The Return of Superman, Korean dramas, such as Oh My Ghostess, and Korean music such as K-pop and ballads from dramas that I have finished watching. The Return of Superman is a reality show that focuses on the life of Korean celebrity fathers and the roles they play in their children’s lives. They are tasked on a regular basis to spend 48 hours with their child/children without their wives being around to help them. Since this is a television show that reflects the average life of Korean families, I am able to pick up on common words and phrases used in everyday speech. This is very helpful, especially in the process of learning when and how a particular word or phrase should be used. In addition to this, in the Korean drama Oh My Ghostess, these conversational expressions are further reinforced. However, the difference between the two is that in The Return of Superman, I am in a way learning the language the same way the children are learning, because there are daily instances where the parents are teaching their children new words or phrases, which in turn teaches me something new also. In the case of Korean music, I listen to it every day and each time I find myself picking up a new word every now and then, even if I have been listening to the song for weeks at a time. Through these different media platforms, I am not only learning the language over a period of time, but I am also learning a lot about the Korean culture and their cultural values. In k-dramas and television shows, for example, I am able to learn about the Korean hierarchal society based on age and experience through their use of either formal or informal speech. In addition to this, I am able to see how Koreans would act in everyday situations. I learn about various traditions that are done on special days, such as birthdays, where it is expected for people celebrating them to eat seaweed soup. Korean music, on the other hand, reveals just how conservative Korean society still is even when there are tons of k-pop stars showing lots of skin and dancing in provocative ways. Even though they outwardly appear this way, the lyrics to the songs they sing, for the most part are not explicitly stating that the topic is sex. If sex is the topic, it is often talked about and alluded to in very subtle ways. In order to improve my comprehension skills, I think that I should have a more orderly schedule set aside for just focusing on learning Korean and not trying to do it while multi-tasking with other subjects.  

I really enjoyed watching the culture shock video featuring University of Richmond international students. I have always wondered what it was like to leave the comforts of one’s own cultural surroundings for four years to study in another. Although exciting and new, it can also be very difficult and frustrating to readjust one’s cultural behaviors in order to adapt to those of a new society. Personally, I have never experienced an extreme amount of culture shock since I have never travelled outside of the United States. However, the little culture shock that I have experienced has been from meeting people of different upbringings here in the States. These happened in both high school and college. In high school, my culture shock experience occurred when I was suddenly surrounded by a predominantly white population, the exact opposite of what my elementary and middle school experiences have been. Not only did I look different from my classmates, but I talked differently. We grew up in different neighborhoods and for some time and it took me many observations of their speech patterns before I finally felt comfortable enough to speak my mind. In addition to this, in college not only was I introduced to people of regional and socio-economical differences, but I was also able to meet people from all over the world, something that I have never experienced personally before to such a great extent. These are my cultural shock experiences, but I one day hope that I can relate to the experiences of the international students in the video by saying that I too was immersed in a completely new culture different from my own. 

In regards to the in-class presentations of my fellow classmates, I really enjoyed hearing about particular aspects of different cultures, in addition to the one that I am studying. I really liked hearing and learning about the divisive languages of Pakistan and how the languages spoken in different regions are easier to learn for those who live close to the border of those regions. In addition to this, it was interesting to hair about beauty trends in South Korea, ranging from plastic surgery to male cosmetics. Korea’s focus on couples and all the different holidays celebrating couples was also nice. The presentation on sign-language was interesting because I have never really thought about how deaf people communicate with each other and how certain expressions are expressed more adamantly through facial expressions. The Italian car commercial was also enjoyable to see as an example of the strong familial bonds in Italy.

Like English, a sentence in Korean can be formed with just a subject and a verb. However, unlike English where the verb is introduced at the beginning of a sentence, in Korean it enters at the end of a sentence. The sentence structure follows the form of subject + object + verb. Therefore, it is wise to pay close attention to what someone is saying until he or she is finished with their sentence. Otherwise, the listener will be confused as to what is trying to be communicated. In order to grasp this concept, I think it would be practical for me to continue listening to shows and media outlets where people are constantly speaking or singing so that I can try to pick out the grammatical structure of the sentences. In addition to this, I can look at reading material to identify them. In my communication with others, I do not think a reference grammar would be as helpful to me because I like to observe subtleties in languages by listening to them. However, I think that it can be useful if I am writing something, such as an E-mail to a friend.

Learning Journal 2: 105

The Korean language is a language based on hierarchy. There exists various forms of linguistic formality when speaking to another person. There are seven speech levels associated with formality, and their use depends on the title or standing of the recipient. For example when greeting someone who is older than oneself, one would typically end a sentence or phrase with “yo” to indicate respect. This also applies to situations where you are meeting someone for the first time. This ending can usually be left out when talking to someone of the same age or younger or between close friends and family members. When addressing someone, it is also very important to show respect by bowing to least at a 90 degree angle. Speech when addressing people of different genders also exist, especially in regards to age. For example, older women who are not elderly are referred to as ‘unni’ by females and ‘noona’ by males. On the other hand men are referred to as ‘oppa’ by females and ‘hyung’ by males.  All of these terms symbolizes respect.

It also very respectful in Korea, to accept a gift with two hands instead of one. Another acceptable way is to accept the gift with one’s right hand while holding one’s forearm with his or her left hand. This manner is also used when shaking hands with each other. Formality is even seen in Korean drinking culture. When one is having a drink poured for him or her, it is expected that he or she hold the bottom of the cup with two hands with both arms extended. When drinking in front of a superior, one must then make sure to turn his or her head sideways away from the person.

Learning Plan - 105

Learning%20jornal%20post.docx

Learning Journal - 110

I really enjoy the teaching aspects of Mango Languages. I really like the clear and expressive voices that are used in dialogue and when explaining certain forms of speech. I also like how it is easy to navigate and how it is very engaging. Byki, on the other hand, seems a little outdated. I liked that there was a voice to accompany the flashcard learning feature, but I kind of prefer handheld flashcards to those on a computer screen. If the program was more interactive like Mango, maybe I would enjoy it more. In regards, to the sites I bookmarked on Diigo, I think they would be helpful in reinforcing my studies as I continue forward with my learning by incorporating the books and learning resources in the Global Studio and online.

After having read these readings, I think that they can help me in my times of tension with my other language. By tension, I mean the situations where I would encounter confusion. In these times, I can recall on the readings when I do not understand why a particular word is being used or described in the way that it is. I have learned that not everyone expresses meaning in the same way or sees the world in the same way. What is normal to me in English may be abnormal in Korean. In addition to this, I have also gained the knowledge that words by themselves do not contribute a “sense” of meaning. One needs to also know the grammatical structures and vocabulary of a language. Thus, I will keep in my mind the readings when I am studying my language.

Vocaroo_s0aVZqA6283y.mp3

Dominique Brown

Dr. Sharon Scinicariello

SDLC 105

1 September 2015

                                                            Assessment and Goals Summary

            So according to my current language ability assessments, my proficiency and knowledge of the Korean language is very low. I am a novice level 0 beginner for all categories; thus, I would like to improve this by being able to converse about everyday activities freely and comfortably. Topics can range from greetings, time, food, music, TV, etc. In addition to this, I would like to be able to distinguish words and phrases that are being said in conversations between others. Knowing vocab about money, the names of other countries, and animals would also be beneficial.

Dominique Brown

Dr. Sharon Scinicariello

SDLC 105

1 September 2015

                                                                               Reflection Paper #1

            My first experience encountering another language other than English must have been when I was really young. I lived in a neighborhood that was very diverse. Not only was English widely heard, but I also frequently listened to my neighbors speaking Spanish, Chinese, and many other languages. This is not to say; however, that I understood a word they were saying. It was just, to me, something different. No, perhaps my real encounter with actually listening to and understanding another language would have to be from watching Dora the Explorer as a young kid. I really enjoyed that show. It is only through that show that I am able to possess the skills of counting to ten and saying ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ in Spanish…sadly, that is about all I can remember.

            Besides my Dora the Explorer days, the next time I was immersed in a language learning setting was during my four years of high school and my first year of college. I was attempting to learn French. In high school, the experience was so-so for me. My French teacher often spoke to us in English, and the class was, for the most part, based on cramming as much vocabulary and grammar into our brains for the exams as possible, only to partially forget what we have learned a week later. In total, the class watched a French movie perhaps twice in all four years (there was only one French teacher). However, what I enjoyed most about the class was when we were given food projects, mostly because we got to eat delicious food for the whole class period. In addition to this, I really enjoyed learning not only about France as a Francophone speaking country, but also about other countries, such as those in Africa. During the last few days of senior year, we learned some belly dancing moves from one of these particular countries.

            In college, I feel as though the method of teaching French was not all that different besides the fact that French, and not English, was mainly spoken by the teacher. I liked this aspect a lot; however, I felt really pressed for time moving from one topic to the next. I think my overall experience would have been better if I perhaps enrolled in the entry level French class freshman year, or if I took a refresher class to brush up on my French grammar. I could understand the majority of what was being said, but I did not, and still do not, possess the confidence to converse comfortably in the language without overthinking the possibility that I could be making/will make a mistake.     

            So because of my past language learning experiences, and according to the Fire Model of Integrative Thinking, I think that I learn best in an environment that has a slow pace and which is not too focused on completing specific language tasks immediately after the other. I am more interested on the cultural and everyday aspects of foreign regions. For example, my target language is Korean, and I hope not only to converse with native speakers and others freely, but to also be able to read and understand others aspects of their culture, such as their literatures, dramas, movies, music, and much more without fully relying on English translations and equivalents. It is also very interesting to me to compare aspects, different and similar, between Korean and American culture.  

            Thus, in order to accomplish this, I will try my best to incorporate the suggestions made to me by my Learning Styles Test results. According to this test, I am a reading/writing learner. So, I will definitely make use of habits such as using the dictionary to look up definitions, reading (hopefully I can find a Korean novel with the English translation on the next page), and writing my notes out by hand.