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Eden Kim's Posts (36)
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This semester, my language partner, classmates, and I watched SKY Castle (SKY 캐슬), a Korean satirical drama about the cutthroat nature of the Korean education system. It mainly focuses on the wealthy, high class parents’ roles in their children’s education and the lengths the parents go to in order to ensure their children are admitted into the top universities. The name SKY Castle is based on the popular acronym SKY, which is used to refer to the three most prestigious universities in Korea: Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. In the drama, SKY Castle is also the name of the neighborhood that the characters live in. It is literally a castle, and each family has a very large property. In order to live in SKY Castle, someone in the family has to have a prestigious profession, such as doctor or law professor. SKY Castle is a more recent drama, having aired in 2018-2019. It is the second highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history. I believe one of the reasons SKY Castle is so popular is that it reflects the emphasis in Korean society for academic perfection. Students study nonstop to achieve perfect scores. A single point deducted from exam could be considered a failure. Unlike many American colleges, some Korean universities do not use a holistic admission process. Therefore, a student’s test score could be the one factor that gets them accepted or rejected into an elite university and ultimately have a “successful” life.
One similarity between the characters who are extremely focused on their children’s education is that they use the people around them for their personal gain. For example, some of the housewives put on an act and pretend to be nice to each other, but they only do so in order to hear each other’s tips for their children’s success. They will even harm others in order to secure their children’s and family’s success. One of the most intriguing characters to me was the private tutor that the main character hired to get her daughter admitted into Seoul National University Medical School. The tutor’s fees were so expensive that the wealthy family still had to ask their extended family for money. In return, the tutor guaranteed that she could get the daughter admitted. However, like the housewives, his tutor would use any means necessary to get her accepted.
One common belief among these characters and Korean society is that the children’s success is the parent’s success. I see this mindset even among some of my Korean American friends. However, it becomes dangerous when the children think of it on the flipside: if I fail to achieve academic or professional success, it means that my parents have failed. This is certainly not the case, ever.
I believe one of the morals of SKY Castle is that there are so many more important things to life than which university one attends. It may sound silly, but many people in Korean society are so focused on this one goal. The important things in life that SKY Castle highlighted are family, friends, and helping others. It is not the richest, smartest, or most powerful people who are necessarily the most successful or happy. It is those who value their family and friends and help others without expecting anything in return who are truly happy and fulfilled.
During the past month, I have studied many new concepts and reviewed some familiar topics. The Korean language has many grammar tenses ranging from informal to polite to formal. I have a general sense of which tenses are used in certain contexts. For example, when speaking to someone older than me, I should be respectful and use a formal tense. In these cases, I would use -입니다 or -습니다. If I am speaking to a peer or someone younger than me, I could use -예요 or -세요.
I am finding that I am becoming a fast learner. In the past, it would take a lot of repetition for me to remember a new phrase or concept. Now, I am discovering that I do not require as much repetition for me to remember something new. For example, the phrase for “welcome” in Korean (어서 오세요) is one that I have heard many times in the past, whether in a Korean TV show, at church, etc. It was one of those phrases that I could vaguely identify if I heard it, but if asked to say it myself, I would not be able to. This was one of the phrases that I learned this month. After a couple of times seeing how it is written and hearing it pronounced more clearly, I finally remembered the phrase.
Another topic that I had learned before but recently reviewed is counting in Korean. There are two systems of counting in Korean. However, a new concept that I learned is the suffixes corresponding to different objects. These suffixes come after the number and differ based on the type of object it is describing. There are different suffixes for things, people, animals, slices, books, bottles, clothing, days, months, and years, and more. As you can imagine, this is a confusing topic for native English speakers to learn, since there is nothing like this in English.
In addition to these topics, I also briefly reviewed how to ask how much something costs. This will be especially important to know when I am in Korea. It is a question that can be used in almost any context. Along with this question, I reviewed the Korean currency, which is called “won” (원). One United States Dollar equals approximately 1,115 South Korean won. It is still difficult for me to convert Korean won to US dollars and vice versa. However, I am sure that I will become more comfortable with this conversion as I see Korean won more often.
Overall, even though the semester is ending, I am still looking forward studying Korean over the summer and beyond. As I continue my Korean language studies, my goal is to not get caught up in the small, minute aspects of grammar or other parts of the language. I remember listening to a Talk to Me in Korean lesson in which they discussed how to sound like a native speaker. The teachers gave several examples of Korean words that Korean speakers mispronounce. It is so common to mispronounce these terms that if I were to say it as it is supposed to be said, I may not be understood. Ultimately, I want to learn Korean to be able to converse with real people and sound authentic.
Two years ago, for my Anthropology of Music class, I watched a video titled “The World's First Non-Korean K-Pop Group” (https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/43px7g/the-worlds-first-nonkorean-k-pop-group). This video documents the story and background of EXP Edition, a group of four non-Korean men – Koki Tomlinson, Frankie DaPonte, Hunter Kohl, and Šime Košta – who brand themselves as a K-Pop group. EXP Edition was formed in 2015 by a Korean woman named Bora Kim who was interested in studying what makes K-Pop K-Pop as part of an art project at Columbia University. EXP Edition has faced harsh criticism from K-Pop fans, many of whom are not Korean, and has even received death threats. Their critics argue that EXP Edition appropriates Korean culture. However, EXP Edition believes that they appreciate Korean culture by acknowledging that they are not Korean but still learning the language and adhering to norms in Korean society.
When I first heard about EXP Edition, I was confused. I thought that seeing white people singing and dancing like K-Pop artists was strange to watch. Even though K-Pop is becoming more popular around the world, Korea is still a small country and has its own unique culture. There is also not much diversity in Korea. However, after learning more about EXP Edition, I appreciated that they lived in Korea, knew the Korean language and culture well, and were making an effort to assimilate. This reflects their respect for and commitment to the culture. My concern actually came from the fact that most of the criticism against EXP Edition came from non-Korean K-Pop fans. Some of them felt the need to protect K-Pop from non-Koreans, even though they themselves freely enjoy listening to K-Pop music. It was as if they were claiming their possession over K-Pop and defending it from non-Koreans. The most confusing part was that many of EXP Edition’s fans are Korean, who were fine with EXP Edition’s ethnicities.
One of the critics shown in the video denied that his dislike of EXP Edition had anything to do with race. Rather, he felt that the group was untalented, cringy, and fake. However, he contradicted himself by later saying, “No white people in my kpop!!!” This leads me to believe that some people are so angry at EXP Edition because they are white. This confuses me, because there are K-Pop idols who are not Korean, but they are Asian. For example, Jackson Wang in Got7 is from Hong Kong, but this does not create as much controversy as EXP Edition.
One of my favorite lines from the video is, “There’s nothing traditionally Korean in K-Pop.” I think a perfect example of this is Dynamite by BTS. This is BTS’ first song sung entirely in English. Personally, I don’t think any part of it sound “Korean” or even like a K-Pop song. To me, it just sounds like a pop song. The only thing “Korean” that I hear in the song is the members’ slight Korean accents. However, I would not say this makes the song “K-Pop.” If this were the case, then it would also be that EXP Edition’s American accents make them an American pop group, not a K-Pop group.
Overall, I do not believe that EXP Edition is appropriating Korean culture. This topic brings up many questions regarding appropriation, appreciation, globalization, and ownership. Ultimately, I believe it is best to let the people who identify with the culture in question judge whether or not an act is appropriation or appreciation.
During the past month, I’ve learned a lot about the Korean language and culture that I’ve never known before. I’ve also practiced and developed my reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Through the Global Studio, I received Korean/English stickers to put on my laptop keyboard, which has helped me type in Korean more often.
For one of our group meetings, my language partner, classmates, and I got Korean food from Choong Man Chicken. We enjoyed soy garlic spring onion and curry snow onion chicken. I have had Korean fried chicken before, but it was still a great cultural experience. Food is a wonderful (and delicious!) way to become more familiar with a country’s culture and language. When I went to Peru, I learned a lot of new vocabulary words and more about what kind of food Peruvians ate through trying different types of Peruvian food. I plan to do the same with the Korean language and culture.
I have also utilized resources from Talk to Me in Korean. I continued to study Korean through its food by watching a Talk to Me in Korean lesson about eating (음식 먹기). This video is part of a lesson on their website entitled “Must-Know Words in Korean,” which I plan on continuing to take. I also listened to a podcast from a lesson in a course called “Short & Useful Korean Phrases for Beginners.” The lesson I took taught me how to use 혹시 + Noun + 예요/이에요? 혹시 translates to “By any chance.” Hence, “혹시 + Noun + 예요/이에요” means “By any chance, is it (noun)?” or “By any chance, are you (noun)?” This is a helpful phrase because it will help me sound more like a native speaker. These lessons remind me that learning a language is not simply memorizing tons of vocabulary words, but truly learning how native speakers talk and even think. This lesson was particularly helpful because it is easy to fit in almost any context.
After listening to a Talk to Me in Korean lesson during my individual meetings, my language partner and I review the content and go over any questions I may have. The Talk to Me in Korean website is particularly helpful because most of the time, under the video/audio portion, there is a written summary of what was taught in the lesson. This is helpful in reviewing the vocabulary and examples.
In addition to building the skills I’ve been working on and expanding my vocabulary, I want to learn more about life in Korea. After graduating in May, I hope to work in Korea. I have wanted to go to Korea for years, but I have still never been there. I plan on reading blogs and watching vlogs of life in Korea. I have also been talking with my friend who moved to Korea a few weeks ago to teach English, so I hope to learn more firsthand experience from her. Moving forward, I think it would be very helpful to focus on learning vocabulary related to daily life, such as ordering food, asking for a location, or using public transportation. These goals also provide me with strong motivation to learn Korean because I hope to live in the country in which it is the predominant language.
For this cultural post, I will be writing all about kimbap (김밥)! Kimbap has been one of my favorite foods since I was a child. As I was doing research for this post, I learned so much about kimbap that I had never known before. According to one source, kimbap was created between 1910-1945 during the Japanese occupation in Korea. During this time, Koreans began to eat more Western and Japanese food. Kimbap is a variation of Japanese futomaki, which is a kind of sushi roll with steamed rice and sesame oil. Since sushi is so popular around the world, I often refer to kimbap as “Korean sushi.” I did not previously know that it was actually inspired by a type of sushi. However, one main difference between kimbap and sushi is that most sushi has raw fish, whereas kimbap consists of cooked or preserved ingredients. Ultimately, I hope more people become more familiar with Korean culture and cuisine so that we can stop referring to kimbap as “Korean sushi.” Another belief is that kimbap is a modernized version of bokssam (복쌈), which refers to cooked rice and filling rolled with seaweed.
On their blog, Dom and Hyo have an incredibly informative infographic illustrating the 12 popular styles of kimbap. There were so many varieties of kimbap that I had never known about. The styles of kimbap that I grew up eating include yachae kimbap (야채 김밥), chungmu kimbap (충무김밥), and samgak kimbap (삼각 김밥) (my favorite is spicy tuna, which I consider a luxury!). Gyeran kimbap (계란김밥) is what I make when there is leftover kimbap that I want to eat the next day. Kimbap is meant to be eaten at room temperature, and it should not be left out overnight. In that case, I refrigerate the kimbap and reheat it by dipping it in egg and frying it. The egg acts as a coating and makes the inside of the kimbap soft and edible again.
When I was at home during quarantine, I got to make lots of kimbap (photos included). For anyone interested in making their own kimbap, I encourage you to try it because it is a lot of fun! One tip I have is to season your rice perfectly. The rice should have enough flavor for you to enjoy by itself. If the rice tastes good, every other ingredient will taste good. I have made rolls in which the rice was under-seasoned, and it makes the rest of the roll taste bland. Another thing to note is that making homemade kimbap takes a lot of time and energy, but that is part of the rewarding process. You have to make every component of the kimbap individually, and then roll it all together. The most time-consuming part for me was washing and chopping all of the vegetables. If you include egg in your kimbap, that also has to be cooked in a certain way so that you are able to cut it into long, thin strips. It is also very helpful to have a bamboo mat to use to roll the kimbap or sushi.
Writing this post has made me hungry for kimbap. I hope you will be able to try some soon!
Sources:
https://behgopa.com/2018/08/1.html
https://firstwefeast.com/drink/2015/03/the-surprising-world-of-wartime-food
Throughout the past month, I have been able to practice all aspects of learning a language: reading, writing (handwriting and typing!), listening, and speaking. For reading, I have begun to read a Korean children’s book called “잘 자요, 달님,” which means “Good night, moon.” I read each line aloud to my language partner, and together we talk about what the line means, its structure, and any words or grammar rules I have not learned yet. I find that this is a great way to learn simple vocabulary words, as well as basic grammar. My language partner and I have also been doing a fun activity to practice listening and writing. Jannette says a word or phrase in Korean and I handwrite or type what I hear. (I got this idea from Talk to Me In Korean, which is a great resource!) This is also a good exercise to learn new vocabulary. It is particularly interesting to learn words that are not spelled the way they are pronounced. For the most part, Korean words are spelled exactly the way they are pronounced (unlike English words). However, there are a few exceptions. It is helpful to have me hear those types of words before seeing them so that I really remember how they are supposed to be pronounced. In all of the exercises I do with my language partner, we practice speaking so that I become more comfortable with pronunciation and sounding like a native speaker. One particularly helpful tip Jannette gave me was to lower my voice at the end of my sentences. Often, new language speakers have an upspeak at the end of their phrases, which makes them sound confused. In some cases, it can change the meaning of the phrase entirely. There are some phrases in Korean which can be spoken as a question or an answer depending on the pitch at the end of the phrase. If I have an upspeak, the person I am talking to may think I am asking a question when I mean to be giving an answer.
I am finding that learning a language is a challenging and humbling experience. I feel proud when I am able to read or spell a word correctly. Learning any new language is certainly challenging, but I am enthusiastic and committed because of how personal the language and culture is to me. In addition, I enjoy learning about connections between the Korean language and culture. One well-known aspect of Korean culture is respect for elders, and this is evident in the language. However, I also find this confusing because I may know a phrase in its informal tense but not the formal version. This is something that I want to build on in the future: learning when and how to use an informal/formal tense.
Overall, I think the activities that my language partner and I are doing are effective and enjoyable. Moving forward, I want to continue to improve my reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. I also hope to learn more about living and working in Korea, as I am interested in doing so one day.
For New Year’s Day this year, my family and I celebrated with traditional Korean food. My cultural artifact is a photo of homemade 만두 (mandu/dumplings). We made the dumplings ourselves, and they were a lot of fun to shape. There was pork, tofu, noodles, and vegetables inside a wonton wrapper. We put these dumplings in the 떡만둣국 (tteok mandu guk), which is rice cake soup with dumplings and garnished with eggs and seaweed. The 떡 (tteok) in tteok mandu guk is white, thinly sliced round rice cakes, but there are different varieties of tteok. According to ancient customs, the white tteok symbolizes purity and cleanliness. 국 (guk) is the Korean word for soup. It is traditional to eat tteok mandu guk on New Year’s Day because it is believed to grant people good luck for the upcoming year. While my family doesn’t necessarily believe eating tteok mandu guk causes us to have good luck, we still eat it every New Year’s Day because it is a delicious tradition. In addition to tteok mandu guk, my family and I ate 전 (jeon/a savory pancake) and 갈비 (galbi/short ribs). Of course, we also had to have 김치 (kimchi), or spicy fermented cabbage, which we have with almost every Korean meal. After dinner, we ate 송편 (songpyeon), which is a small rice cake shaped like a half-moon. I believe the ones that my family and I ate were filled with sesame.
After doing some research on the history of tteok mandu guk, I learned that in the 19th century, it was custom to say, “How many bowls of tteokguk have you eaten?” in order to ask a person’s age. In Korean society, the Korean New Year is similar to a birthday for Koreans. Once a person finishes eating their tteokguk, they are one year older. The Korean age reckoning is different than the international age system because babies born in Korea are born at the age of one. Every New Year’s Day, they add one year to their age (rather than on their actual birthday). For example, a baby born in Korea on December 31 is considered two years old on the following day (New Year’s Day), even though they are only two days old. The opposite formula is also fun. I was born in August 1999. In the United States, I am 21 years old, but if I go to Korea, I would be considered 22 years old!
When my family lived closer to our relatives in New Jersey, we used to observe 세배 (sebae) on New Year’s Day. This is a ritual in which children wish their elders a happy new year by bowing deeply and wishing them good fortune for the new year. Each family would go up to the grandparents, bow together, and say “새해 복 많이 받으세요,” (saehae bok mani badeuseyo) or “Please receive a lot of good fortune for the New Year.” In response, my grandparents would give money to us children. When I was younger, I felt awkward doing this since bowing is not common in American culture. However, now that I am older, I appreciate this act of respect and tradition toward my elders.
It has been over a year since I took SDLC 110. During the Fall 2019 semester, I studied Korean with Professor Sumi Kim from the Lord Jesus Korean Church and Jenna, my UR language partner. That was the first time I formally learned Korean. Before that, I knew only a few words and phrases. The most important thing that Professor Kim and Jenna taught me was how to read and write using the Korean alphabet. Since then, I have read Korean whenever I had the chance – whether it was on a poster, a card, a cooking ingredient, subtitles, et cetera. I have become much faster at reading Korean. When I first learned the alphabet, it would take me a few seconds to sound out each individual character, let alone one word. Now, it has become more second-nature to me to read in Korean. I am still not a fast reader, but I am happy with how my reading level has progressed. This was a good strategy for me to develop my reading skills because in my daily life (especially at home), I am surrounded by Korean words. Stopping to read whatever Korean words were around me was an effective strategy in advancing my reading level because it was a constant way for me to practice. Now that it has been over a year since I have studied Korean with a teacher, I am glad I continually read in Korean so that I did not forget the alphabet.
This past week, I met with Jannette, my language partner this semester. We briefly reviewed the Korean alphabet so that she could assess my reading and speaking level. I was able to say most of the letters correctly. I was unsure of how to say some of the complex vowels. I remember learning them, but I do not see them often in Korean words. Jannette and I also developed a learning plan for this semester. I want to focus on listening and speaking, particularly practicing proper pronunciation. During the past year, I read and wrote in Korean more often than I listened and spoke because I did not have a formal teacher or language partner. Now, I hope to speak often in Korean so that I sound understandable.
One way I will develop my Korean speaking skills is by reading out loud. I have already checked out Korean children’s books, which I look forward to reading. This will also teach me more vocabulary words and simple grammar rules. Another exercise which I learned from Talk To Me In Korean is listening to a Korean word and then writing it out. This will help me improve my listening and writing skills. I also plan on using other Talk To Me In Korean resources. They have many courses on their website, such as “How Korean Sentences Work,” “Korean Pronunciation Guide,” “Must-Know Words In Korean,” and “Short & Useful Korean Phrases for Beginners.”
Overall, I am very excited to formally study Korean again this semester. I am meeting with Jannette individually and as a group with her other students. I am particularly looking forward to our group meetings, which will hopefully give me a chance to communicate in Korean with people with a similar language level.
As I am reflecting on the past semester, I now realize that the most difficult part about learning a new language is taking the first step. Since I will be around Korean speakers and text for the rest of my life, I will not forget how to read or write in Korean. Knowing the Korean alphabet is the most essential step because it will help me practice my Korean and learn more vocabulary words.
I will continue to study Korean. Next semester at Yonsei University, I plan on enrolling in a Korean course. I also plan on continuing my Korean studies through the SDLAP at UR once I return. In addition to Korean classes/tutoring, I will enhance my Korean language skills by conversing with my grandmother and other family members. In addition, I hope to expand my knowledge of Korean culture through the language. I want to learn more about Korean history and current events. I am also interested in Korean popular culture, and I want to listen to Korean music and watch Korean television shows and movies. There is a lot for me to learn about Korean culture.
It would be amazing if I could incorporate my personal history and cultural interests into my scholarly research. I appreciate how the SDLAP offers opportunities for me to do that through cultural posts and presentations. I enjoy these unrestricted assignments because I can choose to research whatever interests me.
I do not know what I want to do after graduation, but I hope that knowing Korean will be an asset for my professional career. I believe my vision for my future will become more refined after I study abroad next semester. I truly cannot imagine what Korea is like because I have never been to a place like it.
I wish I could tell my younger self that learning Korean is not that intimidating. I am glad that I first learned the language with the help of native speakers, but I believe that someone can learn the language on their own. All it takes is repetition and practice and anyone will eventually become more comfortable. It would have been easy for me to practice and maintain my Korean language abilities because my mother speaks Korean.
Learning a new language is often compared to opening a new door and seeing a world that you have never known before. I have already seen glimpses of this new world, and I already love it. I recently downloaded KakaoTalk, which is the most popular messaging app in Korea. My grandmother messages me on KakaoTalk and so far, I have been able to understand everything she has sent me. She sends very simple, easy to understand messages, and I recognize them because I grew up hearing them. Obviously, being able to communicate in a common language makes me feel so much more connected to her.
Overall, I am thankful for the opportunity to have studied Korean with two great teachers this semester. I look forward to discovering more about a world I was always connected to, but never got to know.
I am excited to study at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea next semester! Yonsei University was established by American missionaries in 1885, making it one of the oldest universities in Korea. It is also one of the top universities in South Korea and Asia. Most students enrolled at Yonsei University were in the top 1% of their high school graduating class.
Yonsei University is different than UR in several ways. First, it has over 36,000 students and three campuses, which is much larger than the 3,000 undergraduate students at UR. Secondly, it is more competitive. Yonsei University is one of Korea’s SKY universities (Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University). These three universities are the most prestigious universities in Korea.
I am particularly excited to study Korean at Yonsei because I would like to learn Korean in a formal classroom setting. I am also looking forward to learning in a different kind of classroom setting. At UR, most of the classes are discussion-based. At Yonsei, many of the classes are lecture-style. I want to experience not only a different culture and society, but a different educational setting as well.
There is a difference between how I assume Yonsei University is regarded in Korea and the stories that I have heard from UR students who have studied abroad. Almost all of the students from UR who have studied abroad have told me that there is more school work at UR. At their abroad institutions, their final grades have comprised mostly on their final exam or one paper. I expect there to be less school work throughout my semester at Yonsei than a regular semester at UR. A factor that will contribute to this is that I will have fewer obligations while abroad. I hope to have less school work throughout my semester abroad so that I can travel and truly enjoy the unique culture.
Course registration for Yonsei is in January/February, so I won’t know which classes are being offered next semester until then. In previous semesters, there were classes offered for specifically exchange students. Some that look particularly interesting to me are Korean Popular Culture and Korean Wave, Korean Traditional Music and Culture, Korean Food and Culture, and Understanding K-Pop. There were also classes relating to my leadership major, including Law and Justice, Early Modern Korea and its Historical Sites in Seoul, Business and Society, and Korea-US Relations. Korea is a very popular place to study abroad, largely due to the presence of Korean culture in mainstream media. For this reason, many students who are interested in Korean popular culture study abroad in Korea.
My main purpose for studying at Yonsei University next semester is to explore my Korean heritage, which is an aspect of my identity that I have never truly learned about before. I have never been to Korea, but I have always wanted to visit. Additionally, I want to hear my grandmother’s stories from her life in Korea and coming to the United States. These stories are part of my history too.
When I first decided that I wanted to learn Korean, I wanted to focus on learning basic conversational phrases. My emphasis was also on verbal communication. After 3 months of studying Korean (under several different teachers), I have discovered that my focus has changed. The majority of my time and effort has gone into learning the Korean alphabet. This is very important because it is the foundation for all written Korean. Furthermore, it will help me achieve my future language goals easier. Additionally, I have been learning the technical foundations of the Korean language, rather than just memorizing vocabulary. This also makes sense to me, because it will allow me to really understand the language so that I can use it however I need to. I do not want to be in a position in which I know a lot of vocabulary words and phrases, but do not know how to adapt them to use in different situations. Overall, my process of learning a new language can be illustrated with an exponential graph. The beginning (which is where I am now) is slow and steady, with not much quick progress. However, I am laying the foundation for me to hopefully advance faster.
As I finish this semester with my current language partners, I hope to continue to learn how the Korean language is structured and how it functions. I think it is better to learn grammar with a knowledgeable teacher who can explain it to me. I think that grammar is the most difficult aspect of learning any new language. I actually prefer studying vocabulary because it is easier for me to memorize words than understand new concepts. I can study vocabulary on my own anytime, but I cannot understand new grammatical concepts on my own. For this reason, I will learn the more difficult concepts from my language partners and focus on expanding my vocabulary after the semester ends.
Over Thanksgiving break, I have been enjoying speaking Korean with my family members. My grandmother is pleased that I am learning Korean and is eager to help me in my studies. She is helpful in correcting my pronunciation and teaching me more simple phrases. She is also great to practice with because she is incredibly patient and enthusiastic.
I am really trying to speak Korean whenever I can, because only practice will help me improve in my speaking and listening skills. Jenna told me that students in Korea are very good at reading and writing in English, but they are not as good at speaking and listening. This is because they have to study English in school, but they do not get much practice verbally using the language. I hope to be able to speak and listen in Korean in particular because I predict that I will be speaking and listening in Korean more often than I will be reading and writing. However, I am realizing more and more that the different skills are intertwined, especially with a language that has an alphabet that is new to me.
An essential part of Korean culture is food. I grew up eating Korean and American food, so the Korean food that I grew up eating will always feel familiar to me. About a year ago, my mom discovered a YouTuber called The Korean Englishman. His name is Josh, and he makes videos about Korean culture. He is fluent in Korean and English, so he is fully immersed in both cultures. His most popular videos highlight Korean food and him and his friends trying crazy Korean food challenges, such as fire noodles (spicy ramen) or a gigantic red bean ice dessert. He is extremely popular among Koreans and people of all cultures. I mentioned him to my friends from Yonsei, and they knew about him.
My favorite video of his features him and his friend Dan, who is also fluent in Korean. In this video, they eat at Kimbab Heaven, a restaurant near Korea University, as they discuss how they became fluent in Korean. They both studied at Korea University as exchange students. I like this video because they give a lot of good information for people who want to learn Korean. I appreciated them sharing their stories of when they first came to Korea and how they managed, even though they knew very little Korean.
I was surprised to learn that they only studied the Korean language for two years: one in London and one in Korea. However, when they returned to London, they studied Korean history, literature, etc. An important quote from this video that I still remember is, “In order to speak good Korean, you need to understand the culture.” I often mention this in my learning journals, having first learned this concept from this video. Even in my early Korean language studies, I have seen how Korean history has influenced how the language is written and spoken.
It was also interesting to learn that Korean food played a big role in their language abilities. This is because they learned about Korean culture through its food. They also became friends with native Korean speakers while eating Korean food. This helped them learn common expressions that are used every day.
I relate with what they were saying about learning a language via studying versus simply living with people who speak that language. I studied Spanish in the classroom for 8 years, but a week in Peru taught me more than a year in the classroom. Language immersion is one of the quickest ways to learn a language. Furthermore, languages are not meant to be learned in isolation. People learn languages in order to use them in the real world and communicate with people in a new way.
I watched this video for the first time about a year ago. I was pleasantly surprised to realize that I understood more Korean watching it again now. I still rely on the subtitles, but I am able to pick out a few Korean words here and there that I understand.
Next semester, I will be studying abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. If I get the chance, I definitely want to visit Kimbab Heaven!
I am becoming much more familiar with reading Korean. Many of my Facebook friends post status updates in Korean, but I have never been able to read it before. Now, I am actually able to read what is happening in their lives! I also learned some Korean slang from their posts. I am more interested in learning everyday phrases that I will use often, rather than vocabulary from scholarly sources. However, I often read Korean words without knowing what they mean. There are a few times when I can read the Korean words and actually understand them. I am still happy with my progress, because I have the basis for learning more Korean vocabulary quickly and efficiently. I often think of learning a new language as opening a door that I could not before and seeing what lies behind. At this point in my Korean language learning process, I feel like the door is open just a bit and I am excited to see more of what’s inside.
Quizlet has proven to be very helpful in expanding my vocabulary. Last week, I was focusing on basic vocabulary words, such as “food,” “age,” “hobby,” and “family;” and basic conversational phrases, such as “excuse me,” “I’m sorry,” and “I will eat well.” It is interesting that I am finding it easier to hear the Korean word or phrase and give the English translation than vice versa. I suspect this is because there is something in between my memory of the Korean words and my ability to say them. Since I can understand Korean when it is being spoken to me, I know the words and what they mean. However, I have difficulty thinking of them in my head and saying them. Writing this reflection has made me realize that I am first becoming more comfortable with reading and listening. My writing and speaking skills will improve more as I progress.
I am still developing my ear for hearing sounds that are in Korean but not in English. During these past two weeks, Jenna was teaching me how to say “___ years old” in Korean. It was challenging for me to hear how some of the words were pronounced. This is especially due to the fact that many Korean words are technically said one way, but in reality, Korean speakers do not enunciate them. This is an important part of learning a language, because sometimes, native Korean speakers will not understand a foreigner who says something in Korean technically how it is supposed to be said. While this makes it confusing to remember how words are written versus how they are pronounced, the purpose is to make Korean words easier to say. When the Korean language was being created, it was done so that Korean speakers would not have to put in too much effort into saying the words.
I have achieved my goal of becoming more comfortable with reading and writing Korean letters. Moving forward, I want to learn more basic vocabulary words and phrases. I will continue to use Quizlet to commit these to memory. I will also take time to read my friends’ social media posts in Korean.
During the past two weeks, I have been meeting with Jenna instead of attending the LJKC hagwon. Jenna has placed a greater emphasis on improving my reading skills. She encourages me to become more familiar with the Korean letters. I agree with her approach, as I believe that becoming more comfortable with reading Korean words will help me learn more vocabulary in a more efficient manner. This is because I still heavily rely on the English Romanization of Korean words.
It has been difficult for me to learn the Korean letters, as I have never learned a different alphabet before. I speak Spanish, but it uses the same alphabet as English, except for one letter and the accents. One thing that I was not expecting is that it is easier for me to remember consonants over vowels. I believe this is because the consonants look unique from each other, whereas it is difficult for me to distinguish the vowels from each other. There are some consonants that look similar to others, but that is actually helpful because they make similar sounds. With the vowels, I have to think for a long time to try to remember which one makes what sound.
At this point, I read very slowly in Korean. For example, at our last lesson, Jenna brought one page, front and back, of short, important Korean words and phrases. It took an hour for me to read through them all. This is because I have to think about how every letter in the word sounds. One helpful tip that Jenna told me was to think about the consonants and vowels in order. In English, the order of the letters is “A, B, C,” and so on. There are orders for Korean consonants and vowels. These orders have helped me remember the sounds of the letters. It is very rhythmic, which relates to my musical ability. I am a partially auditory learner, so this “song” is a helpful reminder.
I am continually learning about the importance of respect in Korean culture. It manifests itself in many ways in the language. There are several ways to say certain phrases in Korean. I thought that there would only be two, one that is informal and another that is formal, but there are actually degrees of respect. There are forms that are used among peers, then ones that convey more respect, then those that are the most formal. I hope to learn more about the contexts in which to use each term.
I have very little prior knowledge of how to read and write in Korean, but I have more experience listening to and speaking in Korean. When I was reading through the vocabulary sheet that Jenna gave me, I recognized some phrases. However, one phrase that I recognized actually had a different meaning in that context. Even though the meaning was different, I was happy that I recognized it at all.
As I advance in my Korean studies, I will continue to use Quizlet to become more familiar with Korean letters. One thing that I find helpful from Quizlet is that there is an audio feature, so I can hear how each letter is pronounced. I would also recommend that other Korean language beginners learn the consonants and vowels in order, so that they can remember that rhythm.
For this cultural post, I am focusing on Korean idioms! I did research on this topic because idioms are a good way to learn a new language and its culture. The first idiom is “딸바보.” “딸” means “daughter” and “바보” means “idiot.” However, this phrase does not refer to a foolish daughter. Rather, it is a name for someone who loves their daughter so much that they will do anything for the sake of their daughter. “딸” gives the word “바보” a positive connotation instead. This idiom reflects the emphasis on family in Korean culture, particularly the sacrifices that parents will make for their daughters. I remember hearing that in older Korean society, the role of the daughter was to take care of her parents when they became elderly. Perhaps parents who are “딸바보” sacrifice so much for their daughter because they know that she will one day take care of them. In modern society, I think this phrase is recognized because there are many Korean parents who love their daughter very much.
The next idiom I discovered is “뒤통수치다.” “뒤통수” refers to the back of one’s head, and “치다” means “to hit; to strike; to play (an instrument).” The direct translation of this phrase is “to strike the back of someone’s head.” However, it does not literally mean someone is hitting the back of someone else’s head. It is used when a person unexpectedly betrays someone. It is similar to the word “backstabber” in English. I would have guessed that idioms do not translate well between languages, but this one is fairly similar in Korean and English. I am curious which phrase was introduced first: “backstabber” or “뒤통수치다.”
An idiom that I presume is very relevant among students is “손 놓고 있다.” “손” means “hand” and “놓다” means “to let something go.” This expression literally means “to not have one’s hands on something.” However, it actually refers to when people do not do things that are supposed to be done. Most of the time, the procrastinator knows that the longer they do not complete the task, the worse the situation will get. I believe this idiom is very popular among students because I know that education is taken very seriously in Korea, especially before college. Students must learn the value of time and how to not procrastinate. This is a lesson that I am still learning, even after 15 years of education.
For my cultural artifact, I have posted cartoons of more Korean idioms. There are a lot of idioms related to food. I speculate that this is the case because food is relatable for everyone; it is not something that requires explanation. Therefore, there can be a deeper meaning to a simple phrase so that the deeper meaning can be learned and explained.
One new strategy I’ve begun to use is making flashcards to learn Korean vocabulary words. I realized that I am still relying heavily on the English spelling of the Korean pronunciations, so I made more flashcards to become familiar with Korean letters. Once I become more comfortable with reading and writing in Korean, I believe I will have an easier and more effective time learning Korean words.
The vocabulary words that Prof. Kim has been teaching us include general phrases, such as “Please help me,” “It is delicious,” and “I will eat well.” I found that I knew quite a few of these phrases already, as I have learned them from my years being around Korean speakers. However, the English spelling of Korean words is not completely accurate. There are many sounds in Korean that are not in the English language, so I simply spell it out the best I can. Also, there is a difference between hearing sounds that are unique to Korean and making those sounds. I can identify Korean sounds anywhere, but I still have difficult saying some of the sounds because I have little experience doing so.
In addition to general statements, Prof. Kim taught us phrases from a K-pop song, “Love Scenario” by iKon. I do not listen to K-pop on a regular basis, but as a music student, I appreciated hearing Korean words in a tune because it helps me remember them. However, I am not sure when I will use the words from the song in everyday conversation, as that song has some very specific vocabulary, such as “spotlight” and “melodrama.”
Over fall break, I saw my grandmother and aunt and conversed with them in Korean. Even though I only know a few sentences, they were able to understand everything I said. I also learned some helpful things from them, like when to use certain phrases and in what context. For example, there are two different ways to say goodbye in Korean. It depends on whether you are leaving the other person or if you are staying. Additionally, these terms are very formal, so I would only say it to someone who is older than me. I brought this up with my Korean friend, and she said that in Korea, peers often say “Bye!” to each other in a specific tone of voice. I thought it was interesting to see Korean speakers use an English word so often. But then again, there are many borrowed words from English in Korean.
After talking more with my friends from Korea, I have realized that Prof. Kim is teaching a very formal way of speaking Korean. I know that when I am in Korea, I would rather be too formal with a peer than too informal with someone who is older than me. However, I will be speaking more with peers, so I would also like to learn informal ways of saying things in Korean.
Moving forward, I am going to be using more books to learn Korean. I have checked out Talk to Me in Korean (Level 1) and Essential Korean Root Vocabulary. I think both of these books will be useful in helping me learn Korean vocabulary and grammar.
