I first learned that my strongest suit is still pronunciation. I guess it just comes from often listening to the language within natural contexts i.e. films. I also definitely would not consider learning languages as something I am skilled at. In fact, I think I am slower than most, but that is just how I feel, mainly because concrete memorization is difficult for me, and I would say about 90% of learning a language is memorization. Also the fact that I am learning an Asian language factors in. I have never learned any other language that uses English characters. It is highly possible that I struggle with languages like Korean because they have no basis in my native language or any language I grew up hearing. I can confidently say I definitely enjoy the cultural aspect more than the language. I wish the two were not so intimately intertwined. It is far easier to become ‘fluent’ in a culture as opposed to a language. I certainly enjoy Korean culture, mostly for historical reasons. I do not know why I have an affinity for the history as opposed to modern day culture. Perhaps it is because I find it more appealing in the sense of how unique it was. Because of globalization a lot of cultures are taking on certain aspects of globalized culture that simply were not present before, which gives the appearance of homogeny. People are very quick to praise globalization but I am far more hesitant. It’s message is quite nice but the consequences are not some of the time, as it is with all things, I suppose.

The readings I enjoyed the most to my own surprise were the earlier ones about the language learning process. I enjoy picking apart the components of a language to see exactly how it works. It is kind of like building a computer. The final product, when bought whole, can be taken for granted but when you painstakingly get piece by piece and understand how one part connects to another, its all the more enjoyable and offers both a better understanding and control of the language in general because you know how it works not just what it looks and sounds like.

I would like to learn more about the intercultural communicative aspects of Korean culture. I mentioned earlier how in Japan the inability to form deep relationships because of ‘unspoken rules, etc.” gave me more culture shock than the actual culture itself. I think I would benefit from scholarly essays that examine the psychological aspects of the culture, how they play out, and why they play out in such a manner. I’ve talked about how fascination with Korea stems from its history (the same goes for Japan), but I did not say that I typically end up having far less interest in the people of the culture, which is what always happens. In learning another language I am reminded of how important both the people and the language of the culture are.

I agree with the readings. It’s no secret that being fluent in two languages can only benefit the individual. In Benefits of Bilingualism, I agree the most with the idea that being bilingual lends itself to “a higher ability to monitor an environment.” Inherent self-awareness and awareness in general is practically doubled in this way, giving the speaker an unusually well-rounded experience in the world.

I think the other article takes an interesting approach, from the standpoint of intellect or simply being smart, a word that is problematic in and of itself. Similar to how the executive function is described in the article, I once listened to a podcast about learning a second language. In a survey conducted among bilinguals, it would seem that people are more prone to taking risks in another language than if they use their own language. When learning a second language it would seem as though the individual is taking on a separate identity, which pretty fascinating.

I believed I have learned around 50 words. My learning plan stems more around learning phrases and basic grammar as opposed to vocabulary, which is something I also want to focus on but time is pressing and I fear that not only will I not be able to achieve what I set out to do if I set my goals too high, but will also only reach a mediocre understanding of the language if I spread myself too thin.

I learned many of the specific words in phrases with my language partner and a learned a great deal from Mango, love that program.

I also have recently started using Rosetta Stone as well. It has the same format as Mango but takes different approaches by simply throwing you into the language without explanation until later.

My absolute favorite part of the languages I learn is their cultural history. I am not necessarily sure simply knowing the history will lead to a better grasp and therefore use of the language, but I do think it can be motivating if you're into symbols, meaning, etc.

For example, Japanese kanji characters, which are simply Chinese characters, typically have stories to go along with each character. They sometimes, not always, symbolize the meaning of the actual word itself. I feel more compelled to study a language when I know there is something behind it all, and I'm not just memorizing randomly placed lines that mean one word for no real reason.

When a language dies so does the expression in that language. I talked in a previous post about how intertwined language is with culture. Loss of language not only does away with how one communicates with others but with how one expresses themselves, their ideas, thoughts, etc. I think the article focuses more on the external effects when it comes to losing culture, which can be equally devastating.

One thing I can say I am proud of is my pronunciation. Because I have been watching Korean films for years now, I think I have unconsciously picked up on the style and tones. Even when I did not understand what was being said, I always recognized certain expressions and the general ways in which words were spoken. Now that I am actually learning the language, what used to be simply sounds to me are fleshed out and given life. I have enjoyed finally understanding exactly what I heard was being said instead of just a series of sounds that I could mimic.

When it comes to the relationship between the target language and target culture, I would say it reminds me exactly of Japan and the Japanese; although, most Korean and Japanese people I know would say otherwise, as each culture has certain nuances that I just do not differentiate between or are not profound enough for me to notice as an outsider to both cultures. The overall resounding idea is that both the language and culture are so intimately intertwined that it is virtually impossible to understand one without the other. The speech reveals just as much about the Korean culture as basic Korean culture does. The hierarchical language is the best example of this. By using this form one is expressing notions of respect that stem all the way from Confucius.

In order to improve my communicative competence I will first have to extensively broaden my vocabulary. I know basic questions and statements now but self-expression is my goal. If I cannot express myself in the Korean language it, in my opinion, lessens my own experience of the language. Others may be able to understand what I am saying but if they cannot understand me, cultural exchange will only be exchanged in one direction and not the other. This is especially important to me as an African-American. Black culture is so grossly misrepresented in both Japan and Korea. If I can’t articulate how this is problematic in a way they can understand I am not helping the situation. I digress. As I said before I need to first and foremost expand my vocabulary, not just in the most general sense, but in an intentional and deliberate way, meaning I need to learn certain words not all words. The basics are important but I find that often in these textbooks they organize the chapters based on social situations one may find themselves in. While workplace appropriate language is important, I do not believe I need to know how to handle going to a veterinarian with a sick animal (I have actually never seen anything like this but it’s usually something to that affect). This is the direction textbooks typically take after running out of beginner lessons.

In my own experiences of culture shock I found that it came upon me in ways I simply did not anticipate. When I went to Japan, people warned us that the food and overall customs would take us by surprise but that was the least shocking simply because with the internet, books, etc it is easy to prepare for concrete cultural differences which can be seen and quantified.

It was the subtle aspects of the culture that threw me into a whirlwind, and honestly had me rather discouraged and reevaluate why I was learning the language to begin with. For example, realizing that developing relationships required a kind of inherent deception, at least from my standpoint it was deceptive, on both sides was bewildering to say the least. Being straight forward was not polite in practically any circumstance (I soon learned many Japanese students complained this was the problem with Americans in general). So because you had to go a roundabout way to communicate and express what you're thinking, (hard enough with a language barrier) notions of friendship were opaque and vague. It was like speaking in a coded language. Then there were many who simply viewed foreigners as accessories to show off to their friends and go out with, which is harmless but ineffective in what I hoped to accomplish, that is understanding one person at a time, not generic exchanges of information.

It takes skill to maneuver in the darkness that is intercultural communication where there are only unspoken rules and those a part of the culture may not necessarily see them as rules but instead just a way of being, the right way particularily. Korea and Japan are not the same but I suspect one would encounter similar situations, regardless.

Like the article said because Korean is a SOV language “…you learn all those annoying word endings,” arguably the hardest part of the language as it is simply completely foreign to my native language. To understand the endings I start off small, i.e. without the constrictions and complexities of the polite speech.

As far as references go, I think reference grammar can be quite useful. I studied Japanese so it is particularly useful in the fact that both languages are obviously not the same but are made up of the same components. Japanese is an SOV language as well, with what seems like an infinite number of endings. Because I already know a language similar to the one I'm learning now I can effectively understand how to approach this new language. Unfortunatley, I have learned that this is typically only achieved through concrete, relentless memorization.

As with many other Asian languages body language and language reflecting the social hierarchy can essentially make or break a conversation, especially with strangers. Bowing is the first that comes to mind. In order to ensure the proper bow for each person, you first have to know their age either by simply looking at them or asking if it cannot be discerned, and it is rather normal to ask such a question early on. One bows upon meeting and leaving.

It is also not uncommon to ask about one’s family, as the family unit is imperative, similarly to other Asian languages. Concepts of yes and no are interesting. It would seem that yes does not always mean yes and in general yes or no questions are avoided. For example, if you want to know whether or not your friend wants to go have lunch with you, you would not ask them flat out as it may put them in an uncomfortable position. Instead one would ask when they would be available to go out or something to that effect.

Understanding the linguistics behind language learning actually created an awareness that was not there before. For example, in the neurolinguistic section it states how “an intention to communicate is followed (or perhaps accompanied) by some kind of conceptualization of the message (176).” I am interested in the intricacies of basic communication, as it helps me to put the pieces of a language together like a jigsaw puzzle. Semantics are also important, in the sense that it relates directly to meaning, and I prefer the organization of meaning as well. It provides better tools to express myself, which is one of my most important goals in learning language. The hope is that there will be real cultural exchange instead of generic exchanges and over-simplified generalizations.

As a language learner I would say that I enjoyed, well, learning the language in general. Pronunciation and memorization proved to be the most difficult but there’s a satisfaction whenever I learn something new AND can actually do it right. According to the FIRE model I am both an Insightful and Rational learner. Rational because I do need that big picture that brings everything together and the personal aspects as well. Insightful because, despite how much I enjoy free ranged thinking, etc, I still need the logical aspect, as in how do I get from point A to B.

Mango fits my learning style because it is well-organized but not rigid in how the language is learned. To expand my learning activities, writing could play a larger role than it does currently.

Learning Plan

Step One: I am almost entirely new to the language, save for certain words I’ve picked up from South Korean films.

Step Two / What I hope to accomplish:

v  Able to present information about myself and some other very familiar topics using a variety of words, phrases, and memorized expressions.

v  to communicate and exchange information about familiar topics using phrases and simple sentences, sometimes supported by memorized language.

v  to write short messages and notes on familiar topics related to everyday life.

v  understand words, phrases, and simple sentences related to everyday life. 

v  recognize some letters or characters, understand some learned or memorized words and phrases when I read.

Step Three / Tasks, Goals, etc.:

---Greetings / Farewells (formal/informal, for different times of day, etc.)
---Introducing yourself (your name, where you are from, what you are studying, something interesting about yourself)
    --Eliciting this information from others
---Identifying and talking about family members (names, relationships, professions, something interesting)
    --Eliciting this information from others
---Telling time / asking the time
---Asking / saying the date

Ways to achieve goals:

---I have profiles for both the Mango Languages program and Rosetta Stone. As an elementary learner of the language, these online resources should prove to be quite useful, especially in addition to the online textbooks available.

---I will also watch more South Korean films in order to better understand the contexts in which the language is spoken and how, so I can develop a natural accent when speaking.