Tuesday, April 29 Post Reflection Paper #2:

Looking back on this semester, I’ve definitely learned a lot, not just about Korean, but about how I learn languages and engage with culture in general. It wasn’t always easy, but the process helped me become more intentional and reflective in the way I approach language learning. One of the biggest insights I gained is that I learn best through sound and repetition, not just memorization or reading grammar rules. Listening to Korean being spoken, whether through K-pop, drama clips, or practice sessions with my tutor, helped me internalize the rhythm, intonation, and structure of the language in a more natural way. I realized that I retain vocabulary better when I hear it in context and use it in conversation, even if it’s just a short exchange. This was a shift from how I approached other subjects in the past, where I often relied on visual learning or note-taking. I had to remind myself that language learning is more about interaction and trial-and-error, rather than perfection. That said, I also found pronunciation and listening comprehension to be especially difficult. Korean has sounds that don’t exist in English, and at times I struggled to tell them apart, especially when listening to fast-paced speech or songs. Words like 괜찮아요 were hard to pronounce correctly without slowing down, and it was frustrating not to sound natural at first. But having a language tutor like Isaac helped a lot, he was able to point out subtle pronunciation differences that I didn’t pick up on through apps alone. Those small corrections made a big difference over time. What I really enjoyed was learning about Korean culture through language. Whether it was watching clips of Faker or trying Korean BBQ at the dining hall with friends, I started to understand how language and culture go hand in hand. Even basic things like politeness levels, common expressions, or how people greet one another opened up a whole new way of seeing social interaction. I especially liked learning how certain phrases carry emotional or cultural weight that doesn’t always come across in translation. I plan to continue learning Korean by incorporating more media-based learning into my routine. I want to keep watching K-dramas (with subtitles for now) and listening to short interviews and podcasts so I can gradually get used to how Korean sounds in everyday situations. I’m also planning to review what I’ve learned this semester and expand into topics like hobbies and travel-related vocabulary. Long-term, I’d love to be able to travel to Korea one day and use what I’ve learned. As for readings and learning activities, I found the cultural posts and language journals to be the most useful. They forced me to reflect regularly on my progress and helped me connect what I was learning to real-life examples. Writing about a K-pop song or reacting to social media slang wasn’t just fun, it actually helped me retain vocabulary and cultural context better. I’d like to go deeper into sociolinguistics and pragmatics, especially how age, status, and social setting influence the way Korean is spoken. It feels like there’s a whole other layer of communication happening beyond just grammar, and that’s something I’d like to explore more seriously. Overall, this semester made me more confident as a language learner and reminded me that progress comes from consistency and curiosity, not just skill. I’m excited to keep going and see where this learning path takes me next.