Before taking this course, I did not have the proper approach when trying to learn a new language. I thought you could simply study the different characters and learn the vocabulary to become more fluent in a language. However, my perspective has changed since taking this course. I have realized all the different components of a language that must be understood. The most important component is immersing yourself in the culture because culture provides the insights that you would normally overpass. For example, understanding Korean etiquette helps you understand how to address elders. There are different words used to address people who are older than you and people who are younger than you. It is important to understand this differentiation. Furthermore, it is vital to put yourself in situations where you can learn languages. The different environments you can expose yourself to will give you more solid foundation when approaching different situations. An example would be going to a grocery store and trying to use the language to identify different foods. The day-to-day use of language is much easier to learn when you are actually in the situation.
In regards to the cultural presentations, my presentation helped me learn more about Korean history and how the Korean alphabet originated. It is vital to understand the roots of a language because it gives you an opportunity to learn more about the country and why the language was created. Additionally, it really inspired me to be more curious. In an article I was reading in Korean, I did not know that different countries utilized different names in the Korean language. I am visiting South Korea after graduation and it is important for me to understand how to pronounce certain countries in Korean because I will be traveling to other Asian countries.
Not only has this class sparked a curiosity to learn more about Korean culture and language, but also it has increased my interest in exploring other cultures. I really enjoyed all the other presentations on different countries. The presentations gave me different insights and outlooks that I previously did not know. In the future, I hope to utilize this newfound curiosity to learn about the various cultures and people in the world.
In regards to linguistic principles, I grew up in a Korean household so I already felt fairly comfortable with the language. For me, the big emphasis of learning is vocabulary. There is so much vocabulary that I do not have because I know more day-to-day words. As mentioned before, my strategy to learn new words is putting myself in situations where I’m forced to learn new words to be coherent. I definitely have learned a lot about how to approach learning a new language. Overall, this course has been very valuable in teaching me different strategies and methods when trying to learn a new language. From understanding different perspectives and cultures to more structured language learning, I feel much more confident when trying to immerse myself in a new language. I also feel much more adventurous and hope to utilize my curiosity to explore more.
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