110 Learning Journal #14

[Stephen Huffnagle]

Over the course of this semester, I think that I have learned a lot of Korean. This experience was particularly unique for me, because I am used to learning languages in a traditional classroom. I had also not heard of task-based learning, which was very different than the strict lesson plans that I was used to. I felt that task-based learning had both its positives and its negatives for me. On the up side, I was able to learn vocabulary faster, and felt more initial confidence in my language learning abilities. It was nice to be able to set a goal for the week, like being able to order food in a restaurant, and be able to do it with relative confidence by the end of the week. With that being said, by focusing on weekly learning goals, I have not been able to feel long-term confidence in my Korean abilities. Since I do not have a solid grammatical base, it is hard for me to find rules for the language and extend upon knowledge that I have learned. For instance, in German I was able to construct basic sentences when I learned to properly conjugate verbs. I have not been able to do that in Korean, so in practice I must learn a new word if I am addressing a situation with a verb I already know. Korean also has a lot of honorifics that you cannot find in other languages, so it has been hard for me to pick up on the grammatical rules of these honorifics. With that being said, I think the best way to move forward in Korean is for me to focus on a strong grammatical base, and then use that the apply to the words I already know. I have learned a lot this semester, and am excited to see how my Korean abilities will progress over time.