This week, I met with my instructor, Jenna, to discuss my learning goals for the semester and what materials we want to incorporate in our lessons. We are thinking of pairing me up with Maggie to have a partner on a similar level to practice with. Personally, I prefer small group learning as opposed to a large group or one on one instruction because I believe having another brain working and learning at the same time is helpful. That way, their perspective brings about questions I may not have thought of and offer different ideas and ways of learning that are supplemental to my own learning.
My main focus for this semester is to work on my reading speed, conversation skills, and vocabulary. The topics do not concern me as I would like to eventually be able to talk about almost anything. I am starting to realize one of the hardest parts of learning Korean as an English speaker, which is that much of what you are saying is implied when speaking Korean. English is a very specific language in which the subject and particles are included in every sentence, even when speaking. In Korean, many of these grammar specificities are implied and left out when conversing. This makes it very confusing for me sometimes to understand the translation of what is being said. This part of language learning goes beyond vocabulary and sentence structure and steps into thinking like a "Korean". To native Korean speakers, this type of speech is normal and the constant repetition of context specificities one would say in English seems unnecessary. I hope that practicing conversation skills will help to bridge this gap in my understanding of the language.
During my lessons, I will be given a conversation to practice with my partner and together we will go over the meaning and practice the fluidity of our reading and speaking this way. There will also be a list of vocabulary words related to each conversation for us to study. I will also build up my reading speed by practicing reading mini blurbs of varying subjects starting at a basic level and gradually increasing in difficulty as the semester continues. I am aware that my learning partner would like to incorporate cultural aspects of South Korea into our lessons, so I believe that the combination of these topics with our conversations and reading practice will give a well-rounded structure to our lessons.
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