Through my experience taking this class, I have definitely gained a greater understanding of the uniqueness of languages as well as knowing how important the origins of languages are and the deep history that is rooted within each language. I also realized just how much culture is embedded in language and how it is impossible for a language’s culture to be exactly conveyed in any other language. For example, there are several things in Korean that I cannot translate or express quite accurately in English simply because some of these words and phrases often have to do with how an individual expresses it when speaking or simply due to the cultural influences in such words. For example, adding “cuteness” or “aegyo” in Korean speech is something very unique in the language that cannot be accurately translated and used in the English language since aegyo originates from the cultural influences of displaying femininity in a socially acceptable manner. Furthermore, aegyo is very present and commonly used in informal Korean conversation, so even though it has a strong presence in the language, it is difficult for individuals learning Korean to understand how to properly use or understand this unique aspect of the Korean language.
I found it most difficult to improve my speaking skills simply because I had planned on consistently meeting with a language partner to practice. Though I do have international friends who are from Korea, it is difficult for me to learn the formalities of the Korean language by speaking with them since speaking in such a manner to my close friends would be awkward and unfitting. I did enjoy however, learning aspects of Korean culture that I never knew through other people’s research and presentations during class. For example, one of the presentations was about the architecture of traditional Korean houses which was very fascinating since there was so much history and intelligence behind the design that I always overlooked when I saw these houses in pictures and in real life.
I will continue my learning by not only continuing my use of the resources that I have found by taking this course but also by going to Korea and experiencing the language and culture firsthand. This summer I will be spending three weeks in Korea taking an intensive Korean language learning program at Yonsei University. There, I hope to improve even more in not just my ability to speak, read, and write, but also gain greater understanding of how Koreans my age interact, since the use of language often differs between generations.
Watching the video about culture shock was the most impactful to me, since I was really able to gain a better perception of how difficult it is for many international students when they come to the U.S. to study. I also found the video relatable in a sense, since I personally dealt with some culture shock coming from the west coast and living in the east coast for the first time. I also enjoyed reading about the revival of the Siletz language, since it helped me see the fragility of a language’s existence, and how much effort and work is needed in order to keep a language from going extinct when its community begins to diminish.
In the future, I would like to learn more about the connections between culture and language, and go more in depth in the reasons why some words, phrases, or expressions are so difficult to convey in another language. I think it is intriguing how translations are often not as simple as they seem, and how in many cases understanding a certain aspect of a language has to come from one’s own intuition.
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