The task I am working on towards the end of the semester is focused on learning more about the sociocultural aspects of Korea through language. I have been watching historical Korean tv shows and movies that may not be completely correct but do paint a fairly accurate picture of South Korea’s history. The movie “Taxi Driver” directed by Jang Hoon is one that I have watched recently that depicts events from the Gwangju Uprising, which is a massacre that made history due to its violence in response to martial law in Korea. I also watched a film called “Battleship Island” which is about the Japanese occupation of South Korea and a particular event that occurred involving a prison break from a forced labor camp. Although the specific events that were shown in these films are fictitious, they were based on true historical events and themes which have shaped much of how Korean culture is today. Watching these films has helped me diversify my understanding of the Korean language more as I can see differences between how Korean was spoken during war times versus modern Korean. I can also see many Japanese influences in Korean vocabulary from Japan’s long occupation of Korea. By listening to dialogue in film, I have also been able to take note of how characters speak to one another like how a student talks to a professor versus fellow students and how a child talks to adults. I think watching films and tv shows in Korean has worked great for me in working towards my goals of understanding Korea’s sociocultural background as well as improving my speech.
I also started working on a workbook called “Talk to Me in Korean” and decided to work on Level 6 which has more engaging and dynamic conversation topics such as expressing doubts and more complex topics like using the passive voice. Although the workbook is fairly difficult, I think level 6 has been a great way to add more complexity to my speech. I have been practicing topics in the book by using the conversation topics with my language partner. This learn-then-apply method has really helped cement this knowledge into my head and I hope to keep it up in the future.
I also practice phrases and concepts I learn from watching films and reading the textbook in conversations with my parents, elders at the Korean church I attend, and other Korean students that I know who attend U of R and VCU. I think that by practicing with a wide variety of people in different states, ages, and occupations I have been able to improve the versatility of my speech as well. I think the most important part about language learning for me is to be constantly practicing and find time every day to practice either speaking or listening to Korean. Whenever I take a break from Korean, I find that it takes a while for me to start a conversation in Korean the next day.
In the future, I intend on keeping in practice with tasks like speaking with other native Korean-speakers and making an effort to learn about Korean culture in order to see constant improvement and prevent losing the progress I’ve made this semester.
Comments
I remember when "Taxi Driver" was super popular when it came out for the first time in Korea! I will keep these movies in mind to watch during my free time and also recommend to my language partners if they want to know more about Korea's history. I also recommend you to watch some fun YouTube videos on Korean history by Infinite Challenge and a Korean comedian BDNS! They are short and funny but straight to the point.