How have you organized your self-directed learning plan, and what have you learned so far? How will your studies allow you to investigate your target language and culture more deeply? What first prompted your interest, and motivated you to start learning? After receiving feedback from your classmates and Dr. Marsh-Soloway, what changes do you anticipate making?
I used the Levels of Competence document and the LinguaFolio checklists to determine which level of Korean I am in and then I used them to help me form some of my objectives set out in my learning plan. Since I am a novice learner, I also consulted the tasks suggested on the SDLAP Wiki page when making my learning plan. I noticed that much of what all three documents characterized as the skills novice learners should have overlapped (like learning the alphabet and the phonetic sounds used in the target language). While I recognized that I was able to understand some spoken Korean words, I did not have a strong basis on the language as a whole, particularly with respect to communicating in Korean and being literate in Hangul. Therefore, I began forming my learning plan as a curriculum for people who just started learning Korean from scratch because I wanted to better my understanding of spoken Korean while not neglecting any other aspect of language (i.e. interpretive reading, presentational speaking, presentational writing, and interpersonal communication). I took this mentality to heart, so much that some, if not all, of the tasks I set out for myself cover all communicative modes. For instance, one of the tasks I set for myself is: Introducing myself with basic information about myself and asking others to introduce themselves to me with similar information. For this task (and other similar ones), I make sure to understand how to read words or phrases soliciting information from me, how to conceptualize (verbal) questions about me, how to write down responses if necessary, and how to respond to questions if in a conversation while also understanding how to ask others for similar information; like, “어디서왔어요?” (Where are you from?), “플로리다어ㅣ서왔어요.” (I am from Florida.).
For each task that I aim to complete, I also included tools that would help me while I study Korean. Throughout the learning plan, I mention picture dictionaries and textbooks that I plan on using to help me enrich my Korean vocabulary and grammar. Another tool that I will consult in my studies is YouTube and Korean television (with subtitles), primarily to further enrich my Korean vocabulary and grammar with an auditory reference to know how sounds, words, and phrases should be pronounced. Furthermore, each task has its own artifact or is connected to an artifact along with other tasks to show how I have improved in corresponding areas of the Korean language. Some of these tasks are interpersonal, therefore, they require that I put what I learn to practice, typically by having a conversation with a Korean speaker. Moreover, for each task, I stated what may be the most difficult aspect of mastering that particular task so that I may place greater focus on aspects needing greater attention. Additionally, learning about culture is an important aspect attached the tasks that I have outlined in my learning plan. For example, one of my tasks involves going to a Korean restaurant and ordering food in Korean. To complete this task, I must learn some cultural aspects including the manner in which a server should be addressed, the way one orders food, and the way one pays/hands money to the server/cashier. I will then have to complete the task and go practice what I learned in terms of language and culture at a Korean restaurant.
Also, to keep myself organized in a timely manner, I created a weekly schedule for myself (that is framed from the objectives in my learning plan). This is one way I hope to keep myself accountable with my learning plan and other assignments for SDLC 105/110. As of now, I have covered material corresponding to my first five tasks. Such material/concepts include: Hangeul, the history of Hangul, the sounds associated with each letter and letter combinations, numbers, how to write by sounding words out, how to write particular words down, how to read, formatting words (informal vs. formal) and sentences (subject – object – verb) with correct structure, introductions, identity (college student, Ecuadorian-American, etc.), Lunar New Year’s (and traditional food), bowing culture, family (aunt, uncle, mom, dad, brother, sister, etc.), time, number systems, dates, and ordering food.
Overall, my learning plan and studies place a great emphasis on application, which allows me to investigate Korean language and culture in depth. For instance, I have established particular exercises for myself (like, creating and following a Korean-language scheduling calendar) that require that I practice what I have learned of time, dates, and how Koreans conceptualize time. Also, I have prepared excursions for myself like going to a Korean restaurant where I would read the menu in Korean and I would place my order in Korean: like stated earlier in this journal entry, this will require that I know the cultural components of ordering food just as much as the linguistic aspects of reading/understanding a menu and placing my order in Korean. My learning plan, in general, is very task-based, therefore things are meant to be learned and then practiced, ensuring greater retention and comprehension. Moreover, some lesson place a greater emphasis on parts of Korean culture that interest me: for instance, I have created a Korean wedding task and lesson for myself which will enable me to delve into this part of Korean culture and learn about relevant language/vocabulary.
Much of what I have learned about Korean culture before taking this course came from listening to my friends speaking in Korean and from watching Korean variety shows and dramas, all of which spurred my interest in learning Korean language and culture. This also ties into what motivated me to begin my Korean studies: I wanted to be able to communicate with my closest friends in Korean and I aspired to be able to watch Korean shows and listen to Korean songs without having to rely solely on subtitles (or translated lyrics) to understand what characters/artists were talking/singing about or doing.
After speaking about my learning plan with two classmates, I received commentary regarding timelines and the tasks I have planned for myself. My first partner said that covering all of the material I set out for myself may be difficult, but it is doable, particularly since I have set a strict timeline for myself to complete various lessons and tasks. My second partner was impressed with how I was about to cover most, if not all, modes of communication in each task. As such, I did not make any changes to my learning plan until I met with Dr. Marsh-Soloway. After our discussion, I took out my weather/forecast lesson and replaced it with a wedding-related task and lesson, as it would bring more cultural components to my learning plan and it would also make my studies more personal as I plan to attend a friend’s Korean wedding in the future.
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