How many new words have you learned in your target language? How did you learn them? Do you have realistic goals for your acquisition of vocabulary?
As I’ve reflected on my Korean language learning experience, I’ve realized that I cannot pinpoint a precise number to indicate the amount of new words that I have learned in my target language. While I have learned many Korean words by using a list of words that my language partner and I have derived, I have also learned some words during my Korean lessons and during less formal settings of which I did not included in the vocabulary list because I learned them quickly. As such, I would estimate that I have learned about 300-400 Korean words thus far. This estimate also includes suffixes that I’ve learned during sessions with my learning partner.
I learned much of the vocabulary I’ve acquired over the semester from my lessons with my learning partner, from a vocabulary list that I review regularly, and from Korean media (music and shows). I have also enriched my Korean vocabulary by speaking or texting with Korean friends (who would correct my grammar and/or spelling), by taking an active approach to complete the tasks I have set for myself in my learning plan, and by researching the Korean words that are applicable under particular cultural or contextual settings.
Moreover, after further reflection, I believe that I have set realistic goals for myself to acquire more Korean vocabulary. This is primarily because each of my tasks focuses on being able to converse with someone in Korean about a new topic; therefore, each new task requires that I learn the vocabulary associated with it in order to complete the task adequately.
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