My semester goals are to stop relying on English as a crutch when speaking Korean, to improve basic casual conversational skills, develop reading and writing to an intermediate level, and learn more about everyday Korean culture for young Korean adults in their 20s.
We have been meeting weekly with my language partner to practice Korean. At the beginning of our conversations, we start by conversing in Korean. She then helps me practice my writing and to build my vocabulary. She will write out lists of words and phrases in English that I will first verbally translate, and then write down in hangul. These words and phrases have been common words that I would use daily if speaking in Korean.
Besides my language partner, I have tried practicing my Korean with my Korean friends in a more informal setting, for instance by playing Korean drinking games. This was a fun way for me to improve my language skills and learn about Korean culture for young adults my age.
I feel that in just several sessions my speaking, vocabulary, and writing has already improved. My partner corrected basic syntax and grammar mistakes that I now know to avoid. I believe that first speaking and then writing down vocabulary and phrases helps me retain what I learn.
I feel slightly more comfortable speaking in Korean, although I still feel like I can make the most progress in is area this semester. I still speak 90% in English when spoken to in Korean outside of formal meetings. During my Korean sessions with my language partner, I also still rely on English to ask questions.
My goal for the rest of the semester is to really focus on limiting my English usage. I believe that consciously attempting this while continuing to regularly speak Korean throughout every week for an entire semester will help me achieve this goal.
One aspect of my learning I would like to expand upon is my study of Korean culture and lifestyle. I will do this by consuming more media such as YouTube videos, shows, and movies that showcase life in Korea. When possible, I also hope to continue practically experiencing and learning more about culture with my Korean friends on campus.
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