I have had the privilege and pleasure to learn multiple languages throughout my life, those being English as a second, language, Hebrew when I was in high school, and Korean when I went to Seoul to study abroad in the Spring of 2023. Each one of these experiences were for different periods of time and using different tools and resources, resulting in contrasting progress in understanding those languages. For example, I learned English both through formal education, from elementary school throughout high school, and popular media such as YouTube videos and movies. Such a thorough learning of the English language, both in formal and colloquial contexts made it possible to be fluent, making it possible to study in the United States as an international student. While learning English growing up, I really liked using terminology I learned through the internet and movies in academic settings or showing my family what I learned. However, I remember struggling a little bit with learning some of the more boring and inconsistent rules of the English language.
A different experience happened much more recently, when I went to South Korea to study abroad for a semester in Yonsei University. While in Korea, I took a basic Korean class, the lowest level possible at Yonsei, made exclusively for foreigners like me. I really enjoyed taking that class since it was the first time I learned a new language from scratch since Hebrew in middle school. Also, the professor did a great job in teaching the basics of reading and writing the alphabet, as well as simple words and phrases. However, my absolute favorite element of learning Korean that semester was whenever I went to the city and saw signs written in Korean and I could read and understand it completely, although most times they were saying simple things like 'coffee' or 'pork belly,' it made me incredibly happy to know I was progressing in being able to understand my new home, at the time. The same satisfaction arose when I spoke to people in Korean, especially to locals, usually doing simple things like introducing myself or ordering food. Oftentimes, these locals would be surprised that I, a foreigner, could speak Korean, even if it was extremely basic. However, even to this day, I really struggle to master the spelling of the few words and phrases that I know, making it really difficult to write or text someone in Korean, especially to those friends I made in Korea.
Looking at the surveys I took, it appears I am a tactile learner, meaning that I learn by touching and doing, rather than by listening or seeing. As such, learning activities that would suit my style include hands-on activities like completing art projects, taking walks, or acting out stories. This last one in particular would be a great technique to practice my understanding of vocabulary words, sentence construction, and storytelling. Furthermore, using the FIRE—Feedback, Individualization, Reflection, and Engagement—model, specifically for my experience in Korean when talking to classmates or other locals, was something that worked particularly well in learning the basics, as well as igniting my interest to keep learning on my own. As my journey in further expanding my horizons when it comes to learning new languages, I will do my best to use all the resources available and link them with my personal learning strengths evidenced in past experiences and recent survey results.
Comments