SDLC 110: Learning Journal #2

[Jinhoo Bong]

I have begun to work on exercises that improve my spelling and writing. These exercises help me better understand the grammar structure of the Korean language and learn the different tenses and suffix endings that indicate the tense of the verb. This will assist me in writing a letter to my grandparents by being able to structure my sentences in a comprehensive manner and a format that my grandparents would be able to understand. Also learning the different ways of speaking to different groups of people; such as my friends, or immediate family, and those deserving of respect. My grandparents, falling under the category of those deserving of respect as Korea has a very hierarchical structure, would require me to use appropriate language that reflects that respect. I would not be able to use the language that I use to my immediate family to my grandparents because they are, in a sense, in higher ranking than say that of my friends or immediate family. My previous knowledge of the Korean language mainly consisted of very everyday language because I had only used it in situations where it required of such. I was never in an elongated set period of time where I had to use respectful language so therefore, I never got into the habit of using such language, nor felt the need to learn it. Thus my focus has been on being able to identify when to use such language and how to use language that reflected respect towards those in a higher position than me.