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I have only been formally taught three languages in school which includes English, Mandarin, and French in which I have been taught in various ways. When I was put in an ESL class, we mostly learned key expressions and words which was normal for an elementary student to use. This was helpful considering these phrases helped us communicate better in class and expanded our vocabulary since we were attending an English speaking school. This is something I would like to explore when learning Korean since I think it is good to know important key phrases to help in daily activities. This came in handy when I was studying in Korea and had learned simple phrases such as how to order or say thank you which greatly helped when I was with my non-Korean friends.

Learning Mandarin was the same way since what we learned was not difficult since it was being taught to middle school students. But while learning the language, the teacher also made sure it was immersive. For example, some classes would include an activity such as cooking food so we learn more about the culture while also learning new traditions and words. Through these experiences, I am able to still remember some words that I learned from more than eight years ago. I would like to learn Korean in a similar fashion because I am able not only learn by writing down notes but also have a more hands on experience

I would also like to get into the habit of creating a routine. What I had experienced while learning French is that I need to become better in relearning and practicing things such as grammar. While taking the 200 level French class in Richmond, I was able to retain a lot of the lessons learned since we would spend a good amount of time on each topic. By the time I was doing higher level French classes, I never went back to review the grammar which now I struggle with to remember. Therefore, I stick with the key grammar styles that I know and can not really grow into a stronger writer because of that. 

Taking the 400 level grammar class really did humble me considering I forgot all about French grammar and since each day was a different grammar lesson, it was all too quick for me to fully grasp everything. The class was the complete opposite of my freshman course, making me realize that I am someone who needs more time and patience to learn something. So I know going forward when learning Korean is to put more time outside of class to make sure I can remember these lessons.

In conclusion, my language learning experiences have taught me valuable lessons about the methods that work best for me. By including practical language use, hands- on experiences, and constant review sessions, I believe that applying these strategies in the lessons would be the most effective in order to learn korean.

For my cultural artifact, I was interested in finding something related to Korean traditional music. What I found was this instrument called Gayageum, which is known as the national instrument of the country. Gayageum is made out of Paulownia wood in a rectangular shape and typically has 12 strings. To be able to play this instrument, the Gayageum is laid with one side on the ground with the performer seated holding up the other side on their right knee. Usually in performances, the Gayageum instrument would be accompanied by the rhythmic beats of a changgo drum. The performers also wear traditional clothes while playing.

Some brief history of the Gayageum was that it was created by the korean king Gasil around the sixth century. This instrument was modeled after the Chinese zheng, another popular instrument. But unlike zheng which is known for its dragon symbolism, the Gayageum is more modeled after the birds. “The gayageum’s bridges are called anjok (wild goose feet), and its bottom end is likened to the tail feathers of a phoenix,” (KOCIS Center). At the beginning, the Gayageum was usually only played for the court during the Joseon era. But later on, the Gayageum music had shifted into including sanjo. Sanjo is used for folk music which was associated more with the lower class. The other styles are called Pungnu Gayageum which is used for classical music and the other is called Improved Gayageum which is used for modern compositions. Aside from the typical 12 strings, there have recently been Gayageums with 15, 17, 18, and even 25 strings.

While researching more about this instrument, I came across this youtube video titled "Gayageum Sanjo Ensemble," which featured six musicians playing the Gayageum. Alongside them, a single played the changgo drum, which helped add more rhythm to the melody. These people were playing the instrument in a very fast paced rhythm called Hwimori. After researching more about this style, I found out that Gayageum Sanjo is typically a duet with only one person playing the gayageum and another on the drums. 

While watching the video, I was surprised to see just how fast their hand movements were. I really enjoyed the sound that was produced and how the drum acted similarly to the beat. It was interesting to hear this type of sound since it is something that I am not used to compared to my own two cultures. While watching the performance, what I observed was that one hand would be pushing the string which helps make the sound in a vibrato while the other would be plucking for the notes.  

Also, in some live performances, there would be noises made by some of the audience members, which startled me. At first, I thought it was by accident until I kept on hearing it constantly throughout the show. I did not realize that it was something the audience would do to show their appreciation to the stage performers. I thought it was really interesting since it was different to how I was used to when watching traditional performances.

Jeju Island’s Dol Hareubang (돌하르방), can be found everywhere on the island. The name of the statue stems from the Korean word for “stone” (dol) with the Jeju dialect word hareubang, meaning grandfather. Dol hareubangs are weathered stone statues with stoic expressions and robust forms, representing the island’s history, culture, and beliefs. The statues are made with porous basalt volcanic rock of Jeju Island, where they have a round face with bulging eyes, big nose, and a slightly smiling mouth. The statues typically wear a traditional hat, known as a “gat”  They tend to have their hand on their stomach, one higher than the other. If the right hand is raised, it indicates that the figure is a civil official because they hold the brush with the right hand. Meanwhile, if the left hand is raised, it is believed that the figure is a military official, since they hold a bow and spears with the left. 

Their main roles were to be protectors of the fortresses during the dynasties. Because of their appearance, they are called “grandfather” but they are considered to be the guardians of the island, warding off demons and evil spirits. Historically, they were placed at the entrances of Jeju’s three major counties, which were the three main gates, warding off danger and harms, playing their roles as a guardian deity. They were placed outside of the eastern, western, and southern gates of the Jeju City fortress between 1763 and 1765. The Dol Hareubang’s history goes back to the Goryeo Dynasty (918 to 1392) and later gained prominence during the Joseon Dynasty (1392 to 1897). It is believed that the local artisans who created these statues have imbued them with spiritual energies, turning them into protectors of Jeju, explaining the reason why they consider these to be the protectors. 

These statues are also associated with fertility, where couples that hope to start a family often visit these statues, believing that it brings blessings for fertility and safe childbirth. There’s a belief that newly married women can touch different parts of the statue in order to increase their chances of conceiving a desired gender: nose for a boy and ears for a girl. Because of this, you could see many statues having worn down features on the nose and ears compared to the rest of the statues. Therefore, these statues are important during weddings and celebrations. 

In the modern day, these statues have become the main symbol of the island, and different replicas are sold in various sizes. Many locals still believe that the Dol Harebubang will watch over them, ensuring safety and abundance. These statues will be in traditional settings, but also modern locations such as museums, cultural exhibitions, in front of people’s houses, and even common locations such as restaurants or even tangerine fields. There are also parks in Jeju Island where there are wide varieties of statues, attracting not only visitors but also becoming a learning center for children and adults about the history and symbolization. 

https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/whereToGo/locIntrdn/locIntrdnList.do?vcontsId=90845&menuSn=351

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/south-korea/articles/what-are-jeju-islands-dol-hareubang

https://blog.onedaykorea.com/dol-hareubang-jeju-stone-grandfather/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dol_hareubang

Whenever I have embarked on learning a new language, songs have always been helpful. The rhymes, rhythm, and melodies make using the language much easier, especially with regard to pronunciation and intonation (to an extent), so I was delighted to discover the traditional Korean musical storytelling form known as Pansori/판소리. Pansori is a unique musical genre that combines storytelling and singing, accompanied by a single drum, the buk, which is an essential instrument in Korean culture––I’ve been fortunate enough to have taken some classes on buk––making this connection all the more rewarding. The performer, or 'sorikkun', narrates a story through song, employing a wide range of dramatic vocal expressions and gestures for an entertaining performance. Traditionally, Pansori performances could last for several hours, with some stories extending over multiple days. However, modern performances are often condensed to suit contemporary audiences. The repertoire of Pansori traditionally consisted of twelve madang (story cycles), but only five remain today: 'Chunhyangga', 'Simcheongga', 'Heungbuga', 'Jeokbyeokga', and 'Sugungga'. Each of these stories has its own unique characters, plotlines, and moral lessons, often reflecting the societal values and norms of the times. The origins of Pansori date back to the 17th century, during the Joseon Dynasty, and it is believed to have developed from a combination of shamanistic songs, folk music, and the narrative traditions of the Korean peninsula. Initially, Pansori was a form of entertainment among the common folk and was often performed in open marketplaces, village gatherings, and at festive events. Over time, it evolved, incorporating elements of Confucian ideals and classical literature, which allowed it to gain popularity among the aristocratic classes as well––until it became an indelible aspect of Joseon dynasty Korea as perhaps the most popular form of mass entertainment.

My journey into Pansori began with the epic of 'Chunhyangga', one of the five surviving Pansori stories. 'Chunhyangga' narrates the story of the undying love between Seong Chunhyang and Lee Mongryong against the backdrop of the strict social structures of the Joseon Dynasty––and I discovered this while on a trip to Korea where a local group was performing. Although I wasn’t able to see it live on the trip, there are recordings on YouTube that show these performances in high quality. Listening to this, I was fascinated by a world where emotions were conveyed not just through words but through the soulful, sometimes guttural, and often melodic sounds of the human voice––making following the vocabulary an enjoyable task. The story, laden with themes of loyalty, love, and societal norms, was quite easy to get invested in, so if anyone has about 5 minutes to spare, it’s an interesting extant piece of Korean tradition.

Pansori, to me, is more than an artifact; it’s a living, breathing embodiment of Korean heritage; even if quite simple in form, but perhaps the simplicity is what has kept it so abiding. Its proclivity to use rich, emotional language taught me some new vocabulary, as well, hopefully making for more felicitous word choices in my conversations whenever I describe emotions. 

When people talk about popular Korean figures, most people think of the BTS members or Bong Joon-ho or even Yoo Jae-suk. But very few non-Korean people will know about Korea’s greatest military mind. 이순신 (Yi sun-sin), or Admiral Yi, was arguably the greatest military mind that the Korean peninsula had ever seen. He lived during the Joseon dynasty and his naval campaigns mostly took place during the 임진왜란 (Imjin War) where he saw significant victories against the Japanese despite being out-resourced and outnumbered. 

His most famous victory came in the 명량대첩 (Battle of Myeongnyang) where he was outnumbered 13 ships to the Japanese 333. Giving up the Myeongnyang strait to the Japanese would’ve meant that the Japanese empire would have free access to supply resources directly into Joseon for a mainland invasion. Nevertheless, Admiral Yi was able to use the natural environment of the Myeongnyang Strait to his advantage to turn the Japanese fleet around and turn the tide in their favor. In the battle, he lost 0 ships while the Japanese lost 31. This battle is still considered one of the greatest naval achievements in history. In fact, there was a movie made from it, 명량, which at the time of its release was the highest grossing Korean film of all time. Around a fifth of Korea’s population had also viewed the film. 

During his campaign, he created a seven year record of all the battles and strategies inside the 난중일기 (Nanjung Journal) which is now listed as a part of UNESCO’s memory of the world. He also has several memorials, monuments, awards, and towns named after him. What helped him the most in his battles however was his innovative mind not only in using the battlefield to his advantage, but also in creation:

The 거북선 (turtle ship) was a large playmaker in the success of Yi Sun-sin’s campaign. The turtle ship was an early version of the ironclad with iron spikes and plates, resembling the shell of a turtle. This design not only provided protection from enemy attacks but also made the ship difficult to board. It also made it very strong for ramming against the enemy ships. Although not official, the turtle ship can be viewed as a Korean national treasure as it is displayed in various museums. A full complete replica is still yet to be built however as its design is still up to debate and being studied constantly.

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.

  Every winter break since my freshman year I have been traveling back to Hungary, and Budapest to spend the winter holidays and celebrate Christmas, and New Year with my family. Unfortunately, this year I did not go back, instead, I have been traveling within the US and spent my Christmas and New Year with my host family in Richmond. It was a very nice experience even though it was pretty different from what I am used to. During my winter break, I managed to meet with my community partner over Zoom a few times. Those classes were much less formal than the ones we used to have on campus, however, it was extremely fascinating to see Szonja in Budapest, at home with her family. It was very interesting to hear her speaking with her family members in Hungarian and see their interactions when they accidentally came into the room during our meeting. One of the classes happened to be on Christmas day, and we dedicated it entirely to talking about Hungarian Christmas traditions, celebrations, and Christmas-related vocabulary. 

  We have worked on reading and translating the text which I have attached to this post. It was very interesting to see the similarities between Hungarian and Russian traditions for Christmas. Even though in Russia we celebrate Christmas according to the Orthodox calendar - January 7th, we still share some of the traditions in common. For example, Hungarians also go to church for the evening mass on Christmas Eve, have a big family lunch or dinner, and spend most of the time with family, and friends. I learned from the text that Hungarians have some food specialties as well - walnut and poppy seed bagels. You can find different types of those at the Christmas markets where they are very popular among locals and tourists. It was very interesting to learn about Christmas traditions by translating the text from Hungarian to English. I believe it gives a more objective and clear perspective.

   Last semester I took SDLC 105 and SDLC 110 courses which gave me very valuable experience and opportunity in learning Hungarian as one of the courses at the University of Richmond. This semester I’m enrolled in SDLC 111 which will be simply the continuation of my Hungarian studies with the same community partner - Szonja, an exchange student at the University of Richmond from Hungary. During the winter break, we completed both of the MagyarOK A1-A2 books - grammar book and vocabulary book. This semester we’re planning to use the next level of the series of MagyarOK books A2. They provide harder grammar, vocabulary, and deeper knowledge of the language in general. In some parts it will be a repetition of the topics that have been covered in the A1-A2 book, but with a much more complex and detailed perspective. 

   On top of using the book as the main tool for learning Hungarian, I would like to focus more on speaking and using my knowledge of the language this semester. We have already started watching some shows in Hungarian on Netflix and listening to some of the Hungarian pop songs on Apple Music. We translate some phrases, and sentences as we go on, and after the class, I spend some time memorizing them and using them in day-to-day life. I believe that it is very important to keep working on Hungarian grammar, tenses, and new vocabulary. However, I want to experiment with already existing knowledge and make use of it during my Hungarian classes. Sometimes we start classes with me telling Szonja about my day, classes, and practices in Hungarian which helps me to immediately start thinking in Hungarian and become more proficient in short and easy conversations. 

            When I was young, about 5 years old, I went to Korean school because my parents wanted me to learn how to speak, read, and write the Korean language. Nowadays, many Korean Americans don’t know how to read or write Korean at all, let alone speak it. I guess my parents had the fear that my sister and I would grow to not know the Korean language. Going to Korean school was fun and I enjoyed the couple years I was there for. I was surprised to see that learning the Korean language wasn’t the only thing that I would learn. I also learned the history and culture of Korea, and one of my favorite memories from Korean school was learning to cook Korean food. Korean cuisine might be one of the most delicious foods I eat, but I may be a little biased. I also learned how to speak Korean by actually going to Korea for months at a time when I was younger to visit my relatives. Since my relatives don’t speak English, I would have to only speak Korean and we know practice makes perfect. Lastly, watching Korean tv shows helped me understand Korean trends such as clothing, music, and slang. I’d say watching Korean shows was probably my favorite way of learning Korean.

            I also learned Spanish for 3 years in high school. I think that learning a language in a standardized school is pretty boring because you only learn the linguistics of Spanish. Most of that was also through verbal and auditory learning, which aren’t my preferred ways of learning. However, I was able to learn more about Spanish and culture of Hispanic countries by actually traveling. My close friend group and I decided to travel together once a year after graduating high school and so far, we’ve gone to Cancun, Mexico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. My friends and I enjoyed Mexico so much that we decided to go back this year, but to Cabos San Lucas, Mexico instead this time to switch up the setting a bit. Traveling to Hispanic countries allowed me to once again try to speak Spanish to native speakers which helps me practice as well as learn the culture of these countries. I got to say, I love Hispanic food especially when it’s authentic. From my experiences, there is a difference in taste of Korean and Hispanic food when it’s actually made in the country. The authenticity makes the food way more delicious somehow someway.

            Looking back at how I learned Korean, I think that it is telltale sign of the type of learner I am. I am mostly a visual and kinesthetic learner that prefers to literally see and manipulate what I am learning about. For instance, cooking Korean food, watching Korean shows, and traveling to Korea are ways I can literally see what I am trying to learn and manipulate material that is related to it. I do fine with verbal and auditory learning as some of the teachers in Korean school primarily used those styles of learning, but I think that visual and kinesthetic learning suit me best. Learning Spanish also showed me that these two styles of learning are best for me because I feel that I learned way much more about Spanish by actually traveling than learning in school like I did with Korean. Being able to visit significant landmarks and eats different kinds of food allowed to understand the Spanish language much more. At the end of the day, I think visual and kinesthetic learning are great, but having a mix of all four learning styles is probably best.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10ES985-ZBrzCprr7OKKKfaSi_6R4jQ08/view?usp=sharing

Here's the link to my discussion with my lovely language partner, Hesti: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uWFTWN0C2vRU1jCDu7agzRHTlVfxatNV/view?usp=sharing

For my first reaction, I took to a personal interest of mine. I decided to look into an artifact that involves a scene from Esports in Korea. Growing up, I played numerous video games, including a very popular MMO, League of Legends. The main body of people who play League of Legends comes from Asian countries like Korea and China mainly. The video shines a light on how the capital of Esports was deemed Seoul, South Korea. This was very surprising to me because I did not know how intensely it is valued in their culture. The video displayed the popularity of computer cafes, which are exactly what they sound. A cafe-type place that is typically small, and in populated areas that homes computers for anyone to come in and use. The culture has shifted towards computer games within the past years as the video displays, the sheer amount of people who play within these cafes. The majority are younger people who range from 16 to 24. They go afterschool to hang out with friends and socialize and have a good time. I really thought it was cool that this was accepted and promoted in Korean culture, whereas in many other countries, including America, the idea that you would go to a store to play a video game would be looked down upon. In Korea, it is not uncommon for younger kids to look up to pro gamers and dream of one day being like them, which is similar to how kids look up to people like Lebron James and Wayne Gretzky, etc. I also did my best to follow the video as best I could, looking for words I recognized. I heard things like “Pro-Gamer,” which sounded similar to what it did in English. One thought that was interesting was that one of the commenters described how Koreans can be heavily invested. One might leave all their studies behind and try to become a pro gamer which in some people's eyes is a bad career choice, as people from America would say. Another key point from the video is that Koreans are blazing the trail and setting a new standard for Esports. While they dominate the Esports scene as far as game performance, they are also changing the stigmatism behind Esports as a whole, which can spread to other countries. I love seeing the cultural shift and differences within the world; it’s been a passion for me, and overlapping between psychology and language studies will be a common theme throughout these journal entries. I also found out that there are actual classes for these games; people pay coaches and teams in order to get better. Although the culture has not shifted to America yet, I have personal experience in the transition as I helped start the LoL Esports team at my local high school, which won 2 years in a row when I was there. I would like to research this more or come back to it in a meeting with my TA in order to discuss further the culture behind video games in Korea and depict the similarities and differences between them. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FV_M6BHXgo&ab_channel=RedBullGaming

My past has been rocky with language learning. I have a hard time in large groups when learning language, and I am definitely a 1 on 1 learner, which is great for the current class I am embarking on. I enjoy being immersed in the language, not only learning the words but also the culture I think it is one thing to be able to speak the language you are learning, but it's another to be able to speak it like you were native. That is a hard task, but I slowly approached it during my study of German; I also took Spanish when I was growing up in middle school, but it did not stick as well. I honestly loved taking German at UR. It was very interactive, and I felt as if it went at a pace that made sense to me. Class sizes here are also smaller than my high school, which made it less daunting of a task. I am a hands-on visual type of learner, and that was justified in my results from both surveys. In the past, I have very much enjoyed learning in a sense of immersion, doing projects, decoding songs, and embracing the culture of that said language. For instance, I live in an Italian household where both my grandparents speak it to each other; over the years, I have never been formally taught it, but I picked up on things and asked questions in order to build a background of knowledge. This was outside the classroom, and I did not have the pressure of grading or making mistakes, so the process was much clearer and enjoyable for me. Taking this into consideration, I aim to discuss with my teacher Isaac about my background and explain the idea behind my madness, I learn the best when there is little pressure and I am just having fun and immersing myself. This may mean doing projects where I learn about a Korean YouTuber or maybe learning a song etc, something that I am passionate about and engaged in. Not being lectured at and forced to read things that I have little interest in which can be a pain for no only me but many others I have talked to. Another note that has to do with my learning style is using visual cues in order to learn; I found this style helpful as I excel at spatial memory. One thing I would like to carry over from my German class at UR is the focus on projects; I enjoy being able to present my work and build towards larger goals. One point I also would like to gear to is the idea of immersion into culture, being able to practice with native speakers other than my TA. I also want to watch esports that are popular in places like Korea, for instance League of Legends, etc. I feel as if taking this approach and keeping in mind my strengths, I can gear my learning to be successful and proactive. 

In the last bit of the semester, I found myself in quite a flare up, which led me to continue my studies over winter break. Taking an incomplete ended up being incredibly beneficial, as I was able to take my time in continuing to engage with Indonesian. Even though I wish it were possible, building fluency through "cramming" is never going to work. Even though it took me a bit longer to finish the course, I stayed with the habit of routinely engaging with Bahasa Indonesia.

Meetings with my language partner have fully shifted to conversation practice. Although we'll sometimes talk about more complex grammar topics, my building of vocabulary is predominantly happening outside of class. I've been doing more Duolingo and Mondly to practice basic vocabulary, and I've been journaling to build more complex vocabulary. In terms of more passive study, I've been watching Jadis Kretek, an Indonesian TV show on Netflix. At first, I would watch the episode in English, then in Indonesian, but now, I'm able to just watch in Indonesian (clarifying plot details as needed).

While not relevant for the purposes of Fall semester, I did sign up for a DOS Bahasa Indonesia class online. I'm hoping this will allow me to continue studying while leading up to my potential internship in Java this summer.