Blogs

What is your interest in 'your' language and what do you hope to accomplish this semester ?

I am taking Korean mainly because Korea represents one of the most important market for my start-up company. Korea is known as the gaming capital of the world and it is exactly what we are targeting: a passionate gaming population. By consequence, learning Korean would help me developing partnerships with the local distribution channel. 

By the end of the semester I am hopping to have a basic knowledge of greetings/introduction, being able to read koran sentences, and finally to have a basic set of vocabulary words and phrases I could use fluently.

As mentioned in my first bi-weekly report, my language partner had me attempt to translate a synopsis about the show Afghan Star from Dari into English. Frankly, this translation is not perfect, but I think I was able to touch upon the general them of what was being said - there were differently some areas and words in which I needed my language partner's help, though.

پس از پشتِ سرگزاریِ چند دهه جنگ و آرامش نسبی افغانستان، به میان آمدن رسانه های دیداری و شنیداری نخستین گامی بود که برداشته شد، درمیان رسانه های که ظهور کردند یکی هم تلویزیون طلوع بود که راهی میدان رسانه ها شد. دیری از روی کار آمدنِ این تلویزیون نشده بود که این رسانه مردم را با یکی از پر طرفدار ترین برنامه هایش یعنی ( جشنواره ستاره افغان) آشنا کرد. این برنامه خیلی زود در دلِ جوانان و مردم جا باز کرد تا این اندازه که آخرهرهفته همه چشم به راه از راه رسیدن این برنامه بودند تا با هیجانِ صدا و سرودش مهمان خانه ها .شود و ستاره های درخشنده ای را به آن ها معرفی کند

After many years of war in Afghanistan, it was important to reintroduce radio and television; Tolo TV did this. Its most popular show is Afghan Star. The show was an instant success as each weekend people would watch the show in their homes and hear the new stars. 

درکل یکی از دست‌ آورد های این جشنواره؛ رشد و پالایش موسیقی بوده که تاثیرگزاری آن را نمی شود روی موسیقی ما نادیده گرفت. این جشنواره از آغاز روی کار‌آمدن تا حال همه ساله بدون وقفه برگزار شده و تا حال هشت دور خود را پشتِ سر گزاشته است و حال وارد دور نهم می شود. در این دور هم مانند دور های پیشین داوران و کاروان ستاره افغان به ولایت های زون سفر خواهند داشت و از میان کسانی که .از پیش برای شرکت در این جشنواره نام نویسی کرده اند، ستاره های خود را گزینش خواهند کرد

The show has had a big impact on the music industry in Afghanistan. The show has been on air each year - it has eight seasons and soon a ninth.

I used the first two weeks of the semester as a refresher for what I learned during SDLC 110 and 111. I needed a little more time to get back to the level I felt I had ended SDLC 111 at mainly because I had not taken Dari since Fall 2012. Therefore, not undergoing intensive self-taught language learning over the course of nine months has slowed down my progress in some ways. However, compared to previous semesters, I noticed that I had retained much more knowledge. It was great to see that even after taking a semester off from my self-taught language learning that I was still capable of writing and reading at a level near was I was at when SDLC 111 concluded.

Furthermore, my language partner and I also spent some time reviewing my goals for the semester and laying out a learning calendar for how to proceed with the semester ahead of us. I concluded that I wanted to maintain a balanced approach with my language learning. As I result, my language partner and I formulated a plan for me to work on my writing, reading / comprehension and speaking / pronunciation each week. My language partner and I also got to speaking about my past participation in the course; which ended up delving into a conversation about my cultural presentation in SDLC 110 about the show Afghan Star. As a result, she had me translate a short synopsis on what the show was about as a fun way to gauge my proficiency as the semester begins - you can learn more about my translation by reading my first artifact. 

Attached below is a copy of my learning plan for this semester. It includes seven tasks which touch upon: interpersonal communication, interpretive listening, interpretive reading, presentational speaking and presentational writing. 

Learning Plan (w/o Self-Assessment)

Creating A Learning Plan Fall 2013

Over the last few years - in part due to taking SDLC 105, 110 and 111 - I have exposed myself to a lot of different parts of Afghan culture. In past years I have focused on the role of media, and modernity and secularism in the country. That said, this year I wanted to learn a little more about sports in Afghanistan. Learning about the role of sports in different cultures is always an interesting thing as each often has its mix of unique ones and others that are played throughout the world. I also want to examine how the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan impacted sports in the nation. Ultimately, I want to do a cultural project discussing the Taliban's influence on sports in Afghanistan and where sports in the nation stands today.

During the course of the semester some the topics I will take a look at are:

• Buzkashi - a sport created in Afghanistan 
• Afghanistan's participation in the olympics
• Sports vocabulary 

Also, when appropriate, I will write about topics related to Afghanistan that do not have to sports, such as politics. 

After reviewing the Levels of Competence, this is where I stood last time I took the course Fall 2012 and where I stand now:

SDLC 111 (Fall 2012)

Interpretive

• Listening: Intermediate - Developing 1
• Reading: Novice - Beginning 2

Interpersonal

• Communication: Intermediate - Developing 1

Presentational

• Speaking: Intermediate - Developing 1
• Writing: Novice - Beginning 2

SDLC 112 (Fall 2013)

Interpretive

• Listening: Intermediate - Developing 2
• Reading: Intermediate - Developing 1

Interpersonal

• Communication: Intermediate - Developing 1

Presentational

• Speaking: Intermediate - Developing 2
• Writing: Novice - Beginning 2

Some of my goals for this semester are too:

• Actually understand a news broadcasts
• Talk about sports
• Be able to read short stories and some newspaper articles
• Improve my pronunciation to sound more like a native speaker than language learner. 
• Speak more freely / spontaneously 
• Translate from English to Dari, and Dari to English
• Write paragraphs

Third Cultural Post:  Formality and Informality in Target Language

In Korea, formality is an important part of the life of people. It expresses respect, agreement and trust. It is the age of the person we are communicating with that influence the way we are interacting. The language contains very distinct formalities and informalities. With elders and hierarchical superior it is mandatory and expected to use a formal way of speaking while with friends and younger people we can use a less formal language. Besides the language itself, gestures are tremendously important in communicating in Korea. You are expected to vow when saying hello or meeting an elder. Another example is that you are required to use both hands to give something to an elder, if not it will be perceived as rude and uninvolved.  This respect for elders is also shown when clinking glasses with someone, it is extremely rude and irrespecutful to hold your glass higher than the elder's glass