Blogs

I have learned that I learned best when discussing and talking about what I’m learning with friends and family. I realized that I retain information pretty well after conversing with someone. I found that learning vocab is pretty hard without using it frequently. I enjoyed learning more cultural aspects of Korean. I want to continue my learning by watching K-drama and listening to more Korean music. I thought the videos were really helpful. One video that I recall is the video where the native American tribe cannot distinguish different shades of color due to linguistics.

I am realizing how much I am able to practice Korean with my family! During the car ride from Virginia to Ohio, I was able to play some Korean word games with my family. One of the games we played was a game where there is an established topic such as food and each person has to say a Korean word associated with that topic. Another game that we played was the translation game. It’s pretty simple. A person says a word in Korean and the other people have to say that word in English. The first person to translate the word gets a point. My brother and I played against each other and I destroyed him. I was decently surprised because before this semester he was definitely better than me in Korean and had a wider range of vocabulary. It looks like studying Korean this semester really paid off! We eventually took a break from driving at stopped at the NOVA/D.C. Area and went to this Korean BBQ restaurant called Honey Pig at Centreville. Man, it was good. Their pork belly tasted really tender and juicy. They also had this oily dipping sauce that was really good with the beef. I ate until I was very satisfied. Once back home, my brother and I started watching this show called Start-up. It’s a show on Netflix that is on air right now and is pretty popular in Korea and on an international scale. Also, our family was able to sing some nostalgic Korean hymns in the evening. Even though, I really did not like Korean hymns when I was younger, singing them now brings back memories of when I lived in Korea. I also was able to meet up with Somyung and Tommy over zoom for our language partner meeting. We practiced speaking in Korean and she told me that she really has not a lot to do while on campus. She said that she really wants to go home. Tommy seems to be fine on campus, he told me that he is watching this show called “Show Me the Money”. Apparently, it is a Korean reality tv show that introduces upcoming rappers in a competitive setting. The show has popular celebrities as judges kind of like the Voice. Tommy talked about this one upcoming rapper that is also Christian. We also reviewed our semester together and kind of recapped what we learned. Samsung also asked Tommy and me for feedback on the things we did. I told her that only speaking in Korean was really uncomfortable at first but it proved to be really fruitful as I could tell that my communicative skills improved a lot. Tommy told her that he thought the historical and cultural lessons were really helpful to him. He said that it helped him contextualize some of the things he was learning, but also made learning Korean more personal and fun. We also discussed other Korean Dramas that we should watch. Tommy suggested Extracurricular and Itaewon Class.

During these weeks, I have been practicing Korean a little than usual just because work from other classes is becoming more intense. However, I am kind of glad that I can learn Korean through enjoyable mediums such as watching Korean dramas and listening to Korean music. I started binging on a Korean drama show called Reply 1988. However, the outcome of the show has really disappointed me. Like most Korean dramas, Reply 1988 has lots of romantic components. The main character Dosak, is a teenage girl that lives in the same neighborhood as her group of friends who are all guys. Two of the guys that are in her friend group eventually develop a crush on her, but sadly the guy that I was rooting for Jungwhan does not get the girl. Besides that, the show helps to visualize what life was like in South Korea during the late 80s and early 90s as a highschooler. This is cool because my mother was born in Korea in 1974 so it is like seeing the environment where she grew up. It was interesting to see how competitive academics were in Korea even around fifty years ago. The drama also highlights income inequality among Korean families. This show helped me feel gratitude towards my mom as she decided to immigrate our whole family to America for better opportunities for me and my brother. During one of our weekly sessions, Somyung and I talked about the plot developments in Reply 1988. I told her about my disappointment and anger at the directors of the show because they played my boy, Jungwhan. She understood my opinion but did not have the strong feelings I did. Tommy also told me that his mom also grew up during the late 80s and early 90s in Korea. In fact, Reply 1988 is Tommy’s mom’s favorite show because she gets very nostalgic when watching it. Apparently, Reply 1988 is a part of the Reply series. The Reply series seems to focus on a decade and includes real historical events that happened during that span of time. This is a very cool concept and so maybe I will check out the other Reply shows during my winter break to maintain my Korean listening skills. Tommy and Somyung and I talked about our plans for winter break because it was drawing near. They both reminded me that they are going to be on campus for Thanksgiving break. I also called my mother over the phone to practice speaking in Korean. We just caught up on our lives, and she told me that she is excited to see me again. She also told me that it has been getting really cold in Ohio. I am not excited about that. I also got to go to my Korean friend’s house this week and eat some Korean food. Ephraim’s mom is a pretty good cook. She made us some Kimchi stew with ramen in it. She also made some Bulgogi which reminds me of my mom’s cooking. I still think my mother is a better cook!

For this cultural presentation, I will be talking about Korean Barbeque. In Korea, they label Korean Barbeque as 고기구이 or gogi-gu-i which translates to meat roast. Korean Barbeque is the type of cuisine where various meats are grilled and eaten with Korean side dishes and vegetables. In restaurants, the grills are prepared on gas or charcoal grills built into the dining table itself. Yet, people also grill using electric grills at their homes. One type of meat that is grilled in Korean Barbeque is 불고기 or Bulgogi. Bulgogi is made from thinly sliced marinated beef sirloin or tenderloin. Bulgogi is typically marinated in soy sauce. Another popular type of meat that is grilled in Korean BBQ is 갈비 or Galbi. Galbi is made from marinated beef short ribs also usually marinated using soy sauce. However, the most popular type of meat that is grilled during a Korean BBQ is 삼겹살 or Samgyeopsal. Samgyeopsal is pork belly. In popular culture, it is also called the “Korean bacon” as the taste of pork belly draws similarities with American bacon. Personally, I think Samgyeopsal is the best meat served in Korean BBQ just because the meat is very tender and fatty. Korean Barbeque is served with white rice and traditional side dishes such as kimchi. Korean Barbeque is also generally served with leafy green vegetables such as lettuce. Additionally, there is a sauce that is associated with Korean BBQ called 쌈장 or ssamjang. Ssamjang is a thick, spicy paste that is made of doenjang, gochujang, sesame oil, onion, garlic, green onions, and optionally brown sugar. Koreans typically eat meats, vegetables, and rice altogether. The general way to eat Korean BBQ is to get a leaf of lettuce and put some white rice on it. Then, you take a piece of meat and dip it in the ssamjang sauce, and put it on top of the rice that is on your lettuce leaf. Then you can choose to put additional side dishes such as kimchi on top of your meat. When I was younger, I would never eat Korean BBQ the usual way. I avoided eating vegetables because I thought it tasted like cardboard compared to juicy meat. Not to mention, I thought eating the vegetables would just waste space in my stomach for the meat. Yet, I now realize the lettuce adds a crunchy texture and a fresh aftertaste when eaten with the meat. Although Korean BBQ is a food event, there are significant cultural values during the feast. When Korean BBQ is eaten among people who vary in age, the youngest is obliged to grill the meat for the seniors. This also applies when pouring drinks. Korean BBQ creates an atmosphere where friends or family can gather together to eat amazing food. Lots of people eat Korean BBQ on special occasions. Whether it is to celebrate one’s success or to celebrate a minor holiday, Korean BBQ is very flexible. In fact, my family ate Korean BBQ instead of the traditional American food for this thanksgiving.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DEGHnWM_D3hfeEamYxIg9Tf9Bg_AbQR5/view?usp=sharing

For this cultural presentation, I will be talking about Taekwondo. Taekwondo or 태권도 is a type of Martial Arts that originated in Korea. Taekwondo is still very popular todays is has been developing for over 5000 years and still is relevant in many people’s lives. Taekwondo, under the leadership of the World Taekwondo Federation, has grown into an international art and sport that is practiced in over 190 countries worldwide. In fact, Taekwondo is an official sport of the Olympics. In the United States alone, there are more than 5 million practitioners of Taekwondo. The rapid growth and expansion of Taekwondo have allowed the exposure of Korean culture toward other countries. Practitioners of Taekwondo wear uniforms that are called dobok(도복). Doboks come in various colors, though white or black are the most common. Like Karate, Taekwondo also have belts to indicate ranks. The junior section of ranks includes belts that range in color from white (the lowest rank) to red or brown(the highest). The senior section of ranks consists of only black belts but with varying degrees. The first degree of black belt would be the owest and typically 9 would be the highest rank of black belt. In Korean, dan or 단 is used to indicate the rank of the black belt. So for example, 1단 would indicate the first degree of black belt. Although many people see Taekwono’s utility only to self-defense, Taekwondo applies to everyday life. We can see this when we observe the word Taekwondo. Tae means "foot," or "to step on". Kwon means "fist," or "fight". Do mean the "way" or "discipline." The culmination of the three words explain the philosophy of Taekwondo. Taekwondo means "the right way of using all parts of the body to stop fights and help to build a better and more peaceful world." Let alone, Taekwondo can be characterized by unity: the unity of body, mind, and life, and the unity of the pose. Taekwondo emphasizes form or 품새 because one of the main pursuits of Taekwondo is to make your mind peaceful and synchronize your mind with your movements, and to extend this harmony to life and society. Taekwondo seeks to allow the principle of physical movements, the principle of mind training, and the principle of life become one and the same. I actually remember when I used to live in Korea, my mom enrolled us in a Taekwondo academy. I remember going to Taekwondo tournaments, being late to classes, and being disciplined for it, and the fun games we used to play after classes. Taekwondo helped to teach me discipline. It helped foster mentor relationships that caused me to grow physically and mentally. That’s how I understand why many parents enroll their children in Taekwondo. Taekwondo not only teaches self-defense but it teaches you discipline that leads to confidence. Taekwondo also helps develop one’s purpose and guides one to a community of other people also trying to better themselves. It’s no wonder celebrities such as Joe Rogan and  Arnold Arnold Schwarzenegger practice Taekwondo.

Since I am learning ASL, doing a podcast was very difficult since I can't speak English to communicate with my partner. Nevertheless, here is a clip of my partner Reba and I during a session and practicing some ASL! (Please excuse my overuse of "uh huh" and "ok" especially during the mid-section!)

https://richmond.box.com/s/ld7xwmbeg814q2jaxy6f6racvyt335mo ;

For my last cultural artifact of the semester, I dug into how someone can become an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. As the child of two Korean immigrants, I’ve been around many interpreters, and even attempted to interpret for my parents, whether it was for a doctor’s appointment, school teacher conferences, or just general conversations. Because of this, I’ve appreciated all the interpreters and sat in on appointments just to learn from how they interacted with the people. From those short meetings, I learned a couple of important keys. First and foremost, I learned that interpreters must fully understand the meanings and intentions of both sides they are communicating for. They also have to do a good job in expressing the emotions. Lastly, they must be prepared for pretty much anything. When I “interpret” for my parents, I know exactly what situation they are referring to and can communicate easily. On the other hand, for interpreters, it is their job to help people communicate with others, but they also work with many different people and may not fully know the context of the situation for everyone. They have to be able to work quickly and efficiently to do this.

I also chose this topic because during one of our sessions, Reba told me that she was the sign language interpreter at her church! I thought it was really cool and asked her to someday share a story from the Bible (we did not do it this semester, but I still hope I get the chance in the future). After some research, I found that to become a sign language interpreter (SLI), many work towards receiving the Registry for the Interpreters of the Deaf (RID) certification and the National Interpreter Certification (NIC). Having a certification opens many great and challenging opportunities. If they feel passionate about a certain field or industry, SLIs can also obtain specialized certification in those areas to focus and broaden their skills on that topic.

Although there is an interpreter for many languages in the world, something that makes interpreting ASL unique is that the SLIs mainly use just their visual sense to obtain all of the information they need to interpret. While Korean-English interpreters listen for the information and read the person’s facial expression for the emotional aspect, SLIs must be able to complete the task all at once. This is one of the main things I found difficult when I first started because trying to match eye contact with the person while comprehending the signs was like an information overload. Just imagine, blinking too long or glancing away for a moment have the ability to break communication. SLIs actually do get tested on is their expressive and receptive signing, sign-to-voice, and their voice-to-sign skills.

I think SLIs and interpreters in general are such rewarding jobs because the results are immediate. They have the ability to relay a conversation between two sides despite the language barrier. Even though I probably won’t become an SLI anytime soon, it’s very interesting to think about!

https://www.nad.org/resources/american-sign-language/interpreting-american-sign-language/

I’ve mentioned briefly before, my inspiration for learning ASL was due to my interactions with individuals and families at Chick-fil-A who were deaf. After trying to self-learn sign for a few weeks, I asked around at UR about ASL classes to see if there were any offered or if the tuition exchange could possibly be used to help students who would want to take ASL at other local schools. Thankfully, I had heard from Mrs. Creamer within the Registrar's Office and she informed me out about SPCS’s ASL 1 and ASL 2 group course.

I started training with Reba two years ago in her group ASL course, and it was phenomenal. However, it was even more of a pleasure learning from her 1:1 this semester! I think getting the chance to communicate with her for a longer period of time and through one-on-one sessions improved my ASL dramatically. I also took a new approach by actively researching videos made by deaf/HoH individuals who use ASL. It has been amazing seeing the increased interest for learning sign language in recent years. I have found myself incorporating sign into my conversations unintentionally. I catch myself signing some words when others cannot hear me or if I have to repeat simple words like "yes" or "no". I also have started using the ASL sign for three whenever I say that number. Whereas, prior to my lessons, I just used the "typical" 3 that looks like a W or 6 in ASL. I remember how, in the beginning, I would mistakenly sign 6 instead of 3 when I was practicing numbers by signing to Reba my phone number. This mistake of mine would cause her to write down the wrong phone number. Now, I tend to only use the ASL 3 instead of how I used to. 

Some things that I found difficult were trying to learn more about particular dialects of ASL (such as Philadelphia ASL and BASL). Additionally, I found that, in relation to BASL and Philadelphia ASL, some of the books and videos regarding the research projects were no longer accessible. I would find many websites that had “broken links”. Moreover, if there were not closed captioning on the video and it was sign language that I did not understand yet, I wouldn’t be able to gather what the research was a presenting. I hope that there continues to be more accessibility to these dialects and that they are able to be preserved.

Going forth, I want to try to continue learning more history regarding ASL. I got to discover a bit of this in my cultural presentation, but I would still like to expand upon this. I would also like to gain more comfortability on how sign words and their placements have changed over time. I think this would only improve as I practice with more natives rather than only reading books.  I also want to eventually progress to watching videos in ASL without captioning (kind of like an "immersive" approach). I found out about deafvideo.tv during the last weeks of the semester, and I think this may be the way to go!

Sometime after college (and once it is safe to do so), I am hoping to do a trip to Gallaudet University. I would love to have a meeting with Dr. McCaskill and others who are fighting for recognition of BASL. 

In this cultural artifact, I wanted to discuss about the controversy of cochlear implants in the Deaf community, but first, I think some background would be beneficial.

Deafness is incredibly unique. Although many perceive being deaf as a disability, there is a whole culture, language, and history behind this community. The word “deaf” is referring to the “audiologic lack of hearing” while “Deaf” is referring to the cultural identity. This is why most deaf people prefer identity-first language (“I am Deaf”) and not the person-first language (“I am a person who is deaf/hard of hearing”). Of course, this is still a complex issue that depends on the individual. Instead of looking at deafness as a disability, it is looked at as a welcoming, supportive community.

Now, let’s get back into talking about the controversy. This actually comes up a lot in TV shows and other parts of the media. People record babies, children, spouses, and friends get their cochlear implants activated and upload them so other can react to it too. Those in the hearing community can be naïve and think “wow this is amazing”, “so heartwarming”, or even, “I’m so glad they got cured!”, but this is not the case. Those in the Deaf community who read these comments can be shocked and horrified by the responses. Some even say that this is sugarcoating everything. When the implant is activated, some might think the reason the child is crying is because they are filled with joy. The reality of this is that many young individuals are surprised by the sounds and cry in shock.

Cochlear implant surgery does not miraculously cure deafness for each individual. In fact, it doesn’t fully restore hearing to the average level. It also takes time and experience for the brain to comprehend this new input and make sense of it. This means that those who choose to make this medical decision must adjust to it and will most likely go to therapy to learn what all of the new sounds mean. For children, there is another obstacle. Parents could assume that their child can comprehend the surrounding sounds as well as they can and not teach them American Sign Language (ASL). This can result in delayed language acquisition and make it difficult for the children to communicate well with others.

Another reason is that those in the Deaf community can take this as an offense. Since being Deaf means that you are part of a culture, they do not want to be “fixed” because they are proud of their identity and like being Deaf. But still, many others think this technology is an advancement that can help create opportunities for Deaf folks.

I don’t think we can categorize and say that cochlear implants are a “good” or “bad” thing, and I don’t think the world can ever come to that decision because there are so many factors in consideration from many different viewpoints. Taking ASL and reading about Deaf culture has definitely opened up my mind and I’m excited to keep learning!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6913847/

For this final cultural post, I really want to talk about my favorite song of the year -- 에잇 (eight) ft. SUGA by IU.  

[Verse 1: IU]
So are you happy now?
Finally happy now, are you?
Well, I'm exactly the same
I think I've lost everything
Everything comes as it pleases and leaves without a goodbye
Like this, I don't want to love anything
Where the sun has set, as far as the sun sets
I travel in those memories

[Chorus: IU]
Under an orange sun
We dance with no shadows
There is no such thing as decided farewells
Meet me in that memory that was once beautiful
Forever young

[Post-Chorus: IU]
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Forever we young
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
If it is this kind of nightmare, I won't ever wake up

[Verse 2: SUGA]
(SUGA)
Island, yeah, here is an island
A small one that we made with each other
Yeah, um, forever young, the word "forever" is a sandcastle
A farewell is like a disaster cast
A morning greeted along with yearning
Let us both pass this eternity
Surely meet once more on this island

Like what someone said as they were consoling me, passing
It isn't that easy to forget a memory merely big as a handspan
Even as time goes by, still
At that place which takes hold of me

[Chorus: IU]
Under an orange sun
We dance with no shadows
There is no such thing as decided goodbyes
Meet me in that memory that was once beautiful
Forever young

[Bridge: IU]
We lie down atop of each other
Share stories that aren't of sorrow
There is no such thing as gloomy endings
I will forever meet you in this memory
Forever young

[Post-Chorus: IU]
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Forever we young
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
If it is this kind of nightmare, I won't ever wake up

The following link is the interpretation of the lyrics and the music video produced by IU. It is surprising and super informative of what IU wants to convey through this song. It would be great if you can check the video as the music is made for IU's best friends Sulli, Goo Hara, and Jonghyun. She tries to send her misses and loves to her three friends who all died because of depression. This song, together with the music video, is very touching yet shocking at the same time. 

Interpretation

EIGHT MV

For this cultural post, I want to talk about the show called “Shin Suh Yoo Gi” or “New Journey to the West.” This is one of the most popular and well-known Korean entertainment programs that has ever been produced. Currently, they are on season 7, and they are calling this season’s theme “Homecoming,” since this season is taking place in South Korea. Usually, each season they go to different countries, and they play outrageous games against each other and the producers in order to get rewards.

This show is greatly recognized for its notable cast. They have Kang Ho Dong, which is one of the top MC in all of Korea. Also, they have Lee Soo Geun, one of the most recognized comedians in all of Korea. They also have notable idol members from various popular K-pop guy groups that are also a part of the cast. Over the years, they started with just four members, and now they have created an amazing group of brothers that have fun and provide the viewers with so much laughter and enjoyment.

As I mentioned earlier, every season the members are sent to a different country in Asia, such as Vietnam and China. But this season, they are staying in South Korea, and are planning to film there, due to the recent pandemic. The premise of the show is that the seven dragon balls (stolen from the Dragon Ball series), has been lost and dispersed in whichever location they go to, and their job is to work together in order to get these dragon balls back. If they manage to collect all seven, then they will each be granted one wish. However, these challenges are catered to each and everyone’s talents, but they are extremely difficult. An example of this is when Kang Ho Dong, a man who is extremely well known for his eating and the amount he eats, was tasked to identify three cuts of meat that look almost identical. All the other members doubted him, but to everyone’s surprise, he managed to get them all right, which helped his team get the first dragon ball. However, if even one of them fails, the challenge is over, and the season ends.

This show is very well-known due to the number of highlight clips they produce. Whether it be of something funny that they do, or just something incredible that they do, this show, and its cast has shown that they are capable of creating a very entertaining show. I am always excited when they announce a new season because I know that they will not disappoint. I think a big factor that contributes to why this show is so successful is the fact that they act very genuinely. The jokes, the teasing, the support, and just everything about the way they interact with each other just shows so much love and true friendship that it just reminds me of me when I am with my friends. Therefore, this show is something I have no problem re-watching over and over again, and I highly recommend this show to any person that is familiar with the Korean language. I know that this show would be difficult for non-Korean speakers because some of the games contain Korean sayings and idioms, which even I have difficulty identifying. But overall, if you watch it with English subtitles then you are good to go.

For this cultural post, I will be talking about the controversy regarding Tzuyang. Tzuyang, or Park Jeong Won, has been caught up in a huge controversy that has been occurring in Korea, which involves backdoor online advertising. This young YouTuber has gotten big for her huge appetite and bright personality. She has always had this innocent and kind image, but people were shocked when they found out that she had been secretly advertising products without the knowledge of the viewers. The issue with this was that she specifically said that she was not taking sponsorships, so we could see where the issue lies.

In August, a YouTuber by the name of Cham PD was receiving backlash for the same reason. He lost over a million subscribers and was getting a huge amount of backlash from the community. However, he was not going to go down alone. He released a video that exposed dozens of fellow YouTubers that were doing the same thing, which included Tzuyang. This came as a huge surprise to the community because of the reputation she had, but the evidence he presented seemed irrefutable. As a result, an apology video was made.

In the image above, a snapshot of Tzuyang can be seen, where she is giving an apology for the actions she had committed. The public was confused and outraged because the video confirmed that she was admitting to receiving money for this backdoor advertisement. The young girl and her manager came together and released a formal apology. She burst into tears and continuously asked for forgiveness from her subscribers, but would ultimately state that she would quit YouTube altogether.

The response the young girl received was mixed. Many were furious at her for lying and taking money and sponsorships when she said she wasn’t, while some were empathizing with the girl. Some claimed that she was too young and it was the actions of her manager or older people that influenced her decisions. But the majority still looked at the situation negatively and she was “canceled”. 

When I personally heard of this situation I felt indifferent but surprised at the reaction the viewers had. As a YouTube watcher in America, I know that American YouTubers take sponsorships all the time and I see that as a normal thing. Many people who pursue YouTube wish to make their content creation as a profession and as a result, would need money in order to achieve that. As a result, I was always comfortable with this concept. So, I was confused when I found out that accepting sponsorships and advertising was looked so down upon in Korea. I feel as though she should have been more honest about her sponsorships and advertisements, but I also feel like she deserves the treatment she is getting for explicitly lying to her viewers. It is interesting though because though she said she would quit YouTube, she took about a two-month hiatus and has resumed making videos, which makes me question the validity of her apology video.

For this cultural post, I want to talk about and give my impressions about a news article that genuinely surprised me. This post will talk about the “cancelling” of Cook Gabbie and Josh Carrot from Korean Englishman. Both of these people are well known in the YouTube community, especially Josh Carrot from Korean Englishman.

I have made posts about Josh and fellow producer Ollie in previous posts talking about Korean Englishman, and how they are very informative and the content they produce is centered around spreading Korean culture to famous actors, entertainers, and the general public. They are highly respected and well liked, because they are so kind, friendly, and for their love towards community and subscribers. So it came as a surprise when this news came out.

The two in the photo are a married couple, and the drama started on their trip to South Korea. As we are aware, the coronavirus is prevalent and has affected everyone around the world, and for many this pandemic has been really tough emotionally. During their trip to Korea, Gabbie uploaded a video during their time in quarantine. In Korea, people from outside the country are mandated to stay at a government approved facility for two weeks before entering the country and public. This requirement is very strict and taken very seriously. As we have seen in the news and media, South Korea has been able to contain the spread of the coronavirus very well, due to the strict regulations placed. However, in the video that she uploaded, the video contained clips of how she celebrated her birthday during the two week mandatory quarantine. In the video, she showed friends and family coming to where the two were staying and would exchange hugs and gifts. The issue was that it was not just one group of friends but many people were seen dropping by. This sparked controversy almost instantly. The backlash they received was great and the amount of hate they got was just as great. Though Gabbie tried to justify her actions, it was clearly an irresponsible act and people were furious that they were taking this virus lightly and disobeying the mandatory quarantine.

The backlash she received caused Gabbie to delete her channel altogether. However, the video also caused backlash towards Korean Englishman and Josh, her husband. In the photo at the top (left), an image of Josh delivering an apology video can be seen. Josh had to deliver this message on the main channel of Korean Englishmen and they have also since stopped producing videos.

I am very saddened and yet disappointed that this happened. I respect the two very much and have been continuously watching their content for over a year. However, I can not overlook the irresponsible actions they took. They put themselves and others in risk of spreading the virus that South Korea has been trying so hard to deter. Though I hope that they would eventually return and make content again, I hope they take this time to reflect on their actions. These apology videos and articles can be found online and I also included the link to his apology video down here.

https://youtu.be/2gQzvV_yGMM

This is the final biweekly journal entry I will be writing for SDLC Korean IV. Over the past two weeks, both thanksgiving break and the last week of classes had passed. In this journal post, I will be talking about this year's Thanksgiving break and what I did to expand upon my Korean learning experience during this time.

This year, due to the coronavirus, our family was unable to meet all together like we usually would. However, I was able to meet with the immediate family that we knew kept quarantine laws and maintained social distancing. In addition, we only met with a small number of people to ensure that we were protecting ourselves and our family. During Thanksgiving dinner, I was able to see my grandma again. I never get to see her as much, but it was nice seeing her in person. She was happy to see me, so when I saw her I was able to show how much I have improved in my Korean speaking ability. I had no trouble speaking with her and understanding what she was saying to me. She was genuinely impressed with my improvement and was happy with my progress. In addition, I also got to see my aunt and uncle this break. I was able to talk to them about my job as a server at a ramen restaurant, and how work has been like during this time of the coronavirus. I spoke in Korean and I found that I was successful in conversing with them about business and how work was like during this pandemic.

The following week was the final week of classes. I found that I was not able to practice as much Korean as I would have liked due to the amount of work that was assigned to me and due during this week. I had two papers and a poster presentation that week, so I found that I was unable to make time for my Korean lesson plan. I met with Vivian and talked about our schedule and course work in Korean as practice, but other than that I was unable to do anything more substantial. I was not able to make time to watch Korean programs and other Korean entertainment that I usually would indulge in. As a result, I feel disappointed that I am finishing off this final week with low performance. However, I am proud to say that I see improvement overall in my performance and how far I have come over these past semesters of taking this course. 

Looking into the future, I wish to continue practicing Korean so that I do not lose the progress I have worked so hard to achieve. I plan to continue watching Korean entertainment programs and speaking to my parents in Korean. I have gained much confidence in my Korean speaking skills and I wish to take this skill into my workplace in the future, by providing care to those who may only be able to speak Korean. This has been a wonderful experience and a course that I will never forget.

For this week's biweekly journal entry, I will be talking about some of my successes and failures I experienced during these past two weeks. Overall, I found that I was successful despite the little time I had to focus on my Korean studies.

As we are approaching Thanksgiving and the end of the semester, I found that my classes are getting busier and the assignments are starting to pile up. In addition, because I am planning to graduate a semester early, I have a lot of presentations and outside priorities to focus on. However, I still try to participate and practice my Korean speaking every day. Over the course of these two weeks, I continued to watch the Korean entertainment programs I was watching from the previous weeks. Unfortunately, I still have not gone around to start watching the new Korean drama I said I would watch last week. I completely forgot and as a result could not watch the drama. In addition, I continued to speak Korean with my parents. In order to practice more, I called my grandma over the phone and talked to her all in Korean. I was proud to be able to hold a conversation with her but be able to talk about how I’ve been doing, how life in quarantine is like, and how she was doing. Looking forward, I plan to continue calling family members that I do not get to see due to quarantine and catch up with them.

In addition, in order to practice my Korean writing and reading skills, I am now texting in Korean to practice. I have been texting my parents but also a friend of mine who agreed to help me practice. She was born in Korea so she has been really helpful and has taught me a lot of things regarding spelling and grammar. I will definitely keep messaging her and asking her to help me in the future. 

Over Thanksgiving break, my parents have planned a small gathering with immediate family. We will of course follow social distancing guidelines and meet safely since our family does not want to catch COVID-19. This is a great opportunity for me to speak directly with my family and practice speaking with them. I am also excited to see them because I haven’t seen them in a long time. I believe that this is a good opportunity for me because they only speak Korean, so it is an opportunity to show them how much I have improved over the course of this semester.

Lastly, looking forward to the next two weeks. I feel as though I do not intend to put in as much work as I do during the normal weeks, at least for Thanksgiving break. However, during this time I will definitely have more time to watch more Korean entertainment programs and talk with my parents more. So, though I will not purposely put more effort, I believe I will unintentionally continue my Korean learning experience by applying it more directly to my life and immersing myself more in the culture.

It is time for another biweekly journal update, and I am now writing my sixth journal entry. These past two weeks have definitely been more successful than the previous two weeks have been. More specifically, our family had moved in these two weeks to a neighboring city and with every move, there was a lot of work that had to be done. So, thankfully, my extended family came and helped us pack and move our stuff to the new house. This for me was an opportunity to practice my Korean language with new people. Also, with the context of how we were meeting, I was put in a position where I would have to explain what to pack and not pack and give instructions in the Korean language. Though I didn’t think this would be easy, I found that I was able to communicate effectively and give proper instructions. I am proud of myself and how far I have come over these past years. I have found that I am much more confident and comfortable speaking in Korean to people other than my parents. In addition, I was praised by them that my Korean had improved and that they could hear the improvement I had made.

In addition, I had placed a couple of challenges for myself last week. I continued to text my parents in Korean, but I found that there were still instances where I could not explain what I was trying to say without using English, so I am still working on that and having my parents explain some Korean grammar rules/ vocabulary that hinder my ability to text them in Korean. I also continued to speak to my family in Korean and continued to force myself to practice my Korean. I also talked last week about starting a new Korean drama. I, unfortunately, did not have the opportunity to watch the first episode of this drama, due to the circumstances of moving and packing everything. However, I plan to watch this drama in the coming two weeks. I find that I have a problem with starting Korean dramas because there is such a huge time commitment involved with starting a drama. I say this because I’m sure everyone knows what it feels like to get sucked up into a good show. Once you start, that is all you are thinking about, and when the next opportunity to watch the next episode comes. Korean dramas in particular have this effect on people, especially me, which is why I am always hesitant on starting a new drama. In addition, each Korean drama episode is approximately an hour and a half long and comes out once or twice a week. As a result, if the drama is new I find myself just constantly wondering and longing for the next episode to come out. For these reasons, I find myself really hesitant about starting a new drama. However, in the upcoming two weeks, I will definitely try to make time to watch this drama since it is part of what Vivian and I agreed to work on. Also, I will continue to work on the same challenges I have set for myself this semester.

We have reached the fifth biweekly journal and once again I will take time to reflect upon how my language learning journey has been like over the course of the past two weeks. I met with Vivian, my language learning partner, over zoom and we talked about potential activities we could do for the rest of the semester. One suggestion she had was to watch a Korean drama that had been praised and was very popular in Korea. This drama was called When the Camellia Blooms. I have seen this drama pop up while I would scroll around netflix, but I never had the opportunity or interest to watch this drama. However, Vivian and I agreed to watch the first episode and talk about it during our next meeting. 

Concerning my challenges I have set for myself, I found these past two weeks to be unfruitful. I have been overwhelmed with a lot of work regarding not only dental school, but just school in general. As a result, I have not been able to go out of my way to put as much effort as I would like into my Korean learning experience. I find that this is one of the problems with this course, or not a problem but a mild inconvenience. As much as I would like to go above and beyond to improve my Korean learning experience, I find that when I get busy with other course loads, I begin to reduce the attention I would normally give for this class and only do the bare minimum, which is something I would not like to do. Unfortunately, over the three semesters of taking this course, I knew this was bound to happen. However, I also know that this only occurs when school becomes busy, but once it begins to settle down again I am able to put more effort into my learning. Therefore, I hope that these upcoming two weeks will fair better and I will be able to put more attention into my Korean learning.

In addition, I continued to speak Korean to my family, but also I was able to complete my challenge of texting my parents in Korean. Though I was very slow initially, I have started to figure out where the characters are on my screen, and I have become better at typing in Korean. I believe that this is a very effective way to practice not only writing but reading Hangul. I say this because in order to type accurately, I have to put a lot of focus in what I am typing and have to read it back to myself to ensure that what I typed was what I was trying to say. As a result, I plan to continue doing this activity. Looking forward to the next two weeks, I have set for myself a couple of challenges/tasks to do. I will continue to speak only Korean at home, I will text my parents in Korean, and I will try to watch the first episode of the Korean drama I said I would watch.

For this biweekly journal, I will talk about my progress over the course of the two weeks. Similar to last week, I set challenges for myself to help improve my Korean learning progress. I tried to watch more Korean news and entertainment programs. I, unfortunately, did not have much time to watch Korean news, but I had the opportunity to start a new Korean entertainment program. I started a show called New Journey to the West 8. I talked about this program in previous cultural posts, and I will explain in more detail in my cultural post dedicated to this show. I have fallen in love with this series and I am glad that this series has continued even during the quarantine. I found that Korea as a country has been taking the coronavirus very seriously and have been able to contain the virus outbreak very well. As a result, the people even when it comes to entertainment programs take high precautions to ensure the safety of the staff and the entertainers. I found that watching this program and having them talk about how they are dealing with the coronavirus is both informative and helps with my ability to understand and comprehend the Korean language.

In addition, I have begun working at a ramen restaurant in a local city. I mention this because there are instances where Korean customers would come to eat at the restaurant. I had the opportunity to challenge myself and try to serve the customers using the Korean that I have learned over the years. I had to not only serve and ask them what they wanted but also be able to explain the menu and the items that were included in the ramen and dishes. During this experience, I found that I did a good job explaining to the customers what was on the menu, however, I also found that my lack of vocabulary made it difficult to accurately describe the menu. For example, bean sprout has two words in Korean. With the yellow bean on the vegetable, it is called “kong na mul,” but without the bean on and just the stalk, it is called “sook joo.” I did not know this, and the customers corrected what I said. Later that day I asked my mother about the difference between the two and she explained to me what the difference was. I am excited to have found another way to practice my Korean that is more interactive than just watching videos.

Finally, I continued to talk with my parents in Korean to ensure that I was constantly practicing how to speak Korean. I feel as though this skill will definitely come in handy in the future for my career. As I look forward to the next two weeks, I will like to set up the same challenges for myself. However, I would like to add another challenge for myself. I found that writing is also one of my weak points in the Korean language. As a result, I would like to practice writing by taking time to text my parents in Korean rather than in English. This exercise will force me to really think about what I am saying and be able to write it correctly. I mention texting as a way to practice, because there is an autocorrect feature on my phone, which can be used to help me learn and correct any mistakes I have made. 

For this week’s biweekly journal entry, I will talk about how these two weeks have been and how my Korean learning is progressing. To start off, I would like to mention that I have been keeping up with the usual activities I do as a remote student. I continued to talk and converse with my parents and family in Korean. I found that this method of communication was effective, but also helped me better my ability of pronunciation and comprehension of the Korean language. However, I found that it has been difficult for me to fully portray what I want to say with the limited vocabulary that I know. As a result, last week I set a challenge for myself to learn at least one new word from my parents over the course of these two weeks. I would like to say that this has been fairly successful and though I missed a couple of days, I have learned a lot of new vocabulary. In particular, I have learned vocabulary pertaining to activities and everyday tasks. I plan to incorporate these words into my vocabulary and use them in the future. 

In addition, I challenged myself last week that I would also watch more Korean news and entertainment programs. I have been fairly successful with this challenge also, but I could not watch as much as I would have liked. As classes progress and the workload is starting to build, I find that I have less time to invest time into watching the news/ entertainment program as I would like. However, I have been able to watch on the weekends some of the entertainment programs that I regularly watch and continue to practice my comprehension skills there. Looking forward, I would like to continue this challenge and continue to watch Korean programs and news without subtitles, because I know that this is an effective way to drastically improve my Korean.

Over the course of these two weeks, I also talked to Vivian over zoom. Though my meetings are limited due to me being a remote student, I find that our meetings are always helpful and informative. During our meetings, I had the opportunity to practice my reading. Vivian provided me with an article regarding a relevant issue that has emerged in South Korea. This issue was regarding Korean youtubers accepting sponsored money, but playing it off as though they are not sponsored or receiving money. This issue was huge, especially with a famous Korean mukbang youtuber, TzuYang. This girl has been known for her eating videos and for her kind hearted image she displays on her channel, however information had surfaced that she had been receiving sponsorships and product placement items on her videos without informing her viewers. Though this seems like not a big deal, to me at lease, this became a huge issue and she began to get “cancelled.” I feel as though she did make a mistake by not being honest with her intentions, however at such a young age I feel as though she should not be getting the amount of hate she is getting.