Blogs

This week was focusing on learning how to ask “what time is it” (“myeouh/si ye yo” or “myeouh/si yip ni dap”) as well as read the time (based on the numbering system I learned) and tell the time in Korean (“si” meaning hour and “pbun” meaning minutes) in Korean. The two numbering systems I learned were Sino Korean, which is used for minutes, and Native Korean, which is used for hours. Hence, if I wanted to say “it is 3:15”, it would be “se si ship-o pbun”. I also learned how to say days in the week (“yo-il” meaning day) and months (“wull” meaning month).

January           il-wull                         Monday           wull-yo il

February         i-wull                          Tuesday          wha-yo il

March              sam-wull                    Wednesday     su-yo il

April                sa-wull                       Thursday        mok-yo il

May                 o-wull                         Friday              keium-yo il

June                 yuk-wull                     Saturday         to-yo il

July                  chill-wull                    Sunday            il-yo il

August            pal-wull

September      gu-wull                       weekday         j/chu  jung

October          ship-wull                    weekend         j/chu  mal

November       ship il-wull

December       ship i-wull

I think learning the Korean numbering systems would be beneficial for someone to learn because it would facilitate learning time and dates. I have learned two numbering system which has helped me say the time and date. To teach someone the Korean numbering systems, I would provide them online resources illustrating the pronunciation of the numbers and then have them write it on the board several times (conditioning). Lastly, I think making a fun game or activity to test and recondition the information would help them absorb the information.

The activity I had in mind was to make a mix and match game. I would write the numbers numerically and in Korean on small sheets of paper. Then, I shuffle the papers around and flip them side down. They would have to flip it up and match the number with the Korean form of saying it. This would require concentration and focus to remember the placement of the words and number. Focus and concentration are crucial components when learning anything because a clear mind helps store and relate the information. Therefore, I think this activity would be highly efficient for the person. I learned two numbering systems:

il       -        hana                one (1)                yuk       -           yeaseot          six (6)

i        -        dul                   two (2)                chill      -           ilgup               seven (7)

sam  -        net                   three (3)              pal       -           yeadeol           eight (8)

sa     -        set                   four (4)                guu      -           ahop               nine (9)

o       -        daseot             five (5)                 ship     -            yeol                ten (10)

As I reflect on my progress in learning the Korean language, I think about all the words and phrases that I have memorized and learned to pronounce. From basic greeting and farewells to complex introductions and conversation, I know the proper speech to be cordial to elders and to be normal with my peers. I have learned a lot of basic survival language which consists of asking questions, responding to questions, express emotions, and identify one and others. The activities and methods I used to learn the Korean language has proven to be efficient and helpful for me based on my language partner’s reaction of my improvements and progress.  My methods are a lot of oral repetition and writing on notebook along with practicing it with my Korean friends. I have slightly exceeded my learning goal as I am ahead of schedule by learning some concepts in future tasks.

In this second artifact, I decided to focus more on numbering systems, family, and days and month rather than identity questions. I feel like task 1 and task 2 (artifact 1) covered some questions and identity information so I wanted to branch more on task 3, 4 and 5 assignments in this artifact. I have two recordings, similar to artifact 1, in which the first one is more of an oral exam from my language partner to test my knowledge and learning of the new material while the second recording is to practice my pronunciation and speech. 

Vocaroo_Artifact 2

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0zUwbSmgKVm

The first artifact was divided into two vocaroo recordings in which the first tested my knowledge and learning on task 1 and task 2 goals (greetings, farewell, introductions and survival language). Based on my language partner reaction, I impressed him with the capacity and ability to remember and play with the Korean language. The first recording was done with no practice and no sheet, so it relied heavily on what phrases and words I remembered. He was proud that I was able to learn and know all the phrases and words he has taught me. For the second recording, I wanted to practice more my pronunciation and fluidity. I also felt that the first recording was in lower volume, so my pronunciation was not easily detectable. My language partner complimented me on my improved pronunciation and learning, and we have advanced further on other task like time, family and weather. So in a critical view, I can always get better on my accent. Linguistic accuracy and my cultural appropriateness is at a great level. I am very proud at my pace and level. My goals were achieved.

In this first artifact, I have two recordings. The first recording was with my language partner, Alvin, who was testing me on simple phrases and words for greetings, farewell and introductions. The second one is the same phrases as the first, but focusing more on the pronunciation, which serves as practice for proper speech.

Vocaroo_Artifact 1

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0OvUxTaIwNT

My progress so far is a bit better than I expected. I was initially very afraid because of the sheer foreignness of the language for me. Urdu is unlike any other language that I've used or tried learning in the past. With the help of Hadee, I've progressed a lot in the past few weeks. Quiet honestly, I didn't expect to be able to say phrases as basic as introductions, greeting, my hobby, and my education and such but I've gotten to a point where I can do all those things. I can introduce myself to someone in Urdu and provide essential information about who I am as a person. I find that very satisfying and surprising. Meeting up multiple times weekly with Hadee to have quick conversation about Urdu and Pakistan and learn a few vocabulary words and phrases have taken me pretty far. Using online resources to look up words and phrases have helped me out a lot as well. 

As far as changes go, I think I will try to expand my horizons and instead of learning phrases from the internet, actually try to implement them by attempting to talk to my Pakistani friends in Urdu. Other than that, I feel like what I have been doing is effective and have taken me pretty far along the journey.

Introduction.m4a

(My name is david)

Greetings%28%20Hi%2C%20Bye%29%20Urdu.m4a

Hi(Peace be upon you).  Bye (Peace be upon you as well)

Pakistani food culture

Pakistan's food culture consists of variety of elements from neighboring countries like India, Afghanistan and Iran; in Pakistan's food, you can see variety of middle eastern influences. With so many varied regions and neighboring countries, Pakistan boasts a wide range of cooking style and flavors. For example, some of the more specific and distinctive cooking style is using pomegranate seeds to cook meat. Another key component of Pakistani food is slow cooking; a popular dish called haleem is a mix of meat and spices that take upwards to about 7 hours to cook. Not surprisingly, curry is also a key component of Pakistani food culture as well. 

Pakistan is regarded as a bread culture; meals are almost always eaten with naan bread (with the right hand) to scoop up the other dishes. There are other breads like chapati and parata that are also eaten regularly. In terms of meat, lamb is the most popular followed by beef, chicken and goat. Yoghurt is used often to create sauces or to cook different types of meat. 

Pakistan is also the origin of tandoor oven which is used to cook many of the bread and different types of meat like chicken, lamb or fish. Pakistan's rice (long grain white basmati) is also highly regarded as one of the best. There are also many types of sweets that are often made with ghee and infused with aromatic spices like rose water.

My goal was to transition to task 3 which is more basic survival language, questions and identity. However, I think from all the words and phrases I learned in task 1 and 2 can be applied to task 3. Therefore, I combined some of the topics of task 4 which is family. I started learning how to say “mother” (“umma”), “father” (“a-bba”), “older brother” (“hyuong”), “older sister” (“nu-na”), “younger brother” (“nam dong-seng”) and “younger sister” (“yeo dong-seng”). I would use the same resources from task 1 and task 2 which were online research, Mango app, and language partner along with Korean friends.

(A) For week 4 and 5, my goal is to continue learning the expressions for Tasks 1 and 2 in order to build up my Korean vocabulary and knowledge. The task is beginning conditioning and memorizing the pronunciation and expressions of greetings, introductions, farewells, and survival language. I was also able to learn a couple of new words that can serve for these tasks such as “Good” (“ cho-a”) and “Bad” (“Na-pa-yo”). Specifically in week 5, I would evaluate the first artifact which was a recording of the phrases that I mentioned in the blogs.

(B) In order to achieve the goals and tasks for week 4 and 5, I would utilize the online resources and apps to practice. Through recording myself in vocaroo, I would be able to hear myself in pronunciation and understanding. The first artifact would be a vocaroo recording. More importantly, I would practice with my language partner and Korean friends.

(C) To asses my progress, I would ask my Korean friends and language partner to correct my pronunciation and use of the phrases. I would get feedback and improve on the mistakes.

My learning goal for task 1 was learning simple day to day phrases (survival language). My learning goal for task 2 was learning greetings, farewell and introductions. I accomplished this goal by using the Mango App, research phrases online and more importantly meeting up with my language partner. I was able to learn to say “hello” (An-nyong ha sae yo), good bye in different contexts (if I am leaving “An-nyong he ka sea yo” and if the other person is leaving and I am staying “An-nyong ha ka sea yo”), and introduce myself (“Jae yi-leum Carlos yim ni da”- My name is Carlos). For survival language, I also learned to spur a conversation by learning two simple questions: “What is your name” (“Yi-leum ottoke dwae sea yo”)and “How are you” (“Ottoke ji-nae sso yo” or “Ottoke ji nae ship ni da”). Most importantly, I learned polite simple phrases such as “Please” (“Putak ham ni dae”) and “Thank You” (“Kamsa ham ni dae”). In response to being asked “How I am”, I learned how to express emotions. For example, I learned “I am good” (“J/cheun chal ji-nae yo”), “I am sad” (“J/cheun suel po yo”), “I am mad” (“J/cheun hwa na yo”), “I am happy” (“J/cheun k/gi bpo -yo”) and “I am not good” (“J/cheun chal mot ji-nae yo”). My language partner helped simplify these phrases and correct my pronunciation. 

This week I read two articles about bilinguals and how scientist consider them to be smarter than monolinguals, whereas others questioned, what exactly made bilinguals smarter than monolinguals. I do not consider myself to be bilingual because even though I studied French for around 6 years, I am not fluent in the language, in fact as the years of study went on, I started to lose interest in it. In the article, “Why Bilinguals are Smarter”, the writer mentioned how people who were bilingual tend to be smarter and he even used the example of the children who were asked to sort blue circles and red squares into bins on the computer. At the end of this task, it seems that the bilingual students did better. What the writer also mentioned was that those who are bilingual are able to concentrate more on tasks and ignore distractions. They also have the ability to switch their attention from one thing to another, like driving while memorizing directions.

However, in the second article, “Are bilinguals really smart?”, the writer questioned whether what science said about bilinguals being smart was true or not. He also wondered if those who may have learned a second language growing up could be considered about of this smart club of bilinguals, but in my opinion I think it depends on how well you know that second language. He did admit that bilinguals would know more vocabulary words because they know 2 languages, but the amount of vocabulary words that they may know in the individual languages tends to differ from each other. I wonder if the “smartness level” increases with the more languages that you know or does it stay about the same for whether you are bilingual or trilingual, etc.

My learning goals for this week is to try to put post its up around my room and my suite so that I can learn more vocabulary words as I keep going with my journey of learning Korean. Although this process has not been the easiest it has been quite enjoyable because now I can read hangul. However, it does sometimes take me a bit of time to read it because I read slowly, I’m glad that I have gotten the hang of it.

In Korea, just as in many other Asian countries, family is important because it can define your entire life. Family is the single-entity that is passed on from generation to generation besides customs, languages, etc. Family not only includes your living relatives, but also the ancestors that have come before you, who you should still honor and pay your respects to. There is the the duty to obey your parents even when you become an adult. This goes along with the Confucian concept of filial piety, which is about family being at the center and respecting one’s elders. In some cases, one must subordinate personal interests if it is not good for the family. This is not always the case because each family is different. Some families may be more traditional while others may have embraced the modern era.

My learning goals for this week is to continue learning hangul and learn how to say the numbers and dates (i.e. months and days of the week) in Korean. I will accomplish this by using my Korean from Zero book, resources that I found online for vocabulary words, and just constant review.  I find that the Korean number system and the Sino-Korean number system are quite difficult, but I will keep practicing

Family seems to be a central part of Korean society. Based on the research I’ve done on filial piety and what I’ve observed at my Korean friends’ houses and in Korean family dramas (i.e. All About My Mom), I can tell you that Korean children were raised to show respect towards their elders and parents regardless of their mood, personality, and circumstances. They may show their respect in subtle ways such as bowing and using formal speech. 

South Korea is a country highly influenced by Confucian principles, which emphasizes filial piety and hierarchical structure in families. Although I’m not entirely sure about Korean-American families, I think they uphold a similar structure. South Korea is still very much a patriarchal society, so the father is the head of the household and is responsible for providing food, shelter, clothing for the family and arranging marriages for his children. The eldest son also has quite a bit of responsibility and therefore receives a lot of respect as well. If the father is no longer present, the eldest son takes over as the head of the family. This is why in the past Korean families typically preferred having a son. However, to combat the male-preference problem, the government revised family-related laws to establish equality between sons and daughters in terms of inheritance. The wife of the household is expected to take care of her husband’s aging parents. Traditionally, men were the sole breadwinners and decision makers in the family, but in modern day South Korea there has become a lot more flexibility.

Traditional Korean households were also fairly large. In fact, it was not uncommon for three or four generations to live together under one roof. During the Korean War, there was a period of famine and the infant mortality rate was high, so children were seen as a blessing. Later on, industrialization would further complicate the family structure in South Korea. Nowadays, many young married couples live away from their parents and extended families. Most South Korean households are now couple-centered nuclear families. 

So far, I have been pretty pleased with how far I have come in Korean. I have learned simple conversational skills, I can count basic numbers, and I can read a fair amount of the alphabet. I think that my process of finding learning materials on the internet has been a mostly successful one, so I will try to keep doing this until I run into difficulty. My language partner has also been very helpful, because I can go ask him questions about anything that I am struggling with. 

My goal for this week was to learn the months and learn how to count from 1-10 in Korean. By learning these numbers, it should be much easier to build off of to learn bigger numbers. Learning was relatively easy, because there are a lot of youtube videos that I can watch to help with my pronunciation. This one in particular I watched a lot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yOqYzqUWCo. ;

For my culture project, I would like to study sports in Korea. My goal would be to have a better understanding of the role that sports play in Korean culture. I know that soccer is Korea's most popular sport since the 2002 World Cup, but baseball and Taekwondo are also very popular. I would like to learn about attendance at sporting events in Korea, as well as how strong of a sport-watching culture there is.