THE KOREAN LANGUAGE

I studied cultural anthropology for six years in University. Though I never got a graduate degree I was very disciplined in the subject. My romantic dream was to learn a totally different language. Well, Korean is a totally different language but I still am only dreaming about learning it. In order to understand a culture, I believe it is necessary to learn the language.

I learn a lot of Korean teaching the students. The textbooks often have translations. The teachers and students are using Korean all the time around me. Though the Korean English Teacher often accompanies me to the classroom, I can never really assume that they shall on any given day so if I need a translation, I always have some new words ready.

I do speak some “classroom Korean” and I find it helps some students, and it does establish a kind of rapport between me and the students. Students always oh and awe whenever I write something correctly on the board in Korean. They can get really picky if I make a mistake though.

Practicing typing Korean is a useful activity. I practice this as much as I can.

I still don’t know any Korean songs or poems. I watch a lot of TV and I enjoy the occasional good Korean movie. I don’t know how much Korean I am learning but it all helps.

Of course there are many pronunciation problems Koreans have because of the absence of certain sounds in their language that are employed in English, like the “Z”, “V”, “F”, “R & L”. I guess that’s why I’m here.