DC, like many big cities, is a land of opportunities. DC is unique, though, in the sense that there are many different cultures in one area. The result is that one can find cuisine from virtually any area (as my former supervisor used to say, you don't pick where you want to eat, you pick a country). As I have mentioned previously, another manifestation is that one can find a place to learn practically any language. Not only are there various cultural societies and associations that offer language classes (I myself took a Japanese class at the Japan-America Society of Washington DC), but, naturally, there are all of the embassies, many of which offer language classes.
In addition to learning Japanese, I have always wanted to learn Korean. I like it aesthetically and I like the way it sounds. Korean has become increasingly relevant to my life as I discovered a passion for Korean affairs as a graduate student and an appreciation for Korean culture. I feel that many Americans do not know a lot about Korea which is a shame, as Korea has a lot to offer. I could go on and on about this topic.
I decided to enroll in Korean language classes through the Korean Embassy's Korean Cultural Center after I graduated last year. Let me tell you, there is nothing more humbling than learning a foreign language as an adult. I have studied various foreign languages throughout my life, and it seems more difficult now than it ever was. Given, Korean seems more difficult to pick up for a native English speaker than the Romance languages of my youth, but I have less time to devote to learning Korean as an adult with a full-time job and I do not consider Korean to be an easy language.
That said, I love it! It's been great dealing with the Embassy, as the language classes become increasingly popular and the Embassy does more cultural outreach. My language teacher (선생님 or seon-saeng-neem in Korean) is a wonderful Korean lady whose enthusiasm for teaching us about Korean language and culture and bottomless well of patience is inspiring and encouraging. I have also met some interesting people in class doing various interesting things. My Korean isn't great yet (I would really like to study in Korea), but I love it anyway. There is nothing more satisfying when learning a foreign language than those "ah-ha" moments when you realize you could actually read a full sentence without using a dictionary. Given, for me, the sentence is usually something at a kindergarten reading-level like "my stomach hurts.", but it is still exhilarating nonetheless. It's that moment that you realize that you ARE learning this.
Besides learning Korean, taking the language classes has taught me a few things. One, sometimes you just have to throw yourself into something and do your best, even if you think you might fail. As my high school Latin teacher used to say, the worst you can be is wrong. This has been a hard lesson for me to learn, as I am a competitive person, so I prefer to be the best or to just not. But it has paid off as, predictably, Korean has gotten easier with time and I've had a lot of fun doing it. It has also inspired me to care less about what other people think and to focus more about what I think. Who cares if I don't know the answer to a question in class? It has also enabled me to be more open about trying new things, things that I would previously have shied away from for fear that I would fail. What is failure, anyway? Secondly, one is never too old to learn. Ever. Conversely, learning never gets old. It is still fun and rewarding to learn new things. You never know which doors will open up for you.
In addition to learning Japanese, I have always wanted to learn Korean. I like it aesthetically and I like the way it sounds. Korean has become increasingly relevant to my life as I discovered a passion for Korean affairs as a graduate student and an appreciation for Korean culture. I feel that many Americans do not know a lot about Korea which is a shame, as Korea has a lot to offer. I could go on and on about this topic.
I decided to enroll in Korean language classes through the Korean Embassy's Korean Cultural Center after I graduated last year. Let me tell you, there is nothing more humbling than learning a foreign language as an adult. I have studied various foreign languages throughout my life, and it seems more difficult now than it ever was. Given, Korean seems more difficult to pick up for a native English speaker than the Romance languages of my youth, but I have less time to devote to learning Korean as an adult with a full-time job and I do not consider Korean to be an easy language.
That said, I love it! It's been great dealing with the Embassy, as the language classes become increasingly popular and the Embassy does more cultural outreach. My language teacher (선생님 or seon-saeng-neem in Korean) is a wonderful Korean lady whose enthusiasm for teaching us about Korean language and culture and bottomless well of patience is inspiring and encouraging. I have also met some interesting people in class doing various interesting things. My Korean isn't great yet (I would really like to study in Korea), but I love it anyway. There is nothing more satisfying when learning a foreign language than those "ah-ha" moments when you realize you could actually read a full sentence without using a dictionary. Given, for me, the sentence is usually something at a kindergarten reading-level like "my stomach hurts.", but it is still exhilarating nonetheless. It's that moment that you realize that you ARE learning this.
Besides learning Korean, taking the language classes has taught me a few things. One, sometimes you just have to throw yourself into something and do your best, even if you think you might fail. As my high school Latin teacher used to say, the worst you can be is wrong. This has been a hard lesson for me to learn, as I am a competitive person, so I prefer to be the best or to just not. But it has paid off as, predictably, Korean has gotten easier with time and I've had a lot of fun doing it. It has also inspired me to care less about what other people think and to focus more about what I think. Who cares if I don't know the answer to a question in class? It has also enabled me to be more open about trying new things, things that I would previously have shied away from for fear that I would fail. What is failure, anyway? Secondly, one is never too old to learn. Ever. Conversely, learning never gets old. It is still fun and rewarding to learn new things. You never know which doors will open up for you.
