The lively side- soft piece

The Korean Culture and Language- International Exchange Study

 

Korea: A journey of culture

 

Korean Language

 

It is bitter sweet.

 

Korean language is an agglutinative language and belongs to the Altaic family of languages, which has special grammar structure.  For a person who learns Chinese and English as first language like me, it is a difficult yet interesting and challenging journey. Few attention grabbing and unique features are especially noticeable to me. For example, word order of Korean sentence is Subject-Object-Verb, and the word order does not change in interrogative sentences.  Therefore hilarious mistakes are bound to happen that making everyone laughs to the floor.

 

Pronunciation is the most difficult part for me. Korean language is monotonous when you speak it; it is especially hard for me due to the influence of Chinese language. As Chinese language is of rich intonations. The professor in Korean Language Level I always remind me that I have a Chinese accent whenever I speak. First, we learn how to write Korean letter- Hangul, by introduction of Korean 10 vowels and 19 consonants. All Korean alphabets are a combination of at least one vowel and one consonant. Although it has no intonations, there is a contrast between consonants where you have to distinguish plain, tense, aspirated, nasal or lateral sound. These are the most important and basic in learning Korean language. Seeing that the foundation is so significant, I spent approximately a month in class just to have a good and correct pronunciation. Besides speaking, writing and reading Korean letter also takes time and effort. It is similar to English language that having vowel and consonants, but it is in one character to have only one sound, and the character itself does have any inherent image; which is different from Chinese language. We cannot know the meaning just by looking at the character. Therefore, to improve Korean vocabulary, it takes not only time but also good memory.

 

Another interesting aspect of Korean language to foreigners would be the honorific system, especially in the speech. One tends to offence another if using a wrong honorific form in their speech. Therefore, it reflects the Korean culture in the society, it is important to know the age, status, rank of the person you are speaking to. For example, you always have to greet someone who is older than you no matter it is only a year difference or even one month. In addition, occupation always reflects a sense of rank. For example, being a teacher or professor is a highly respectable job in Korea, as it is honourable to be in the field of education. Therefore, it is a code of conduct to always bow when you meet someone who has a respectable social rank like teacher, and to someone who is elder than you, such as a senior in school.

  

Korean Culture

When I was new to Korean culture, it was awkward to always being asked about age and marital status or having a boyfriend or not. A friend of mine who is also an exchange student, people always appeared to be shocked by the fact that she is already married yet still studying in Korea. The other standard questions that people will usually ask are: what is your major? How many siblings do you have in your family? Which other countries have you been to? And what are your interests? It is straightforward question that sometimes you might feel privacy intruded. However, after understanding the intention of these asking, you will realise how empathy and thoughtful Koreans are. For example, I was introduced to many bookstores that have collections of English books after I told my Korean friend reading is my passion. Also, one of my korean friends introduced me to Salsa dancing bar after knowing I love dancing too. It is through those questions that they get hold of a basic understanding of you and will communicate with you more personally. The host family I have in Korea once told me that Korean guys would prefer to marry a third daughter as they believe a third daughter is usually mild and gentle in their character.

 

Koreans love singing, dancing, and learning many other talents such as foreign language, musical instruments, and arts. You will be surprise there are many Koreans who learn French, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, German, Chinese, etc for years. It is many because I am a student in the languages and humanities department. However, English language is still a very important skill that almost all Koreans believe it is necessary. That is the reason why I manage to meet a good language exchange partner, whereas I learn conversational Korean from her, and she learns conversational English from me. It is a very practical and helpful experience.  Since then, I manage to know how to speak in Korean to bargain during shopping, to take a taxi, to order the food I like, to explain the hairstyle I want in a salon and many daily conversations.

 

It is essential to realise Korean society is basically a community. Friendship is important social life in University. After school activities is popular among Yonseians. One of the activities that I often hang out with friends is to go to DVD room to watch Korean movies. We were told many times that DVD room is a place for couples; however, it is a new concept to us not having to go to cinema theatre for movie. We can laugh and talk and eat as much as we want in the DVD room. Other activities such as sauna room in winter, karaoke and picnic in spring, ice-cream shop in hot summer, board games, shopping and so much more, are all for fun-loving people like us.

 

As Koreans like to do things together in a group, they are naturally family-oriented people. During the weekend, you will see many families go to the park or watch movies together. Family activities is so warm-hearted when you see them having good time and kissing each other. Museums, theme parks, art gallery, or historical sites are the popular sites for family activities. Of course, these are also paradise for lover birds to spend time with each other.

 

 

Being an international student in Korea

 

It is global culture. It is indeed a chapter of my life to meet friends from all around the world during my time of exchange study. From curious to understand, from surprise to acceptance, being an exchange student has widened my eyes and heart to be able to live well in a globalised world. Moreover, it is even more precious with the mix of taste of Korean culture, a hegemonic and united country that I have never experienced so far. It may seem incompatible in international study of mine; however, it is in fact a good contrast to see through cultural differences.

 

It is almost two different worlds I live – International house and Korean society. In the international house, it is mainly English speaking. Students from all around the world are sharing their culture, language, study and most importantly, how do they think of Korea from a foreigner’s point of view. Most of us feel somewhat difficult to communicate with Korean friends as they care about their manners and try not to be critical and straightforward as they believe that it is offensive and rude. It is often after a stretched introduction then to extract what they really mean.  Besides, the stress and pressure that most Koreans are under in their study is also unusual to us. It is hard to relate to their mentality as it is not an enjoyable way of study.

 

Cultural differences are the main difficulty most foreigners face in Korea. It is due to the cohesive and hegemonic culture is deeply rooted in the society. For example, the bow, the honorific speech, greetings, way of speaking and mentality, it is through understanding to accept and practice it well ourselves. I personally feel that Koreans are proud of and honour their language and culture. Therefore, to be accepted in Korean community, we have to show respect to the culture by adopting it. Act according to the code of conduct and manners are highly complimented. The time of adjusting might be longer than in other countries, however, it is achievable. Later, pleasure and happiness will come along to get along with Koreans like a family and community.

 

On the other hand, situation is another scene in the international school. As the international division of Yonsei University is that of more than two hundreds of international student, it is indeed multicultural and globalised in the life of international house.  It takes effort to remember their background, names, language, interaction and cultural exchange. As people from everywhere has the tendency to be with the friends that are coming from the same country where they can speak the same language. Besides, when everyone is gathered together, individualistic is largely practiced amongst each other. Coming to the end of the semester, there is an emergence of different groupings amongst international students. However, everyone still has fun whenever there is event or gathering going on. During this semester, I am fortunate to have good time with of friends from France, Finland, Canada, Japan, Germany, Russia, Mongolia, America, Taiwan and China. We come together regardless of cultural differences, which is especially memorable for my trip to Korea.

 

In conclusion, I would like to give thanks to the chance my home university in Australia and Yonsei University to have given me a precious opportunity like this. The learning journey is full of laughter and experience. To conclude the Korean language learning at this moment, this is the thanks note from the bottom of my heart:

 

 

 

First of all, it is owing to my home university in Murdoch University Australia and Yonsei University has given me this precious chance to go on an exchange study in South Korea. Second, gratitude to professor and fellow students that are exploring and learning together throughout the semester. Finally, Give thanks to all the friends who have helped me through good and bad times in Korea. It is a memorable journey; days in Korea will be a wonderful part of my life.

 

한국에와서공부를할수있게해준Murdoch University 와Yonsei University 에게감사합니다.

교수님들과친구들과함께공부할수있어서너무좋았습니다.

그리고함께즐겁고또어려울때도와준친구들.. 너무고마워~

한국에서보낸시간들은좋은추억으로남을꺼에요.