Week 1, Reflections: Mr. Noh

How and when did we start to read Korean?

Language is that only human has unique and distinctive characteristic.

When we are growing up, we develop our mother tongue, the Korean language.

I think that speaking, writing, reading and hearing are required to learn a certain language.

In viewing the respect of how to start to read Korean, it is the time we get to know the value of phoneme. In Korean, as a mother tongue, we recognize and distinguish the same phonetic value by hearing the sound repeatedly and naturally.

Generally speaking, we seem to accept the words, phrases and clauses.

After knowing the distinction of the sound value, we get to start something to read.

If we have never heard the sound value, we can’t read something any more.

After hearing the sound by parents, peers and teacher etc, we start to imitate the sound we have heard.

Of course, in this process, we have to know the principle of the sound value simultaneously.

Speaking Korean doesn’t guarantee reading Korean.

Evidently, it is possible for us to read Korean after recognizing and hearing the value of sound.

On the other hand, how about when to start reading Korean?

In a word, it is possible to start reading Korean after hearing and speaking are acquired.

Unless we can speak and hear anything, we can’t read anything.

Therefore, the problem of when to start to read Korean is linked to hearing and speaking.

Likewise, language may be the natural process, but it can be intentional.

Both foreign language and mother language are developed naturally and intentionally.

As a matter of fact, babies start to read Korean, after hearing and speaking.

How many people are there who can speak but can’t read?

In the past, when we had no better education, many people who couldn’t attend any school couldn’t read the letters which they did speak and hear.

Although they could speak and speak Korean, they couldn’t read the Korean Language.

Thus, when to start to read Korean is, firstly, accomplishing speaking and listening and secondly, reading intentionally.

Likewise, in order to read Korean, intended and designed education is needed.

In the end, hearing and speaking should be preceded before reading.

It is best environment to be surrounded with hearing, speaking, writing and reading.

Reflection 04

 

In my experience, reading and writing Korean seem to be natural.

Before I started to learn formal education, I had already known speaking and hearing the Korean language.

After hearing the sound value, I seemed to be wondering how the spellings should be pronounced.

After I practiced for some periods, I recognized how to read Korean step by step.

On the contrary, reading and writing English was different distinctively.

Despite not hearing the sound value of English, I had to write and read the English language.

The situation was reversed in comparison to learning the Korean language.

Learning process and environment were distinctively different.

Accordingly, I had difficulty learning English more than Korean.

We ought not to overlook these points.

First, Learning English and Korean is the common process of learning language.

As a mother tongue, Korean is developed naturally but English as a foreign language isn’t like that.

Korean has many good conditions to write, read, speak and hear, but English has strange and exotic ones.

What makes matters better, it is good to be exposed to foreign environment.

Second, learning English and Korean has intended and ordered course.

Like mentioning above writing, hearing and speaking should be preceded, and then, reading and writing should be followed up.

In this way, learning language has the planned steps without knowing that.

Third, learning language requires repeated practice.

Repetition of Korean and English makes us skillful and professional about language.

Practicing reading and writing continually makes us good learners.

In conclusion, although learning English and Korean has elements in common, circumstances of learning English and Korean are greatly distinctive.

When teaching students or learning languages, we should consider these viewpoints respectively.