Korean Café in the King Library
Only two students sat in the reserved study
room for the “Korean Café” on Wednesday. They had been at previous sessions,
and their understanding and grasp of the Korean tongue was evident.
I tensed a bit realizing I was out of my
depth but I was down for an hour-long challenge. My insight on Korean culture was short: kimchi,
the division between North and South Koreas and former NBA Star Denise Rodman’s
weird connection with the North Korean 'nuclear-threaten' dictator Kim Jong-Un.
My shoulders soften as the teacher Celine Lee
welcomed me and cordially invited me to mimic her in saying a few phrases in
the phonetic language. It was a different mouth feel and required your ears,
eyes and verbal dexterity. Lee shared that there are 14 constants and 10 vowels
in her native language. She explained that the written symbols captured the
spirit of the visual world: the sky, people and the land.
The written system reminded me of playing
hangman –my mind drifted a bit as Lee piled study sheets before each of
us. I refocused as she wrote out my name
in the symbols. Then shared with us how to use the Hangeul, Korean alphabet, as
we sound out words.
“How have you been – Jal/ji/nae/sheo/sseo/yo?”
Janice said in Korean. She was a Japanese student who wanted to learn Korean as
her third language. Lee congratulated her and shared how we are to use
different expressions to greet friends verses strangers.
Then we jumped to numbers. First we focused on
saying 0-19 and then reviewing how you multiple and add to the to larger
digits. Then Lee shared about how to order popular Korean dishes in restaurants. She give us sheets with flavors in beef
dishes Bulgogi and Galbi.
The class had only a few more sessions before summer and she started preparing her ongoing students for their next lesson. It was a light and generous learning space. But I am not sure when I will use Korean and it got me out of my comfort zone.
The class had only a few more sessions before summer and she started preparing her ongoing students for their next lesson. It was a light and generous learning space. But I am not sure when I will use Korean and it got me out of my comfort zone.