I’ve finally done it. After years of missed opportunities and half-hearted attempts to study on my own, I’ve finally enrolled in a Korean language class. Why now? Well, aside from the lingering dull ache of guilt, what motivated me now relates to family.
My wife speaks fluent Korean and comes from a very traditional Korean family, who speak Korean exclusively to each other. My in-laws have been incredibly kind and welcoming since we first met, but communicating hasn’t exactly been easy. And, of course, learning Korean means I could communicate with my own aunts, uncles, etc. more easily.
I actually spoke Korean when I was a young child, but as I entered school, my parents made a conscious decision to speak primarily English to me, so as not to interfere with my language development. Eventually, my Korean language skills atrophied from non-use until all that remained was a pitifully small collection of words and phrases that rarely did me any good. When Ashley and I have kids, we want them to be able to speak Korean with their grandparents and other relatives, and it would help a lot if I was ahead of our kids on the learning curve. Until they inevitably catch up with and pass me, hopefully not until they’re at least 5 or 6 years old.
The class I’m taking is offered by the Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles. It’s a great deal: $40 for a 10-week session with levels ranging from Basic to Advanced. I’m in Basic B, which is primarily for Korean-Americans who, like me, know the alphabet and can read a little, speak a little and understand a little, as well as non-Koreans who advanced from Basic A. Our instructor is perfect for our class — he’s a 1.5-generation K-A who had to re-learn Korean himself, so he understands where we’re coming from and how best to approach the language from our context.
I don’t expect ever to be fluent, but that’s not my goal. I’d just like to be able to carry on a short, simple conversation and understand when someone’s talking s**t about me. Is that so much to ask?
Posted by claudezilla 