Knowing Languages Can Open Doors

I can't believe this is my last blog post. It's been a rewarding journey for me and I hope its been for all of you as well. For my last blog post, I want to leave what one more reason why learning your mother language is important in today's society. Whether its your mother language or a language you're learning at school, knowing languages can open many doors. As the world's population increases and international barriers shrink, citizens need to be able to communicate with one another in a variety of ways. By taking Japanese at school, I've been able to open many doors and opportunities that have helped me to realize my educational and career goals. During my four years in high school, I've been able to attend the Virginia Japanese Governor's Academy, travel to South Korea, and also discover how the power of languages. With that in mind, I hope to use my language skills through a career in international arbitration law. I want to help people of Asian descent through a career in international law in Asia by fighting against social justice and resolving international legal issues in an international dimension. I want to coexist not only in Asia but also in the United States where I plan to use my linguistic abilities to reach out to many people. This summer will hopefully be another life-changing time for me as I'll be in Japan for a month with other high school students across the United States who've only experienced the culture and language in school. Ever since I was a freshman in high school, I've dreamed of an opportunity like this to come along. I never thought I would be able to go to Japan through my own hard work and dedication. I thank my teachers and mentors for helping me along the way and giving me opportunities to grow academically. I thank God for hearing my answers and most importantly answering them.

"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls”-Joseph Campbell 

 

Connecting Bridges Across Countries

A few weeks ago, I applied to the JET-Memorial Invitation Program run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. This program started two years ago when two Americans died from the disaster that struck Japan on March , 2011. This competitive program allows 33 high school students from all across the United States and the minoring islands the chance to go to Japan for free. The essay prompt this year was  "How can you act as a bridge between Japan and the United States?" With this essay prompt, I wrote a sincere essay that encompassed my views of an ideal global bridge. After the first paragraph, I started to delve into the topic and use my own personal experiences to show my connection to the bridge that's going on right now. 

"With that in mind, I have connected my part of the global bridge of Japan by mentoring my fellow classmates and fostering my own love of the language and culture through taking part in the world language school community. The small step I took toward a future I did not know I would embark on has helped me to learn not only the language but also my mother tongue, Korean. As a Korean-American, I have already been acting as a bridge between South Korea and the United States by representing the Asian community, which is often underrepresented in American society. I want to change how the Asian community is represented and to contribute to society by becoming involved in the lives of many people who have been unrecognized in spite of the unique qualities they possess. I want to tear down the walls of isolation that keeps the Asian culture and language confined. I believe my study of the Japanese language and culture has helped me to "break down the boundaries" between South Korea and Japan that the older generations embraced. These same principles can be applied to bridging the United States and Japan together through common areas in diplomacy and language. I can contribute my time and dedication to bridging two nations thousands of miles apart. I want to bridge the gap and connect two countries in friendship and to promote world peace through my personal experiences. Although my experience in the Japanese culture and language has been limited so far, I'd like to take my perspectives and revolutionize my broad view on both the world and my Japanese studies. Japanese has not only opened my eyes to the power of languages, but it has also broadened my horizons of different cultures. Kofi Annan, the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations once said 'We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.' I believe the human race is yearning to bridge the gap in our international community. "

Languages can help start new bridges and improve foreign relations among different cultures. Through my mother tongue, I've been able to learn another language and act as a bridge to many of my mentors and peers. My part of the bridge didn't start with learning Japanese, it started when I took the time to learn important to myself and the international community. 

First Language, Second Language, Third...

In AP Psychology, my teacher was reviewing over the unit of language for the AP Psychology exam that's coming up in a week or two. He explained the concept of Chomsky's language acquisition theory which basically states that there is a critical age for learning a language as is true for the overall development of the human body. This critical period for first language acquisition ends somewhere between the ages of four and twelve. If you miss this critical period or if language input doesn't occur until after this time, a person will have a hard time learning the language normally. Therefore, some parents who want their child to learn more than one language smoothly often teach their child at a young age. Once we acquire our first language, many people go on to learn a second language in middle school or even as early as elementary school. However, if a child is not exposed to the second language during the critical period while learning the first language. The child will more than likely loose or forget the second language. When people learn another language later on in life after the critical period, they run into many problems. Learning a second language is a very hard thing for many people. As you may know, each language contains its own system of rules in syntax and speech patterns. This means that words have to be pooled in a specific order to produce a sentence that could be understood by all people who speak that particular language. For example, the standard syntax order in English is subject-verb-object, while in another language like Korean it is subject-object-verb. 


When people learn their first language, there is no intervention from any other language system. However, once we know how a language works, our comprehension of the speech and grammar of that language tends to intervene with our acquisition of the rule system of the second language. We can make this process easier if we evaluate the speech and grammar rules of the new language to those of our first language system.   By being aware of the differences between two or even three languages it decreases the problem of first language interference. Therefore, we can be successfully learn the language by using our knowledge of one language to help us learn a second language. This point brings us back to the importance of one's mother language and my post about never being too late to learn a language. Even if you passed that critical stage to learn your mother language or initial first language, you can still learn the language and be able to achieve near fluency. When you learn another language past the critical period, you will more than likely not forget or lose the ability to speak the language. Therefore, for anybody who is having any doubts about learning their mother language or another language, you still have time. Although its better to learn a language at a young age, learning a language at any age whether you're in your twenties or even hitting close to your fiftieth birthday. The door to foreign languages is always open for anyone who's willing to take a chance. 

Racism? Is it becoming a problem?

   

Even though the topic of racism is not directly related to the importance of your mother tongue, I think it’s a really important issue that should be discussed.

As an Asian American, I've had my share of teasing and discrimination whether it’s been direct or indirect discrimination. I'm not sharing this to gain any sympathy or remorse; I'm stating this to let you know that I've personally gone through racism. I'm not mad at the people who tease or have teased me because it’s a part of human nature. Racism is a problem that can get out of hand and often unbearable for many people. It doesn't matter what color, race, or even how you look. People will tease you if you don't look different or if you're just a certain race. I see it every day at school, in public and around the community. When I hear inspirational speeches about stopping racism and spreading awareness, it’s just not possible. It’s like trying to stop global warming but you can't because all you can do is slow it down. Oftentimes, racism happens because people are not educated or open to different cultures. This is where the importance of your mother tongue comes in. People who know more than one language are often open to different cultures and people rather than people who only know one language. When people learn another language, they also learn the culture of the country. A language's grammar and talk is influenced by a lot by the culture. I know many people may disagree with me on my views on racism saying "oh, what are you talking about? I don't see any of the things you point out."

Another reason why people may discriminate others is personal. If a person didn't have a very good experience with a person of a certain race than that often creates racism and discrimination. But that doesn't mean you should treat all people of that race badly in any way. I'm not saying that I don't discriminate people too because I do too. I'm not going to deny it. Everyone is a racist. Racism in the ideational sense is when people draw up stereotypes and label people a certain way by the color of their skin or what their ethnicity is. Racism hurts everyone and it will just get worse if this generation or the next is not educated or informed about this. The older generation often times passes on their opinions and views to the next generation toxic feelings towards one another. I'm sure all of this probably doesn't make any sense so here's an example. If you know anything about the history of Korea, you know that Korea was often invaded by China and Japan for centuries. From 1910-1945 Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion, a period that many older-generation Koreans don't like to look back on . During this dark time in history, Koreans were forced to take up Japanese names, learn the language, and stripped of anything Korean for that matter. I used this example to explain how the opinions and views of the older generation who bring up the next generation can influence their views and spread racism. 

“Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason." -Abraham J. Heschel 

Racism is the deadliest weapon human kind can possess but we can change that by spreading awareness one step at a time. 

Does it matter?

As an older sister to my little brother and sister, I have to set a good example for them. I do what a typical older sister does: steer them away from bad influences and at times pick on them. I often tell them that its important to learn Korean. However, they don't listen to me so for now I've just been pushing them to learn Korean. This how my conversation with them about this matter usually goes:

Lets call my little brother and sister X and Y.

Me: hey, why don't you want to learn Korean?

X and Y: What's the use of learning Korean? We live in America where we only need to know English not Korean. Why don't you stop making a big deal out of nothing. It's not like we're going to live in Korea.

Me: But it's important to know Korean. Even though we are American citizens, we're still Korean. You always have to remember that. Don't ever forget who you are.

X and Y: I know you're trying to help us but we just don't see the point learning Korean now.

Me: It's never too late.

You may be wondering why I bring up a personal matter as this. I bring this point up to explain how important it is not only for me but also for my younger siblings. I don't want them to forget who they are and most importantly their own identity. Nowadays, second generation foreign born koreans are having a hard time finding their own identities whether it's not being able to speak Korean or feeling out of place among other Koreans. I sincerely hope one day my younger siblings will realize how important it is to know Korean. It's not just a language, its what one calls it a way of life.

Embracing Myself

I'm going to be honest here. Oftentimes, I have a hard time embracing my cultural roots.  I visited South Korea this past summer finding out a lot about my own culture and the people. I would sit on a ledge that looked down at the city of Seoul thinking, "wow, the culture that I only knew from my parents is a lot different than I expected." I compare South Korea's culture to America's culture and realize many differences as well as similarities. South Korea is considered one of the most homogeneous countries in the world, racially and linguistically. Korea has its own culture, language, cuisine and even dress. In any country you travel to, you notice there is a certain standard that everyone upholds to whether its in etiquette or in respect. Now, I'm not saying that everyone from South Korea acts like this or that. 

From my own perspective, people in South Korea dress modestly and well. How you dress is even shown as a sign of respect. You tend to see Koreans in Seoul dress as if they're going to an important dinner versus country woman and men in South Korea. In the United States, people don't follow a code of conformity but instead dress however they want. I've noticed that fashion in the United States dress on a variety of factors including location, venue, and demographic factors. From my personal views before my experience this past summer in South Korea, I only experienced different cultures through other people's own understanding. I didn't experience for myself what the world has to offer for me, culturally. 

Rippling Effect

For four years now I've been taking Japanese as a foreign language at school. I took one year of Spanish when I was in eighth grade, thinking that I would continue Spanish in high school. However, the summer before freshman year, one of my close friends who was a junior at the time was taking Japanese and she convinced me to take Japanese. I didn't know that the high school I was going to go to offered Japanese. So I looked into it and I decided after thinking for sometime that I would not continue Spanish and instead take up Japanese. I didn't know anything about Japanese except their influence in World War II. My parents discouraged me from taking Japanese, one of the reasons being that it won't be useful and that Spanish would be more beneficial for me. However, my interest in the Japanese language and many other factors led me to take my first step towards a journey that I never knew would make such a profound effect on my high school career. I will never forget my first day of Japanese. My freshman year, I had Japanese in my fifth period class on odd days. Sensei which means teacher in Japanese greeted me warmly at the doorway stating something in Japanese that I had no idea what it meant at the time.


"Konnichi-wa Sensei!" Those were the first words I heard as I stepped into Japanese class as a freshman. The words that were so foreign and weird to me at that time would be life changing and second nature to me. I didn't know it but that first step I took in that classroom would start me on a rewarding journey that I have never looked back at since. The foundation of the Japanese language has given me enthusiasm in all aspects of the language has helped me to open up many doors that I wouldn't have come across if I continued Spanish from middle school. One such door that opened up to me in a very significant way was the Virginia Summer Residential Japanese Governors Academy. The impact of this program has made a rippling effect on everything else I've done ever since. Through this program I furthered my language skills, learned even more about the culture, and worked with native speaking Japanese teachers who have helped me to be a more versatile student in Japanese. The skills and insight I gained from that experience have helped me teach my fellow classmates and help my teacher. The influence that my mother language has not only opened my eyes to the power of languages but it has also broadened my horizons of different cultures. Charlemagne once said "To have another language is to possess a second soul."  

What did it take?

What did it take to learn your mother tongue?


"It took a lot."


Simple as it may sound, learning my mother language and holding onto it in a country where they didn't speak my mother tongue was hard.

Let me break it down for you...


I'm a second generation Korean American that was born in the United States.



If you don't know what a second generation is exactly,


Second generation Americans are...

• the second generation of a family to be born in a particular country

OR

• the native-born child of naturalized parents.

As you may know from my previous blog posts, I was born NOT speaking English because my parents spoke Korean around me. I did not learn English until I began elementary school where I was in ESL until third grade. During that time, I had a hard time trying to learn English and all the other school subjects. My parents were working long hours and the family time that used to be filled with sounds of the Korean language decreased. And then also as you now, one day I just lost it. I lost my mother tongue and the identity that didn't seem important to me at the time.


I thought "hey, I don't need to know Korean cause I mean when will I need to use it? Okay, I guess when I am with my grandparents and other Koreans but even then I can still speak English..I mean at least I didn't lose it completely." For some time I held onto that belief but then it was that incident I mentioned earlier and other little things that changed my mind.


Many people don't realize this because people can't relate to a "mother language" because they are not from another country or ethnicity.



Oftentimes, the second generation don't know there own language mainly because of the following three reasons:
1. they were born in an English speaking environment
2. forget their mother language by the time they started school
OR
3. they were adopted



When I meet people who don't know their own mother language or they don't have the desire to know their mother language I truly feel sorry for them. At one point, I was like them, not having a care in the world and just trying to live life. Now for some people, its understandable but if they were adopted but for the people who chose to not learn it I have a few questions for you,


"what does it mean being a __ethnicity__ American or a __ethnicity__?"


"How will you talk to your own race?"


"Do you truly know who you are? Where you came from?"


Some people say "ignorance is bliss." But is it really?

Appearances

ASIAN, WHITE, BLACK....

These three words and more is how society categorizes people. Some may call these stereotypes or even racists remarks but for me a person is more than the color of their skin or how they look. It wasn't until I came up with this blog that I've thought of the how many different cultures and backgrounds people come from. Oftentimes, people don't take the time to appreciate people of different backgrounds and that's how categories like asian, white, and black came about. I'm not saying that these terms are considered offensive but when people use these words to hurt someone or offend them. The results can be detrimental mentally and even physically. I used to experience the effects of name calling when I was in elementary school and middle school where I was often teased for my looks. I always wondered "why can't I be white or black so no one would tease me for how I look?" Now that I look back at those times, I've come to realize the people that teased me weren't ready to accept people of different backgrounds. Different languages, cultures, and faces bring people together and I've seen the results. As a senior in high school, from time to time I've experienced some teasing from peers at school but instead of being hurt by such words. I take those words and I return with kindness and understanding. From understanding my mother language, I'm able to understand and accept people of different cultures. And so I ask my readers, are you open to different cultures? races?

Words from Above

In my first post, I explained how I came to personally understand my mother language. I knew from a very young age that I looked different and for some time spoke differently than most people. I tried to conform to other people and act as if I was like any other person. But I still have a hard time fitting in at times because I haven't found my niche yet. I'm still trying to find out who I am and who I want to be. Since I was born in the United States and not my mother country, I am considered a Second-Generation Korean. Sometimes, I wish I was born in South Korea because then I wouldn't feel so disconnected to my own kind. At times when I feel down, I tend to vent my anger toward my parents, asking them "Why, why didn't you stay in South Korea?" Before they answered my question, my father gave me a minute to calm down and without a blink of an eye simply said,

"To give you a better life, we wanted you and your siblings to live a better life than the life we lived in South Korea.

"If your mother and I stayed in South Korea, your mother wouldn't have been able to become a nurse or I, a dentist...we wouldn't have let alone been able to provide food and a nice home like this."

"_my name__, the opportunities that this country has to offer to every single citizen, regardless of race or gender is given to all who choose to pursue it."

And what my parents said is true, this country, this democracy in which we live in day by day provides every single person the choice to be whatever they want to be whether you're a boy from a poor family or an immigrant. This country has been and still is the land of opportunity and hope. I never realized how lucky I am to live in this country until I heard those words. My parents are living proof of that. For four years now, I've been taking Japanese at school. I've learned that Japan, a male-dominated society allows few or no opportunities to women in employment or even in treatment among the opposite gender. In other parts of the world, problems may not be like Japan but equality among social classes or even religion.

I'm still learning every day, what "mother language" means to me....

"Language is something that one can't live with or without. It is essentially the way a person communicates amongst one another."

My mother language is not only another language, it is my identity and my life. 

The Beginning

The definition of mother language is the language(s) a person has learned from birth or the language of one's ethnic group. The first language I learned from birth was Korean even though I was born and raised in the United States. At home from the time I was a baby to when I was about six years old, I only spoke Korean because my parents spoke Korean to me and that was the only language I was exposed to. When I started elementary school, I was enrolled in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) to learn English. Surprisingly, it only took me about three years to learn English because the younger you are, the easier it is to learn languages. Then after I learned English, I began to slowly talk back to my parents in English rather than Korean. I really don't remember the period when I began to stop speaking Korean totally and just speak English but I know I felt like a part of me was missing. By the time I reached fifth grade, I slowly began to lose my ability to speak, write, and read in Korean because my exposure to Korean decreased while my exposure to English increased. My parents worked so they were not at home most of time and along with that I went to a Korean church but it was only once a week. However, I could still understand Korean but I couldn't speak Korean. So during the summer of sixth and seventh grade, my parents sent my siblings and I to Korean language school where we learned the basics of Korean and interacted with other Korean kids just like us. But a few weeks of Korean languages classes over the summer did not improve my Korean to the extent that I was able to speak Korean fluently.

Then during my eighth grade, I reached a turning point in my life. One day, my Korean friend from school invited me to her house to play. I had a great time dressing up in princess dresses and playing with her Bratz Dolls. The afternoon flew by and before long it was time to leave, so her mom prepared some snacks for us to eat. My friend had to get something upstairs so her mom and I were left downstairs eating our snacks silently. My friend's mom then asked me a question in Korean and I understood what she said but I couldn't reply back in Korean so I answered back in English. However, she couldn't understand what I was saying so for the rest of the time we sat in silence. The look on my friend's mother read a look of disappointment and pity, a look that was engraved in my mind for most of my childhood. I felt ashamed and embarrassed that I couldn't reply back in Korean. It was at this point in my life that something had to change. I didn't want to be looked at stupidly or strangely by other Koreans because I couldn't speak Korean. I didn't want to feel helpless. I looked at other Korean children my age and looked at myself thinking "Why can't I speak Korean and how can she speak Korean perfectly?" I began to blame myself and my parents for not being able to speak Korean. The feelings of depression and rebellion were seeping into my mind not because I couldn't speak Korean but because I didn't know who I was anymore. I didn't have anybody to talk to and nobody's shoulder to cry on. Along with that, I was teased throughout elementary school for how small my eyes were and how I talked. I didn't have many friends and being very shy around people didn't help.


"Something has to change, I have to learn Korean no matter what."


And so from eighth to tenth grade, I studied Korean vigorously, studying everything and anything I could find about Korean. I spent my free time studying Korean, watching Korean dramas, and listening to Korean music, essentially anything I could find to improve my Korean. Then by the time I reached tenth grade, I could read, speak and write Korean like any other Korean my age. I felt proud and accomplished that I was able to reach my goal in such a short amount of time. I could speak to other Koreans my age and I could talk back to my parents in Korean rather than in English. My confidence came back and a new chapter began in my life.