nsliy-korea2016-blog - Tumblr blog

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In my head, Ukrainian is to Russian as Persian is to Arabic; that less relevant second cousin who looks similar but acts completely different.

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real talk I need more language loving friends ????

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Too many times the Spanish language is subjected to a barbaric butchering of its beautiful sound and its harmonious structure. Growing up in the United States I would often hear Spanish being spoken by non-Spanish speakers in a mocking, almost dismissive, way. Luckily, nowadays, there seems to be more of a push for truth. This is my contribution towards that truth.

HOW NOT TO SOUND LIKE A GRINGO WHEN SPEAKING SPANISH

1. NO PROBLEMO

No. Sandwiching an English noun between an el and a letter O, does not make it Spanish; nor is it ingenious anymore. Seen it. Heard it. Next.

2. MI CASA ES SU CASA

This one is sweet. It implies that Latino households are warm and hospitable. This is very true, however, Latinos don’t have to say this because it’s implied! The closest I’ve ever heard to this phrase is: Estás en tu casa. For example; if you ask to use the restroom at someone’s home, they might say: Claro, estás en tu casa. This means, “Of course, you’re in your own home.”

3. MUY CALIENTE!

You might say this if the soup burned your tongue, but never is it used to describe someone’s sex appeal. Spanish has a million and one ways of expressing attraction towards someone. Two of the most commonly used phrases are “¡Qué guapo/a!” and “¡Qué chulo/a!” 

4. RAPIDO, RAPIDO! ANDALE, ANDALE! ARRIBA, ARRIBA!

<Sigh> I won’t mention that cartoon mouse as it’s way before the average Tumblr user’s time. However, I have noticed that The Amazing Race contestants love to yell “rapido, rapido!” at taxi drivers from Spanish-speaking countries. I understand where they’re coming from, and I don’t blame them, but this is plain rude. Say this instead: ¿Puede ir un poco más deprisa, por favor?

5. NO COJONES

If you want to tell someone they have no balls, tell them in English! Don’t veil your contempt for someone by misusing the Spanish language. A common way of saying this accurately is: No tienes agallas. It’s strong without being vulgar.

6. COMPRENDE?!

The condescending use of “comprende” when a Spanish speaker does not understand something is the height of humiliation. Try getting some help. If you actually do speak Spanish, there’s another way of saying this: ¿Me hago entender?

7. HASTA LA VISTA

I’ve never heard any Spanish speakers ever say this. Along with adiós, “hasta la vista” is seriously misused and abused. Read my previous post on other ways of saying adiós by clicking <HERE>. 

8. AMIGO

Yes, Spanish-speaking people are friendly, but that does not make them your amigo. Wait for them to call you “mi parce” or “mi compa” before you reciprocate. True amigos don’t call each other amigo.

9. NO BUENO

This popular phrase is incorrect on so many levels. At best, it sounds like a phrase that a Spanish-speaker might put together during early infancy. To learn the different ways to express that something is not good click <HERE>.

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When I hear native speakers of my target language I wanna bump into them so that I can say sorry in their language.

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language learning is feeling like you’re not making any progress at all for months and then looking up one day and realizing you’re at a completely different level than you were before

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Bilinguals overwhelmingly report that they feel like different people in different languages. It is often assumed that the mother tongue is the language of the true self. (…) But, it first languages are reservoirs of emotion, second languages can be rivers undammed, freeing their speakers to ride different currents.

Love in Translation by Lauren Collins from the New Yorker, August 8 & 15, 2016 (via blackteaandlanguages)

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I just got really excited about learning Indonesian even though I'm not learning Indonesian? What does this mean

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Essay Stress(ay)

Right now, in regards to my application, the thing I'm most concerned with is the essays. I feel as though I've communicated much of myself and my motivations, but I also feel like I may have rambled too much or didn't include certain points that maybe I should. My mom (who is fantastic at English) is reviewing them soon for errors, but I'm starting to wonder if I should meet up with someone at my college who specializes in this area. Could what I've already written be perfectly fine? Could going over it with someone be the difference between me going and not going? I know it would be quite easy to consult someone about my essays, but a combination of the anxiety of trying to find someone and the mild bitterness when I get critiques (I honestly love hearing critiques and feedback, but my mind doesn't handle it well for some reason) is keeping me from doing it. I'm sure there are online sources like alumni and just people willing to improve essays in general, but would it just be better to go out and find someone who 100% knows what they're doing? We'll see soon enough...

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CLS Japan

(wow I really haven't been posting here okok) So I decided to apply for the CLS Japanese program! I decided that it was better for me in the end because Japanese is the first language I ever self-studied and it caused all these wonderful things in my life to happen. I've been studying it for about six years yet my Korean—which I've studied for about four years now—is almost as good as my Japanese (and often times more grammatically correct since I studied it with more guidance and partly from NSLI-Y). HOW CAN I LET THAT HAPPEN I used to always say "I can speak Japanese and Korean but my Japanese is WAY BETTER than my Korean" and now that's not so true anymore. Going to Japan was my 10-year-old self's dream, so passing it up to go back to Korea would honestly be a missed opportunity. Now, that being said, IF I get into the program, then I'm planning on applying to the Korean program next year to continue my Korean studies (which I definitely would love to do). If I don't get in, I'll probably re-apply to the Japanese program because now my mind is REALLY set on going. Being a freshman in college does make the whole application process a little bit more stressful. CLS is geared towards college students of all ages, so they're not going to baby me through anything. My letters of recommendation are both coming from professors who just met me about five weeks ago and I'm meticulously writing my essays to really bring across my passion to those who'll be reading it. Plus, if I do get in, I have a feeling that I'm going to be one of the youngest (if not, the youngest) people on the program. Like...a 19-year-old going to Japan in an intermediate class with a whole bunch of real adults who have jobs and houses and pay taxes... Obviously I would LOVE to meet all of them no matter their age or life situation, but it just feels a bit intimidating since I'm so young and inexperienced (；ω；) Whenever I think about whether I'll get in or not, I feel that deja vu from around this time last year when I was applying to NSLI-Y. I kept thinking things like "I'm super qualified, of course I'll get in!" "The acceptance rate is only 10%, I probably won't get in." "I'm one of the oldest people here and I've studied Korean for so long, I'm definitely gonna get in." "There's probably so many people who have studied Korean in high school, my self-studying won't get me in." If any of you are applying or have applied, you might have felt something similar. At first, I came into CLS with so much confidence since I just came back from the NSLI-Y program, but now I'm thinking about all of the stuff that I'm lacking that could potentially prevent me from getting in. Time to set my standards reaaaaaally low again!

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When I start learning a new language

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Just letting everyone know

NSLI-Y applications are open now!

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Ahh

I haven't posted anything recently and I might not for a while since the reverse culture shock is hitting me hard and I'm starting college soon. When I have time, I'll definitely share all sorts of things about NSLI-Y and my travels as a whole! For soon-to-be-applicants, feel free to ask about anything. Even if I don't post anything here, I'll be checking my inbox quite often. Also, I'm 99% sure I'll be applying for the Critical Language Scholarship, but I'm not sure whether to pick Korean or Japanese. Unlike NSLI-Y, you can only pick one. I really miss Korea already along with the culture, food, and people, but I'm better at Japanese, REALLY want to improve my Japanese skills (I feel like I've plateaued in studying whereas my Korean gets better and better every day), and I've never been to Japan before. Applications open next month, but I'm really torn between the two... If I apply to CLS and get in, I'll definitely make another blog for it or just make this account a NSLI-Y/CLS hybrid. Also, even though this isn't an official NSLI-Y post, I want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone involved in the program. I changed a whole lot as a person and developed a greater understanding of Korean language and culture thanks to the NSLI-Y staff and participants. I'm going to make sure to do everything I can to repay NSLI-Y whether it be volunteering on the program or getting a job where I use what I learned on the program. I never would've thought that a month and a half could be life-changing, but it's probably the most life-changing thing I've ever done.

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How come I am just finding this

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June 27

Flight to PDO Good morning~ I just woke up (for the third time and decided I couldn’t fall back asleep this time) and I’m gonna leave for the airport in about 5 hours. I’ll be the last one arriving at PDO due to my airport, layovers, when I’m leaving, etc (the time difference between the first people arriving and me is about 10 hours!) Honestly, I don’t even care. I’m just excited to be going. We’re all so excited and nervous in the group chat. The only things that I need to pack now are things that I’m gonna use this morning (my phone, charger, headphones, flat iron, toothbrush, etc.) Still nervous that I’m gonna mess something up or leave something home, but I doubt it. At least I know I have everything I need. I’ll see everyone at PDO! (Wow, that’s so weird to say)

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June 26

First contact I emailed the contact email listed on the host family information sheet and never got a reply. Turns out that it's because it was my host sister's email (???) and since she's so busy studying for exams (and because she's a teenager who probably doesn't frequent her inbox) she never replied. HOWEVER my host mom emailed me this morning and I couldn't believe it. I honestly was just expecting them to never reply, so the fact that my host family actually sent me an email first was so awesome! So far I would describe my host mom as "chill and cute". The combination of her being a yoga instructor and her being on the older side might be why. (She's around the same age as my aunt who does yoga, actually!) I added her on Kakao and now her and my host sister have a little group chat~

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My hair definitely faded, but a little too much! (It looked orange in my passport pictures) I had leftover dye, but not that much, so we decided to just dye the underside. Now the outside is almost rose gold and the underside is hot pink. Really loving how it looks! (Plus, if my host family thinks people with dyed hair are punks or something, now I can hide it lol)