Language: Korean
Writer's Background: I began learning Korean when I was 11 years old by listening to Korean music.
Something interesting about the Korean language is that its alphabet is so easy to learn for a reason. The creator of 한굴 (or Hangul, the Korean alphabet) wanted an easy alphabet system so that the language was easy to learn.
I remember beginning to learn basic Korean when I was eleven, and I thought that Korean music had a certain type of sound, and a certain type of beauty that couldn’t be replicated. That year was 2010, and Korean music, shortened to K-pop by international fans, hadn’t been too huge on the American market. When I began to learn the language, I remember being looked at weirdly by friends and family members. It would be mocked as being “Chinese,” or they wouldn’t understand why I wanted to learn such a complicated language at such a young age. As I grew older, Korean music began to be more embraced by American audiences. Learning the language now seemed more like a norm and less like something weird. It was so easy to encounter different people with the same interests, and the language became more and more accessible to learn.
I remember the first word that I learned in Korean was “사랑” or “Love.” The word still means a lot to me to this day. I’ve experienced a lot of things in life that I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t begun to learn this new language: I went to my first ever concert, I competed in a Korean music festival, and I’ve become friends with so many people who have the exact same passion that I do. The language has opened me up to learning about another culture, and its history, food, music, and pride. I feel as though taking a chance to learn about another culture has opened me up mentally to do anything that I set my mind to.
Editor's Note: Hallyu or the "Korean Wave" refers to the increasing popularity of South Korean entertainment and culture across the globe. Starting in the 1990s with Korean television dramas becoming well-known in Asia, this cultural phenomenon has expanded to include other aspects of Korean culture, such as its food and language. Currently, the forefront of the Korean Wave is K-pop, Korean music, which has massive followings in North America, South America, and Europe in addition to Asia. Consequently, this has led to more enthusiasm around the world to learn Korean, so fans can connect even more with the music that inspires them. In the picture above, K-pop group BTS is performing at the 2017 American Music Awards, demonstrating the K-pop industry's growing international presence in the music scene.
Cowart is a freshman studying at Montclair University in Montclair, NJ.
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