In today’s globalized world, many people learn second and third foreign languages for academic and career pursuit, or simply as a hobby. As I teach Spanish language classes in Gachon University, I observe that Korean students also enjoy learning Spanish with enthusiasm. I feel happy and grateful to study with such bright and sincere students.
Nevertheless, many students in Korea and United States consider Spanish as a difficult Latin-based language to learn. For Korean speakers, Spanish grammar is challenging. For Americans, Spanish pronunciation can be problematic. In this brief article, I would like to introduce few tips for learning Spanish in an efficient way, especially since most of Gachon members are bilingual in Korean and English languages. When you combine Korean and English, Spanish can be fun and easy!
Here are the tips:
First, learn to pronounce Spanish language, taking advantage of your Korean language knowledge. Spanish letters follow a strong sound pattern. Make an effort to pronounce every letter solidly and clearly. For example, “K” sounds like Korean “ㄲ”, “S” would be “ㅆ”, and “T” is similar to “ㄸ”. A well-practiced reading ability will give you an upper hand in learning Spanish faster, and also make you look like a real pro.
Second, pick up a professional-level book in Spanish. Medical or science textbook, or a legal newspaper would be great. Why choose such a difficult book? Because you will actually understand it better. In fact, approximately 40% of Spanish and English professional words are similar or even spelled the same. For example, guess what “economía” means. How about “biotecnología”, or “legislación”? They are economy, biotechnology, and legislation.
Lastly, once you know how to pronounce and have chosen a good text, it is now time to translate. Pick a Spanish phrase that contains the most words that you can possibly guess in terms of English. You would be surprised at your own skills. For example, try translating the following phrases into English: “profesora inteligente”, “universidad en Corea”, and “hospital excelente”. The translations are: “intelligent professor”, “university in Korea”, and “excellent hospital”. For this task, you would probably not need a dictionary. A sharp observer will even notice an important Spanish grammar lesson: the adjective goes after noun, unlike in English.
I hope this article was enjoyable and pleasant to read. Now the autumn sun is shining so delightfully above Visiontower. The colorful leaves are turning red and yellow in the mountains behind the student dormitory. November is such a beautiful and plentiful season! Please take a seat with a good Spanish book, sip a creamy cappuccino, and have a wonderful day. Gracias.
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▲ Dept of. Business, Law
Prof. Oh Sara Seyoon
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