In today’s interconnected world, acquiring a second or even a third language has become increasingly important for personal and professional growth. This is why initiatives like Let’s fill this town with linguists are crucial in promoting linguistic diversity and creating a community of language learners and professionals. As part of this effort, we had the opportunity to interview Patrycja, a student from Poland who chose to study Korean in the UK. In this interview, we explore Patrycja’s motivations for learning Korean and her experience of studying in a different country. Through her story, we aim to inspire others to explore new languages and cultures and to emphasize the significance of supporting and educating the next generation of linguists. Join us as we delve into Patrycja’s journey and discover how initiatives like “Translations in London” are working to fill our towns with linguists.
Q: Hello Patrycja, thank you for joining us. Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
A: Hi, my name is Patrycja. I was born in Poland but currently reside in the UK, where I am a third-year student at York St John University studying Korean, TESOL, and Linguistics.
Q: What led you to choose Korean as a language to study, and why did you choose to study it in the UK?
A: I’ve always been drawn to learning new languages, and I felt that I had a natural aptitude for it. When I developed an interest in Korean pop culture, I decided to combine these two passions. As for studying in the UK, I believed it would offer more opportunities and better prospects for my future career.
Q: Based on your experience, how are languages taught in Poland compared to the UK?
A: In my opinion, Polish schools tend to be more stringent in their approach to language learning. In Poland, it is mandatory for all students to learn a foreign language, usually English, in addition to a third language. You can’t graduate from secondary school without passing your final exam in your second language, so there’s a considerable incentive to learn it. The expectation to achieve fluency in a second language is higher, and it is a common accomplishment. University language courses in the UK are more relaxed by comparison, with fewer contact hours to learn the language. However, each university has its own program, so it’s challenging to generalize. Learning Korean was particularly challenging for me because the course was still in its experimental phase, and many students found it to be more theoretical than practical.
Q: Does fluency in a second language help you learn a third? If so, how?
A: Yes, it does help. Having multiple languages as reference points is beneficial, even if the languages are vastly different. There are always elements of overlap, and having access to three databases of language knowledge helps in understanding certain phrases or concepts. Sometimes, I encounter a language hurdle in Korean that I can only overcome by referencing my knowledge of Polish or English. I don’t find it particularly difficult to learn a third language through my second language, and if I do struggle, technology makes it easy to find answers.
Q: How does technology and social media help you improve your second or third language, and which language has more sources (English or Korean)? What resources do you use?
A: Technology and social media have been instrumental in helping me improve my language skills. Formal education is necessary to establish a foundation in a language, but media exposure is where the real learning happens. Watching Korean dramas and playing games in Korean have been particularly useful in expanding my vocabulary and comprehension skills. However, unlike English, Korean requires more research to find suitable media sources. Overall, English has more media outlets, and since it is a ubiquitous language, it is easier to pick up from everyday interactions.
Q) What are your career aspirations?
A) My career aspirations involve pursuing a career in translation. In the future, I am considering doing a master’s course in English to Polish translation. Additionally, I am interested in working professionally with the Korean language. It is still early days, but I am excited about the possibilities.
Q) How did your arrival in Korea compare to your arrival in the UK in terms of using your second/third language?
A) My arrival in Korea was quite different from my arrival in the UK, primarily because my level of proficiency in English and Korean is vastly different. I had been learning English for nine years, with 4-10 hours of class a week and constant exposure through social media, while I had only been studying Korean for two years with 4 hours of class a week, supplemented by self-study and watching videos.
When I first moved to the UK, it was my first time moving to a different country, and I quickly realized that I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was. Despite having studied English for so long, I found it challenging to understand the language in its natural environment, with its accent mix and slang. However, my experience in Korea was different. While I knew that my Korean proficiency was limited, I was able to use the language more frequently and saw a significant improvement in my listening skills.
One thing I noticed was how culture affects language use. In the UK, people are very open to talking to strangers, and I was initially surprised by shop assistants asking about my day or random people at the bus stop striking up conversations. This was not the case in Korea, which is more like Poland in terms of people keeping to themselves. While I did have interactions with people in both countries, the frequency was much lower in Korea.