Traditional Korean Folk Tales and Poetry Presented By Students
Marie Barlow
Issue date: 5/14/02 Section: Features
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For many, the month of April is usually associated with springtime clichés of flowers blooming, brisk breezes, and occasional raindrops. However, for enthusiasts of iambic pentameter or a well-turned couplet, April was also National Poetry Month.
The English Department recognized National Poetry Month with a series of lectures and readings entitled, "Poetry Plus 2002."
One featured event was an evening of Korean folk tales and poetry hosted by Korean instructor Hea Salzman, a native Korean who grew up in Seoul.
Salzman, who was a certified librarian in South Korea, explained to the audience of Korean and literature students, that in order to understand Korean folk tales, one must first place them in the context of the culture.
Seven students presented readings of native Korean folklore and poetry. The folk stories expressed the archetypal themes of good winning over evil, the value of even humble individuals, and awe at creation. The stories were simple and direct in meaning, with fabled endings and, like all folk literature, expressive of the traditional values of the people.
The next segment of the evening was a presentation by Salzman's students from her Korean 113 class.
"They are a unique group," she said. "Usually this class is very diversified, but this semester, they are all second-generation Korean."
Each student presented an overhead with a poem written in its original Korean language and then translated into English.
Several students (some dressed in native Korean garb) read, including students Misty De Libertis and Gina Sulley Andrew Roth, Leona Villa, Jade Shaltry, Lisa Chang, Michael Romijin, Kwon-Ryoon Lee, and Jack Simpson.
When they read in Korean, there was fluidity and a repetition to the words that was lost in the poems' translated counterparts. Like the folk stories, the poems entitled, "Seagull," "Stay at Home," "Azaleas," and "Communication" writen by Kim Chunsu. reflected themes of deep love of nature and beauty intertwined with human relationships.
"Most people think Korean is a very difficult language to learn," Salzman explained. "It is actually very easy. Students can learn to read Korean on the first day they come to class."
She said that the Korean language is a phonetic one making it easy to learn to pronounce. And that the real secret to communicating in Korean, is learning which level of formality to use depending on the social situation.
Salzman, herself, is well aware of the trials of learning a foreign language; She said that when she first moved to America, she would spend 6 hours a night reading over 20 pages of text for her college classes.
Arriving to the U.S., the Korean instructor brought a deep love and appreciation for her own culture that she tries to project to her students. She said that her classes are not only for learning the language, but also for learning about the culture.
The English Department recognized National Poetry Month with a series of lectures and readings entitled, "Poetry Plus 2002."
One featured event was an evening of Korean folk tales and poetry hosted by Korean instructor Hea Salzman, a native Korean who grew up in Seoul.
Salzman, who was a certified librarian in South Korea, explained to the audience of Korean and literature students, that in order to understand Korean folk tales, one must first place them in the context of the culture.
Seven students presented readings of native Korean folklore and poetry. The folk stories expressed the archetypal themes of good winning over evil, the value of even humble individuals, and awe at creation. The stories were simple and direct in meaning, with fabled endings and, like all folk literature, expressive of the traditional values of the people.
The next segment of the evening was a presentation by Salzman's students from her Korean 113 class.
"They are a unique group," she said. "Usually this class is very diversified, but this semester, they are all second-generation Korean."
Each student presented an overhead with a poem written in its original Korean language and then translated into English.
Several students (some dressed in native Korean garb) read, including students Misty De Libertis and Gina Sulley Andrew Roth, Leona Villa, Jade Shaltry, Lisa Chang, Michael Romijin, Kwon-Ryoon Lee, and Jack Simpson.
When they read in Korean, there was fluidity and a repetition to the words that was lost in the poems' translated counterparts. Like the folk stories, the poems entitled, "Seagull," "Stay at Home," "Azaleas," and "Communication" writen by Kim Chunsu. reflected themes of deep love of nature and beauty intertwined with human relationships.
"Most people think Korean is a very difficult language to learn," Salzman explained. "It is actually very easy. Students can learn to read Korean on the first day they come to class."
She said that the Korean language is a phonetic one making it easy to learn to pronounce. And that the real secret to communicating in Korean, is learning which level of formality to use depending on the social situation.
Salzman, herself, is well aware of the trials of learning a foreign language; She said that when she first moved to America, she would spend 6 hours a night reading over 20 pages of text for her college classes.
Arriving to the U.S., the Korean instructor brought a deep love and appreciation for her own culture that she tries to project to her students. She said that her classes are not only for learning the language, but also for learning about the culture.