And the winner is…
Friday was the day of my biggest Korean challenge thus far: The annual Korean speech contest organized by the Korean Embassy. I had been rehearsing like crazy for over a month, […]
Pieces of a Danish girl's daily life in Korea
Friday was the day of my biggest Korean challenge thus far: The annual Korean speech contest organized by the Korean Embassy. I had been rehearsing like crazy for over a month, […]
Friday was the day of my biggest Korean challenge thus far: The annual Korean speech contest organized by the Korean Embassy. I had been rehearsing like crazy for over a month, almost to the point where the words in my speech no longer made any sense to me. But hard work pays off and I ended up taking the grand prize which was a round-trip ticket to Korea! I cannot thank my Korean language partner enough. If it hadn’t been for his strong encouragement, guidance, and honest feedback I would never have made it.
I have spoken in public on many occasions. Obviously when I’m giving lectures, but also at countless econ and policy conferences around the world. I therefore felt somewhat at ease, although this time was the first time that I would give a public address in Korean. The audience consisted of the Korean ambassador and his wife, several officials from the Embassy, other invited Koreans and Korean professors, and of course the other contestants. In total around 50 people.
As usual before such a performance, the five minutes before my turn is up are pure torture. When my name was called, I knew that this was the time to give it all I had. More than win the first prize I wanted to show myself and the audience the result of hard work and determination. I delivered my speech clearly and without making any mistakes. It also helped tremendously that I had brought some friends along to cheer me on. Through my speech I could feel the audience react to my story and I knew that my speech would leave a lasting impression.
I spoke to the ambassador’s wife during a short break, and she was just so kind and encouraging telling me that my speech had really touched her heart. When I told that I will be spending a year as a visiting scholar at Sogang University in Seoul starting next August, the ambassador insisted on introducing me to a contact of his who works there.
After all 16 or so contestants had given their speeches, the judges were left alone to vote. It probably only took them 15 minutes but it seemed like an eternity. Finally, we were called back into the auditorium, and they began announcing the winners starting with 3rd place. When they finally named me as the Grand Prize winner, I could hardly believe it. The ambassador handed me a big cardboard gift card for a trip to Korea, and a beautiful diploma with his official seal naming me as the winner. This is much more elegant than my PhD diploma, and frankly it also means so much more to me!
The most interesting thing is that both first and second prizes went to contestants who self-study Korean. This only goes to show that when you put your mind to it and work hard, nothing is impossible. I’m extremely thankful to the embassy for organizing the event, for choosing me as the winner, and for giving out such a generous prize. I’ll always look back on this achievement as a significant milestone in my quest toward Korean fluency.
Here are some pictures from the day:
You can watch a short clip of me giving the speech here.
My entire speech is here:
안녕하세요 여러분 제 이름은 소희 라고 합니다. 이 자리에서 여러분에게 인사 할 수 있게 되어 너무나 영광입니다.
저에게 한국어는 사랑입니다.
제가 한국어에 관심을 가지게 된 이유는 바로 사랑하는 남편 때문입니다. 저의 남편은 한국에서 태어났습니다. 하지만 한국에서 태어난 지 6개월 만에 덴마크로 입양되었습니다. 그래서 그는 한국어와 한국문화에 대해 아무것도 모릅니다. 저는 사랑하는 그를 위해 한국어를 배우기로 결심했습니다. 한국어를 열심히 배워 그에게 한국어를 알려주고 싶기 때문입니다.
제가 살고 있는 오르후스에서는 한국어를 배우기가 쉽지 않았습니다. 수업 또한 찾아 볼 수가 없었습니다. 그래서 저는 한국어를 독학 했습니다. 거울을 바라고 혼잣말로 연습하고 매일아침 일어나자 마자 한국라디오를 듣고 밤낮으로 따라했습니다.
그러나 이렇게 공부하다가 외로운 느낌을 받았습니다. 왜냐하면 누구에게도 한국어로 대화할 수 없었기 때문입니다.
그런던 중, 운이 좋게 한국에서 온 교환학생을 만나게 되었습니다. 그는 너무 바빠 저를 만날 시간이 없다고 했습니다. 하지만 저의 한국어에 대한 열정을 높이 산 그는, 결국 저의 한국어 선생님이 되어 주었습니다.
이분이 한국에 돌아간 후에도 다른 학생들을 만날 수 있었습니다. 그들과 대화를 하면서 한국문화에 대해 많이 배웠습니다. 한국문화를 알아가면서 한국을 더 사랑하게 되었습니다. 이 친구들의 지지 없이는이 대회에 참가하지 못했을 겁니다.
지난 12월, 남편과 함께 처음으로 한국에 갔습니다. 한국은 저희에게 낯선나라 일 줄 알았는데 막상 한국에 갔었을 때, 깜짝 놀랐습니다. 한국인들이 저희에게 다 친절했기 때문입니다. 누구나 제 서투른 한국말로 남편의 이야기를 들으면, 미소짓고 저희에게 무엇을 도와 줄 수 있냐고 물어봤습니다. 이런 따뜻한 환영을 통해 직접 이미 들었던 단어 ” 정” 즉 특별한 한국의 사랑을 느꼈습니다.
한국어를 공부하기 전에 이런 열정이 생길거라고 상상하지 못했습니다. 그리고 저에게 꿈이 생겼습니다. 제 꿈은 남편의 한국어 선생님이 되는 겁니다. 그래서 그와 함께 그의 모국에서 사는 것입니다.
사랑하는 남편때문에 시작된 저의 한국어 공부가 결국 한국을 사랑하게 만들었습니다. 그래서 저에게 한국어는 사랑입니다. 한국에서 살기 위한 저의 목표를 이루기 위해 앞으로도 한국어를 열심히 배우도록 노력할 겁니다.
저의 연설을 들어주셔서 감사합니다.
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I wish I could like this multiple times 🙂 짱 짱 짱!!!
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That is a speech that comes from your heart.잘 했어요. 축하해요.
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Thank you so much!! 감사합니다~~
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Wow, you speak Korean so beautifully! I love your voice. It’s very nice and amazing to see you and hear you. ❤
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Aww, thank you so much for such a sweet compliment!! ❤
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oh my god this is amazing!! my heartfelt congratulations ;; enjoy your trip :3
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Thank you so much!! I will 🙂
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Congratulations! Have a fabulous trip!
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Thank you!! 🙂
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You did so well! Congratulations again! A true inspiration 😀
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Thank you so much Mena! 😀 So happy!
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Wow you are amazing! And what an awesome prize! 축하해요~!
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Aww, thanks guys!! 감사합니다~~ BTW I seem to remember that you were going to Seoul soon. Any chance we might overlap? We’ll be there from 12.22~01.05 ^^
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oh nooooo! we leave 12.13! what are the odds? we are confused – under the impression you were living there now? or maybe you were at some point in the past? haha.
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Haha! What ARE the odds?! 🙂 Actually, I live in Denmark and have only been visiting Korea. However, after this year’s trip over the holidays we will spend a year in Seoul from next August. So excited!
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a-ha! thanks for setting us straight 🙂 so sad to be missing you! so close, yet so far…we don’t have our next trip planned yet but maybe it will fall during your year in Seoul!
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Congratulations! You really deserve it. You have worked so hard on your Korean and in your preparation for the competition and it has really payed off. 🙂
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Thank you so much. It’s honestly such a relief to be on the other side. So very glad I did it though! 🙂
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Absolutely fantastic! Congratulations! What you have accomplished is so inspiring, and it encourages me to keep studying every day!
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Thank you so much for these warming words! I’m honored and happy that you find inspiration in what I do ❤ Keep it up! 화이팅^^
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