A study on Foreign Language learning for Indi...

A study on Foreign Language learning for Indian learners : Focusing on Hindi, Bangla and Korean language

Author Name : Dr. Neerja Samajdar

Abstract Learning a foreign language is a special scenario with its own challenges and opportunities. Learning a language, not only, mean learning new linguistics forms but also involves deeper understanding and acceptance of foreign culture and traditions. The connection between language and culture is such that it is impossible to understand and appreciate one without the knowledge of the other. For a foreign language learner, it is an understanding well beyond the textbooks and it lies in the true intricacies and understandings of its cultural elements. These cultural elements are reflected in the language in its real use in the social exchanges. These form the unqiue characteristics, exceptional patterns and expressions in a language. This study deals with examining the use of these special features of Korean, which is studied as foreign language in India. Bringing out the native Korean culture with the pattern of Kinship expressions, use of Proverbs and Formal–Informal colloquial expressions, Korean adds on to the beauty of diversity of Multilingual background of India. To understand and assist the Indian students to learn Korean language, this study tries to compare and analyse these language features in Hindi, Bangla and English with Korean. Hindi, Bangla and English are choosen considering their use and role in Indian multilingual scenario. This study touches upon the Pre/Post-Positions, Relative pronouns, S-O-V/S-V-O pattern, Code Shifting/ Code Switching, Kinship expressions, Pronouns, Name/Calling references, Formal-Informal expressions, Proverbs, and Situational-Colloquial expressions. The analysis in this paper can provide a base for further social-linguistics comparative studies. However, a deeper understanding through critical analysis shall be required for proposing structured learning and teaching stragtegies for Indian students.