Krista Van Fleit, an associate professor of languages, literatures and cultures, said she is noticing that students are losing interest in studying languages. In an effort to make foreign languages more visible to students, South Quad hosts seven language tables.
Van Fleit is also the faculty director of the Global Fellows Living Learning Community in South Quad, she said gaining experience in another language and culture can be helpful in several circumstances. It is important to keep other languages alive and in practice on campus, Van Fleit said.
"Language tables have both language and culture embedded in them, so they can also kind of understand what life is like in a different place and other customs and how people exist in these other spaces," Van Fleit said. "I think it's important when they then move out into the world and meet people from different places."
Every Tuesday, students interested in Korean culture meet at a Korean language table hosted in South Quad. The student group discusses Korean-related issues, the Korean language and pop culture such as K-pop and K-dramas.
Graduate linguistics student Rok Sim serves as a Korean instructor and was connected with the Korean language table. Here, he acts as the table leader, preparing discussion topics for each meeting to connect with students outside the classroom.
"What I can deliver in the classroom is limited, ... but students want to learn more and want to go beyond the things that we do in the classroom," Sim said.
Sim said the language table offers students a space to learn about Korean culture in a more meaningful way, while also discussing pop culture. Having grown up in Korea, he wants to help other students communicate more easily with other cultures.
"I wanted to help those students to be prepared not only about the language but also for learning the cultures, so they can communicate with the people they encounter," Sim said.
Second-year elementary education student Katie Edelson began learning Korean in middle school and later moved to Korea to live and teach English for a year. According to Edelson, some of this year's meetings featured traditional games centered on the Lunar New Year, Korean folktales and baking popular Korean snacks such as the Dubai chocolate mochi cookies.
"It's a very social club. We're sitting around a table, we’re talking and discussing, we’re playing games together, and cooking together. So I think there is an aspect of getting to know people more," Edelson said. "Since a lot of the students going are Korean-American, they get to show more of their experiences."
Edelson also said the club is for those interested in the Korean language and culture, regardless of their experience with the language.
Graduate education student Adriana Carlucci has also traveled to Korea after studying the language for a year at USC. According to Carlucci, the club is more culturally focused, with mostly English discussion and Korean words and concepts sprinkled in.
"It’s welcome for everybody. There is no mastery of the language needed," Carlucci said. "So, if you’re a novice, ... it's moreso culture-focused."
Students are encouraged to come and help grow the program. With greater interest in the Korean language and culture, doors may open for Korean in the future, Van Fleit said.
According to Carlucci, the table is for everyone, helping students step out of their comfort zones by opening dialogue with new people in a new language, while still being fun and interesting.
"There is no pressure. And again, it might be awkward at times, but as long as you put in the effort to learn and just be there, being present, that's a really good thing. Be present, listen, interact and reflect," Carlucci said.