Yunhee J   

★★★★★

15 Years of Teaching Experience, Passionate about Language, Culture, and Education

What is your favorite word in your language and why?

There are many words that I like. Some I like for the sound and some for the meaning. I like the sound of 퐁당퐁당. It is an adverb that describes the sound when you throw a tiny object in the water. 퐁 gives the feeling of the sound that falls into water and 당 gives the feeling of instant ripples and expanding. I like 인간(human), 시간(time), 공간(space) for the meaning. 간 means 'between, relationship'. 인간 - Human cannot be human all by oneself. Human is social being. The word 인간 reflects it. 시간 - We usually don't have a chance to think of the concept of time. But, if we think of it, I can tell only 'presence' exist. No 'past' exist. No 'future' exist. So 시간(time) is what we invented for convenience of describing away from the actual existence. 공간- The space is the empty place or distance 'between' objects, things or people. There are space even between two atoms. This word can also mean the mental space also.

What is your favorite dish from your hometown? If you no longer live there is there a good local restaurant that serves it?

There are many so it's hard to pick one. 비빔밥 is definitely one of them. 비빔 means 'mixture, mixing' and 밥 means 'cooked rice'. It not only tastes good but also nutrition wise well balanced with grain, lots and lots of vegetables and a little bit of meat or fried egg on top. It can also be a excellent vegetarian dish without meat!

Besides the languages you teach, do you speak or study any other languages?

I took a few Spanish and Chinese classes. Currently I am learning German.

What are your interests outside of teaching at Strommen?

I like watching Sunset every day and it is beautiful and makes me think of nature and life. It's amazing and I never get bored of it. I like walking the beach feeling the sand with bare feet, hearing ocean waves and feeling the greatness of the nature. I like hiking and love to weave through the giant pine trees and over the tiny brooks. Playing guitar is my new hobby and it's challenging and fun at the same time.

What do you consider your hometown? Why do you love it?

Surrounded by many people and high rise apartment buildings, I didn't think of the concept of 'hometown' while living in Seoul. Now, living in California often people ask me if I miss my 'hometown'. But, Seoul is ever-changing city and though it is the place where I was born and grew up, I know it is no longer the place that I remember. Like we know the difference between 'home' vs. 'house', I think the 'hometown' is where I live now with my loved ones with my loving heart. Where I am and my home is my 'hometown' and I always love it regardless where it physically is located at.