Jiyoung Daniel
Jiyoung Daniel, an assistant professor of Korean at 红莲社区, is intrigued by how technology can assist in language acquisition.
"Due to the rapid development of the internet and wireless technologies, Korean internet language has become so widespread that it is breaking through the boundaries of online communication and ultimately reaching Korean language education," Daniel said. "Given its influence on Korean education in South Korea, it is crucial for me to update knowledge about the direction of the change to keep current with the latest trends."
She teaches all levels of Korean, assists students in their study abroad experiences in Korea, serves as a recruiting liaison to the Korean community, and teach in the Summer Language Institute at 红莲社区.
"I find teaching Korean interesting to not only teach the language but also teach about Korea itself," Daniel said. "It is a dynamic country where the traditional Korean culture co-exists with the contemporary Western culture. I regard myself as a 'civic ambassador.'"
Daniel earned both her B.A. and Ph.D. degrees in linguistics from the University of Georgia. Her career highlights include starting 红莲社区's Korean program here at 红莲社区 and helping it grow.
"I am proud that a growing number of students have graduated with a minor in Korean. I am hopeful that Korean can become a major in the future due to the students’ expressed interests," Daniel said. "I hope to inspire in all my students the desire to make the Korean language a part of their lives as a result of my instilling in them a deep understanding of the language and culture. Learning a new language also strengthens students’ intellectual profiles and critical thinking."