Writing English in Lands of Foreign Languages

[pjthefey]

I'm an English Major at the University of Washington who just began a study abroad in South Korea however I am doing an independent study with my favorite English professor back in the USA which requires me to to compose my most challenging writing assignment yet - a novella.

This post isn't so much a call for advice in this matter as it is to give myself a chance to vent some of my current struggles and unanticipated complications of the experience, and give others the chance to weigh in with their own experiences, empathize, or perhaps become more aware of what it's like to be an English major in a non-English speaking country.

Anyway... On with the show!

The theme of my independent study is "Literature of Immigrants" with a heavy (to be honest, thus far exclusive) focus on 1800s-early 1900s Asian Immigration to the United States. Last Quarter I began the study as a research project, and we decided to continue the study the following quarter with the before mentioned creative writing focus.

Initial Thoughts

I initially planned to write a story about a supernatural being from Asia that unexpectedly found herself released from captivity in America in the 1870s, however since I've actually been in Korea my motivation for this story has dwindled to mere coals when it had been a fire. I made an outline before hoping to breathe more life into it with first hand experience in Korea, but the inspiration I expected to find here is missing. Living in the steel and concrete forest that is Seoul has made me feel distinctly disconnected from any sense of the mystical or even natural.

New Directions

In spite of the before mentioned setback I have actually became inspired to write a new story that is half autobiography half fiction. Since I've been in Korea I have experienced some truly amazing things related to the Korean Entertainment industry that I certainly did not expect within my first month overseas. I've met celebrities (including my favorite music group... 4 times), have been on TV multiple times, and watched live music TV shows from right next to the stage with the backup dancers. A lot of the goals that I'd set out for myself were accomplished so quickly that I've had to create bigger and more ambitious ones to fill the empty space and the new project will be about accomplishing them as a foreigner in overseas.

Complications

The first and least bothersome complication is that I didn't get the new story approved yet. My professor likes me however, and it does kind of fit the theme of the study and her previous non-independent study assignments so I don't think this will be a problem.

The bigger problem[/i] I'm facing is the limited scope of using the English language in Korea; I'm not making full use of my vocabulary. It's just too much for most foreign speakers to take in. Unfortunately this is also hurting my writer's voice because I've started thinking in terms of simplified English for the benefit of expressing myself to those around me and I seem to have a lot of linguistic inertia.

About a week and a half ago I decided to watch American TV shows to make sure I don't lose my native language, however this had unexpectedly negative consequences. While I became more comfortable with English, my comprehension of Korean plummeted until I was no longer hearing individual words around me, just generalized "Korean speaking."

Such a pain...

Anyway... I've got a lot of writing to do. I just wanted to vent and ramble a bit because it helps me to focus my thoughts.

[onlyaworkingtitle]

If you haven't read Maxine Hong Kingston's work (I'm thinking China Men), you really must, as it is an auto/bio/fiction hodge-podge about Chinese-American immigrants and cultural wackiness and whatnot. Might help supply inspiration, or at the very least show you something similar and help you find your own unique direction to take the genre. Also, nothing is more inspiring than momentum -- start working on it whenever you have the time, regardless of whether you want to, and the wanting will come.

On the language front: You're in a bind. Just remind yourself that this first draft is by no means the last draft, that you can always revise it as many times as you need to, and that simple language can be beautiful, too. Write it however you can now, then come back to it in 6-9 months (when you've a) returned to an English-speaking country and b) "cleansed your palate," so to speak) and edit, revise, and polish 'til your arms fall off. That's really all you can do.

[tosney]

Well, if you make the story the half autobiography thing instead, and its about an American in Korea, you could use the simplified English as a tool to show what its like language-wise over there, rather than as a detriment to your writing. You can show how the character starts out with complex language and simplifies it as they get used to using simple English for the Koreans. It's really kinda fascinating how a different culture affects our brain.

I know exactly what you're talking about, though. When I stayed in Thailand for two weeks my English simplified immensely. Luckily I was there with another American to keep up my English. Then when I got home I had a spanish exchange student and the same phenomena occurred. I think its because each new language you learn is stored in a different part of the brain, and one needs effort to switch between the two.

Also, let me note how jealous I am. I loved staying in another country and can't wait for an opportunity to do it again. Enjoy it!