Yelena Shin of Kazakhstan speaks during a Korean speech contest organized by Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul on Oct. 6, 2014. Shin won the grand prize. (Photo courtesy of Ewha Woman’s University) (Yonhap)
That’s pretty good. I can’t imagine what it would take for me to learn the language well enough to give a speech, much less win a contest in Korea. But that’s pretty good.
Is she part Korean?
In other news, Matt Drudge is still having fun at tbone’s expense:
Setnaffa, she sure does look like she is part Korean and her last name is Shin which is a Korean surname. So she may be a foreigner, but I wonder if she grew up being taught Korean or not? I would think they would limit this contest to foreigners that attended university in Korea to learn Korean.
Tom
10 years ago
Her husband is Korean, and she changed her last name to his, but kept her first name, when she took up Korean citizenship. Some central Asians look exactly like Korean, some look like Russians, and many look mixed.
setnaffa
10 years ago
Regardless, winning a public speaking contest in a language other than one’s first language is pretty awesome.
That’s pretty good. I can’t imagine what it would take for me to learn the language well enough to give a speech, much less win a contest in Korea. But that’s pretty good.
Is she part Korean?
In other news, Matt Drudge is still having fun at tbone’s expense:
Obama slams GOP as party of millionaires…
During $32,000-per-plate fundraiser…
Hosted by man named Rich…
Setnaffa, she sure does look like she is part Korean and her last name is Shin which is a Korean surname. So she may be a foreigner, but I wonder if she grew up being taught Korean or not? I would think they would limit this contest to foreigners that attended university in Korea to learn Korean.
Her husband is Korean, and she changed her last name to his, but kept her first name, when she took up Korean citizenship. Some central Asians look exactly like Korean, some look like Russians, and many look mixed.
Regardless, winning a public speaking contest in a language other than one’s first language is pretty awesome.
Setnaffa, I agree it is still impressive to win a contest like this even though it is not your native language.
Wow…a comment from Tom that is actually informative and useful…what has the world come to…??