Title: South Korean Interpreter Becomes Star at Sharjah International Book Fair
Publication Date: Sun 5 Nov 2023, 3:10 PM
Janna Kim, a regular girl from South Korea, has become a star at the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) as an interpreter. South Korea is the guest of honor at the fair, and Janna’s perfect Arabic skills and mastery of the Emirati dialect have earned her recognition and praise.
In an interview with Khaleej Times, Janna revealed that her journey with the Arabic language began by chance. As the only one at university who didn’t know any other languages besides Korean and English, she felt embarrassed and decided to learn a new language. While many of her friends were studying European languages like German and French, Janna wanted to do something different.
Her desire to be unique led her to Arabic, and she quickly fell in love with the language and Arab culture. She started by learning classical Arabic at her university and then focused on learning dialects. She first learned the Egyptian dialect and then dedicated herself to mastering the Emirati dialect.
Janna’s family was initially surprised by her choice to learn Arabic, as they were unfamiliar with the language. However, Janna’s passion for the beauty of Arabic convinced them. She noted that Arabic was not very popular in Korea at the time, but there has been a noticeable change, with more people showing interest in learning the language and enrolling in Arabic classes.
The journey of learning Arabic was not easy for Janna. She described it as extremely difficult and admitted that it took her more than a year to grasp the language and an additional three years to start working as an interpreter. To immerse herself in the culture, she changed the interface on her phone to Arabic, aiding her language studies. Janna emphasized that her learning is an ongoing process, and she does not consider herself a master of Arabic yet.
As part of the South Korean team at the book fair, Janna also hosts an Arabic podcast focused on SIBF. Her love for the UAE is evident, and she dreams of living in the country. Having visited the UAE three times already, Janna expressed her fondness for the language, culture, and people. She hopes to find a job and relocate to the UAE, stating, “I love this place.”
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