In a remarkable display of linguistic talent, a Bahraini woman has won first place in a Korean speaking contest, earning a coveted trip to South Korea.
Noora Albufalasa, a 28-year-old from Hidd, won a speaking and writing competition organised by the Manama King Sejong Institute that saw around 150 students vying for the award.
She was honoured during the Course Completion Ceremony held at the InterContinental Bahrain on June 20, in the presence of distinguished guests including Korean Ambassador HeonSang Koo, Korean Association in Bahrain president Yong-hyun Han and institute teacher Eun-hee Kim.
Ms Albufalasa has been passionate about Korean culture, mastering the language and the country’s traditions since childhood.
“I have been watching Korean dramas and listening to music since my middle school days,” Ms Albufalasa told the GDN.
“I would watch the KBS World channel on television all the time, listen to boy bands like TVXQ, and watch dramas such as Bread, Love and Dreams.
“This slowly developed into a passion for Korean culture, language and history, and so I joined the Manama King Sejong Institute to learn. There are many similarities with Bahraini and Arab culture, such as hospitality and respect towards your elders.
“Our teachers encouraged us to apply for the competition, but even though I practised hard every day whenever I could, I honestly did not think I would win.”
Ms Albufalasa also attended Korean movie nights, cooking classes, stamp classes and other activities organised by the institute.
Students, teachers and other attendees at the Course Completion Ceremony
During the contest, she chose to talk about her favourite Korean expression Aigo – used to convey a range of emotions, including surprise, frustration, concern or even pain. She briefly explained the meaning of the expression, gave examples, and discussed its historical and traditional contexts.
“On the day of the competition, I was really nervous but managed to calm down, thanks to Mr Koo,” she said.
“He went up on stage and spoke in Arabic to encourage all of us. It made me think: If he can go up on stage and speak a language that is not his mother tongue in front of hundreds of people, why can’t I?”
Her hard work paid off and she not only won the competition but also a dream trip to South Korea.
“I am excited to visit some of the cultural and historical sites as well as the museums,” said Ms Albufalasa.
“There are plenty of traditional activities lined up and I get to meet winners from other countries as well.
“I am especially looking forward to learning more about the Joseon Dynasty, which lasted for more than 500 years.
“Additionally, I would love to see traditional houses, try on traditional clothes and indulge in authentic Korean cuisine.”
The institute organises the trip annually in October.
One of Ms Albufalasa’s teachers, Oh Naree, was full of praise for her student and said she was always confident that she would do well in the competition.
“She is an exceptionally active participant at the Manama King Sejong Institute, even taking part in special classes,” said Ms Naree.
“She is outstanding, going above and beyond in her academic dedication and her diligence is highly commendable.
“We also found her to be polite, discerning, beautiful, kind, bright, proactive and sociable,” she added.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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