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Yeojin
Harry Potter is help to learn / understandEnglish cukture?
Hi,
Firstly, sorry for the typo....
I am Korean and living in New Zealand.
My boss who is Korean guy recommended me reading Harry Potter to learn and understand English culture.
I'm trying to understand Kiwi culture in other ways now. For example, Youtube and facebook groups.
And I have already read Harry Potter in Korean.
But he strongly recommended reading only Harry Potter in English.
Do you think it is help to learn/understand English culture?
May 15, 2019 2:55 AM
Answers · 6
1
Firstly, our culture isn't that English. It has some parts that are, but lots that aren't.
So much of Harry Potter is imaginary, that it would be very difficult to know which of it is culturally relevant, and which is 'made up'.
To me, that suggestion sounds a bit like suggesting listening to K-Pop songs to learn about Korean culture.
Reading it might help your English reading, but even that might be problematic. There are lots of 'made-up' words, and many of those have very subtle language references that would be completely lost on a non-native reader. ( Pensieve for instance )
May 15, 2019
1
It strikes me as the world's least efficient way to learn about a culture. But it will certainly help your English.
May 15, 2019
KIwiland is full of wizards and such. We are just better at hiding from muggles than others.
.
Have to agree with Gary. Some aspects will work, a lot is just different. I think most of the aspects that will work for New Zealand culture are just those common to many Western cultures.
.
Pensieve, the example, is a made up word. Might be difficult to tell the real from the made up. :)
.
Will it teach you better about culture than going outside? I doubt it.
May 15, 2019
actually i didn’t read harry potter so i can not sure you but i think if you read it. it will be very helpful
May 15, 2019
i think yes
May 15, 2019
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Yeojin
Language Skills
English, Korean
Learning Language
English
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