Embracing their roots

SYRACUSE - Sitting at a rectangular table in a small classroom at the Korean Church of Syracuse, Allie Leogrande practiced the pronunciation of the Korean words for “book,” “semester” and “newspaper.”

Her fingers holding open a workbook on the table before her, she softly spoke the words written in Korean characters on the workbook page, then looked up at her Korean language instructor Kyungha Lee sitting at the head of the table for approval. Lee nodded her head and motioned for the next student to tackle the week's vocabulary words.

To fulfill her goal of becoming fluent in Korean, Allie, 17, of Auburn has been attending the church's Korean school Saturday mornings for the last two years.