Korean Job Discussion Forums

[littledigits1]

Any of you been in a situation where a school has forced you to speak English to Korean teachers even at lunch? Although the Korean culture puts an onus on building relationships it is unacceptable to speak Korean to anyone at my school if I choose to. The result is the only people you are able to speak to are the ones who want to practice their English which would include the English teachers as well.

According to the representative of the Kyonggi Ministry of Education we as foreign teachers are not allowed to have the choice to speak the Korean language if the school disallows it even if it is to facilitate a friendlier environment for those non-English speakers which is the vast majority of the staff and faculty. Our lunch hour isn't our time. It apparently belongs to the school as well and we are forced to do what they want even then. And we must be available to any of the teachers who want to practice their English.

And this isn't even regarding the students. We are talking other teachers and staff.

Is this something you've encountered?

[ajgeddes]

Do you have any proof of this?

[Gwangjuboy]

I only ever speak Korean to all the teachers who work at my school. I have never been notified of that rule. It's reminiscent of the US/UK prisoners at the end of the Korean war who chose to live in the PRC; they were not permitted to speak Mandarin. How good is your Korean?

[LiquidSunshine]

take it under consideration, nod your head and then go talk korean to your co-workers. then when they come back to you and tell you to speak english, nod your head and say 'thank you'....then go speak korean to your co-workers.
i can understand why they are asking you to do this and if someone speaks to you in English you will probably respond in English, which is what they want. Of course, if a teacher can't speak English then you should speak to them in Korean, if you can.

[spliff]

My co-teachers think it sort of odd that I can't speak Korean but am fluent in Thai and Lao.. You must work at a psycho school, mine is way cool!

[pkang0202]

The Kyonggi MOE can derelict my balls.

[Bibbitybop]

Hold up the contract and call their bullshit. Speak in another language then, or talk to people in really complex English.

"I declare, this warm protein-based composite does a number on my buds of taste!"

"What?"

"[Give simple translation in Korean = This food is good."

They'll let you speak Korean again really soon.

[cmr]

[kat2]

I would just greet people with Hello and say Thank you in English (every Korean knows those), but continue to speak to hte people who can't speak English in Korean. When the principle pproaches you jsut say "Yes, OK, whatever you say, sir," then continue on as normal. Just make abit of a show of it in the hall saying hello and whatnot. They'll forget it even happened.

If you really want to show them you mean business, stop eating lunch with everyone. I don't eat with them. I need some peace adn quiet from them and the kids. I get enough "group time" with mandatory tea time every morning and usually some kind of snack time in the afternoon! I really enjoy eating in my office.

[ajgeddes]

The more I think about this, the more I can't believe it. What about words that work in both languages, do you have to make sure you pronounce "change" properly and not as "changeee"? Will you get in trouble if somebody speaks to you in Korean and you understand? They can't tell you what language you can and can't speak outside of class.

[icicle]

I work in a school in the same area and have never heard of that rule.
Admitedly at the moment I don't speak very much Korean at all - and only my 4 co-teachers speak a significant amount of English (even they are not fluent). They and the school seem to see any Korean that I learn as a positive - not as a negative - It does play a significant part in being able to effectively communicate with and build relationships with the other members of staff, which I see as important. Especially in situations like the ones many of us are in who work in Public Schools there is often no one who is really fluent in English other than us - To totally restrict the use of any Korean by us at school would actually to me be a significant barrier to effective communication about English with them. I can see that when I do have some Korean to use it will be a lot easier than it is now. I am being encouraged to learn some - not told that I can't speak Korean. Our contracts do include the possibility of English classes with staff being one of our duties - which hasn't happened for me yet.

Icicle

[The_Conservative]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[oneofthesarahs]

My coworkers enjoy the fact that I am learning Korean, and they like helping me. They also get a kick out of my tremendously bad pronunciation. But a lot of the Kteachers at my school actually use English outside of the classroom, even when I'm not involved in the conversation. Their English isn't perfect by any means, but they do seem to enjoy practicing.

[Wrench]

Actually BS cause in the EPIK contract it states excluding LUNCH hour. The ministry can lick your balls or any other gonads of your choice.