Korean Job Discussion Forums

regicide · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Location: United States

I am working on a second major and once again I am reminded about the proper term for people working abroad. Come on people, we are the native speakers of English , not the Koreans. They are not the ones to decide what we should be called.

From:

Developing Global Executives - How To Train Leaders For a Global Perspective
1/28/2002

2. Global leadership development happens in the global arena. Although close-to-home, domestic experiences can teach important lessons (the foundation lessons that all executives must learn, such as how to manage), the critical lessons of global leadership are learned in global work. Whether a leader is living domestically, working internationally, or working and living as an expatriate, the combination of business and culture is essential. The implication? Get that experience

Excerpted with permission from "Developing Global Executives: The Lessons of International Experience," by Morgan W. McCall, Jr. and George P. Hollenback, HBS Press, 2001.

wo buxihuan hanguoren · Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Location: Suyuskis

You just reminded me why I have been putting off getting my Master's for so long.

Thanks, pal.

Thal.

regicide · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Location: United States

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

I don't think it's just a matter of semantics, it's a real difference in perspective. It makes sense for us to call each other expatriates within the expat community, but it'd be weird if Koreans called us expatriates. For example, if you saw a booth that said "English Language Service for Expatriates" wouldn't that seem weird? You'd think, "Which expatriates? Gyopos?"

Although I agree, it would be nice if we used it with each other. "Foreigner" is an annoying term.

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

hmmmm

I am a foreigner, and i am not an expatriate. I am not coming over from another country to work here.

I live here, but i am not a Korean, which makes me a foreigner.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

If Koreans want to call us Blue Bingo Dabbers, well, that's what they call us.

oskinny1 · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Location: Right behind you!

I guess we (Americans) should stop calling all people with brown skin, limited English ability and working in the US "Mexicans" and henceforth refer to them as expats.

cazador83 · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

nobody's going to start calling everyone expatriates. maybe expat though, it sounds a lot better/easier to say, etc.

however, i do agree with the OP about the word foreigner. actually, i was reminded about this issue again today as I arrived back home in the States from Korea. As I was going through immigration, i was reminded of the lines in Korean immigration, where there are two lines- one for "Koreans" and one for "Foreigners." However, I noticed that our immigration used the words "U.S. Citizens" and "Visitors and non-US Citizens."

maybe we're just too politically correct for our own good, i dunno. either way, visitor sounds a lot nicer than "foreigner."

mole · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Act III

mole · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Act III

MANDRL · Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Location: South Korea

mole · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Act III

MANDRL · Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Location: South Korea

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

articulate_ink · Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:05 pm Post subject:

In countries with sizable expatriate (not ex-patriot, which is moronic) communities, expat is generally the word used. I don't like foreigner much but I think I understand the reason it's used. Expats are referred to in Korean as 외국인, and foreigner is a direct translation. I think that Koreans often use these direct translations instead of more widely used English words. By now we've all heard English-speaking Koreans say that they have an appointment when they have made plans to do something socially. (Appointment refers to a doctor, a barber or hairstylist... something involving your body. You have a meeting with your attorney or your accountant. You have plans with your friends, or you say you're busy on whatever day or date is being discussed. That's how I learned it, anyway.) Not sure, but I'm guessing the same word is used for these concepts in Korean. Or they'll say they're going to a singing room instead of karaoke (I doubt many of them like hearing how many Japanese words English uses for these things) for 노래방. The expat community here is small compared with other countries, so this Konglish precedent has basically been set. In some of my classes I sometimes mention the fact that a lot of us 외국인s don't like the term foreigner, much, because of the exclusion it connotes. (On the other hand, it accurately reflects our status here.) As English teachers and professors we are in a position to make a little headway on this, if we feel it's worth it. If you don't like being constantly referred to as a foreigner, why not teach your students not to say it?