Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lostandforgotten]

I personally feel offended when Koreans speak English to me because

1. My Korean is better than their English
2. They make me feel like a foreigner. Like being picked out of a crowd because you're a foreigner type of feeling.
3. I feel used.

How about you?

[djsmnc]

I don't like it either, outside of the classroom. It's a bit condescending.

However, it may very well be the product of hundreds of years of English speakers saying "I don't understand you. Say it in English" The dastardly cultural imperialists we are and all...

In that respect it allows you to be lazy and not have to learn their language. The problem is, it's not consistent. If I don't learn the language, a lot of people won't understand me in stores or on the bus and such.

So yes, I hate it.

[SuperHero]

You've just invited Tomato to rant on this thread.

Having said that, I vote for it depends on the context. sometimes it's annoying and sometimes it's not.

[Kenny Kimchee]

A better poll title might have been "Do you feel offended when Koreans speak English in situations where your Korean is better than their English?" (though I don't think that title could fit on a subject line).

Unless you're a high advanced speaker, I'm sure there are situations where you're relieved that a Korean can speak English.

Sure, sometimes it's a little annoying when you conduct a conversation entirely in Korean (I speak high beginner Korean) and they throw some gratuitous English on the end. Then again, don't we do the same thing?

On the other hand, there are times I wish they did speak English - like the other day when I was on my cell phone trying to give directions in broken Korean, trying to tell the taekbae guy how to penetrate the labyrinth leading to my place. There are also times when I'm darned pleased that Koreans speak English - like when I'm setting up a MMF at the bank or setting up a gmarket account.

Once upon a time you didn't speak Korean, and you were quite pleased when a Korean did speak English. Try to have a little empathy and gratitude.

[Privateer]

If their English is pretty dreadful you could always embarrass them totally by saying "Huh? What was that? SPEAK ENGLISH!".

[whatever]

tomato, come on...

[postfundie]

I used to be irritated when they'd speak English to me but now I don't care...It's a free world speak whatever language you like.....

what pisses me off though is if they try to force me to speak English...





ps. let tomato rant away....if you are serious about learning this frigggin language, and you have to put up with constant roadblocks that you don't find in other countries then you deserve the right to rant..

[tzechuk]

UH?

This is a bit of a weird question, no?

Why should you be offended if they are trying to accommodate your needs?!

[Vicissitude]

This has to be the most stupid of all threads I've ever seen on this board... English Teachers who get "offended"by people who speak English to them. How are random strangers suppose to know that you speak Korean? Do you LOOK Korean?

And this is so stupid I'm at a loss for words:

[Mix1]

If they actually want to communicate, I like it.

If they want to mock and put on a comedy show for their friends at my expense because I happen to speak English, THAT gets a little annoying.

[cdninkorea]

The only time it bothers me is when I keep speaking Korean and they keep speaking English. Usually after a few exchanges back and forth they figure it out and speak Korean. To those that don't I just say "let's speak Korean" (han guk mal hapsida)

[Pak Yu Man]

I think the people who do speak Korean feel insecure about themselves and they want to tell everyone how special they are.

Let's admit the facts.

Most foreigners here(Westerners) are English speakers.
The vast majority of those don't speak Korean.
Asking for a beer or an ashtray in Korean doesn't mean you can speak the language. How are Koreans supposed to know if you speak a bit of Korean or not?
Maybe everyone who thinks they speak Korean should get a tatoo on their forehead stating "Speak to me in Korean".

Even this won't work. A lot of Koreans can't follow rules/instructions anyways. Wee have this biga$$ stickers next to our doorbell saying "Don't ring the bell, you'll wake the babies!"

We have delivery guys bring stuff 2-3 times a week. Guess how many have knocked...a big, fat zero.


Get over yourself. If a Korean went to the US and a foreigner spoke Korean to them...you know they'd get all excited about it. "KOREAN IS A GLOBAL LANGUAGE PIGHTING!

[KOREAN_MAN]

Many Koreans feel absurd speaking Korean to westerners. They are just not used to it. When 'The Talk of the Beauties' came on TV for the first time, they were shocked to see so many foreigners speaking Korean so much better than they speak English. To tell you the truth, I also feel weird when whites and blacks are speaking in Korean.

Also, some people exaggerate their foreign language skills. YOU think your Korean is better than their English. THEY think their English is better than your Korean. I know this is not always the case, but well, sometimes it is.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[tzechuk]