Korean Job Discussion Forums

[alpope23]

Is it shyness, a lack of confidence, some cultural thing I can't understand?

What is the reason for this and what have you found useful in eliminating it?

[porcupine]

Is it shyness, a lack of confidence, some cultural thing I can't understand?

What is the reason for this and what have you found useful in eliminating it?




I'm a Korean..

Here's my two cents:

My mom tells me that when she was learning English, having a good English accent was bad because all the kids would make fun of you, call you names and tell you that you've eaten too much butter to be able to pronounce the much-dreaded "R."

I think it has to do with culture. Shyness is definitely there. In China, where I live, I don't see anyone too shy to speak English or even try. The Chinese are in fact, really eager to just grab any English-speaker and practice their English. And they're good.

Koreans are modest. Trying to perfect your pronunciation might come off as being boastful. Also, they, or we should I say, don't like to be 'put on the spot' especially in class. It's embarrassing if your teacher tells you to repeat a sentence several times in front of your classmates.

I was once teaching pronunciation to a group of Korean moms in a cafe. Although they really liked my free lesson, none of them wanted to go on as soon as an Australian guy, a native-speaker, entered the cafe. Funny, isn't it? I'd really worked hard to prepare for this lesson but the moms were saying how chok pal ryu (embarrassing) it is for them.

We become small in front of native English speakers.

On the other hand, the moms are really confident when they're learning Chinese and they interact well with native Chinese speakers without being shy about it but not when they're learning English and interacting with native English speakers. Perhaps they're more comfortable interacting with Asians.

I wouldn't know how to eliminate this, I don't have any teaching experience. Maybe make use of a game in pronunciation that creates competition among the learners? Keep them talking, I remember I had to give at least one oral report about a current event in class and my teacher would correct my pronunciation. And don't forget humor!

[browneyedgirl]

[LateBloomer]

As others have said numerous times, in the past, Koreans haven't approached English as something to be spoken. They learn it to pass tests.

Now I work with Koreans who have studied English extensively and they are surprised they are having so much trouble trying to speak.

I tell them that it's a lot like learning basketball (or any other sport). You can read about it and study all the rules but until you hold the ball and spend many hours practising, you aren't going to be able to play the game. Basketball players don't learn to make baskets consistently without first missing many shots. Mistakes are an essential part of learning and Koreans have to get over their fear of making them.

[some waygug-in]

It's all of those things plus the back to front thing.

When I try to speak korean, I have the same trouble.

I understand the question, and I should be able to formulate a response,
but I have trouble getting the right words to come out at the right time.

It's really not the same as say ...Spanish, which shares a lot of similarities to English.

Be patient, it IS a lot harder for Koreans.

[Fishead soup]

The shyness excuse is a cop out. They want to get away with doing absolutley nothing. So far the shyness excuse works because we accept it,

[Netz]

I find that Koreans are "shy" (reserved actually) in general. it has to do with "face" culture.

Working in Korean companies, even amongst Koreans, they themselves sometimes have a hard time "talking freely" to each other in Korean. I think much of that has to do with the hierarchical power structures in place, and not over-stepping invisible boundaries.

Just look at the multiple levels of honorifics built into the Korean language, and you'll understand where these behaviors come from.

It has less to do with English, and more to do with culture.

[visviva]

Peter Edwards at Keimyung has done some very interesting research in this area ... not sure where/if it's been published though.

Basically in any hierarchical group, superiors are afraid of embarrassing themselves in front of their subordinates, and subordinates are afraid of embarrassing either themselves (by speaking poorly) or their superior (by out-performing him/her). And in same-status groups it's not much better; if you're better or worse than your friends, you're on the outside.

It's a no-win situation... unless there is an English-speaking foreigner present, which -- if things go well -- changes the name of the game from status to communication. This has a lot to do with the "magical foreigner power" you have probably noticed -- for example, how the group next to you on the train starts practicing their English without actually speaking to you -- and IMO is a big part of why we (non-Korean English instructors) are actually needed here.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[porcupine]

[quote="Netz"]I find that Koreans are "shy" (reserved actually) in general. it has to do with "face" culture.

Working in Korean companies, even amongst Koreans, they themselves sometimes have a hard time "talking freely" to each other in Korean. I think much of that has to do with the hierarchical power structures in place, and not over-stepping invisible boundaries.

Just look at the multiple levels of honorifics built into the Korean language, and you'll understand where these behaviors come from.

[b]It has less to do with English, and more to do with culture.[/b][/quote]



I second that.

It's really hard for me to befriend a Korean than a non-Korean, and I'm a Korean myself.

When I'm meeting someone new, I feel like I'm bumping into a barrier that comes from the hierarchical structure of the Korean society. It's really hard to break the ice because I can't talk freely using all the formal language and gestures. Think about talking to someone of your age in some Shakespearean language. Awkward!?! I know that I will never be on an equal footing with someone a year older or a year younger than I because of that structure.

Teachers should breakdown that hierarchy and make the students feel comfortable about approaching you.

[Netz]

[Netz]