Korean Job Discussion Forums

[garykasparov]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2007/12/162_14836.html

What Are Appropriate Questions?

By Clara Kim

Since coming to South Korea in August of 2005 to work as an English teacher through the English Program in Korea (EPIK) in North Jeolla Province, I often had to deal with the following questions from teachers and students: Can you eat spicy food? Can you speak Korean? Have you tried this food and that food and so on.

Such endless and redundant questions have made me think how unknowledgeable people are about Korean-Americans, overseas Koreans (gyopo) and the Korean diaspora as a whole and how much of a long way we have to go to bridge this gap of understanding.

Therefore, with the intention to bridge the gap, I would like to respond through this writing to the questions I often encounter, reflecting on my personal experiences as a 1.7 generation Korean-American. (I was born in the U.S. to Korean parents but moved to Korea at the age of five and spent the next five years in Seoul before returning to the U.S. at age 10)

Through my responses, I hope to help bring about such redundant, naive and perhaps, inappropriate questions to those that are more reasonable, sensible and respectful.

Let me start with the all too familiar question: Do you speak Korean? I personally find this question annoying. Yes, I understand that many people often assume that Korean-Americans can't speak Korean because of the fact that many of them hardly speak Korean or possess only a rudimentary knowledge of Korean.

So I guess it would only be inevitable that such a question is asked to Korean-Americans. (1.5 and 2nd generation Korean-Americans in particular) It's also unfortunate that because of this, I'm too often generalized and stereotyped as someone who had no exposure to Korean language and can't speak Korean.

Moreover, this generalization is aggravated by the fact that I'm a native English speaker and therefore, we must all be English-speaking monolinguals.

I have too often let this go over my head, thereby letting people get away with their generalization. But I reached a point where I felt that it was time for me to stand up, speak the truth and embrace my bilingual-self rather than try to fit into this black and white mold where you have to be either Korean or American.

So when ``Do you speak Korean?'' was asked, I answered ``Yes'' and if further questions were asked, which is always the case, I gladly answered even if it required a lengthy explanation.

Since my main concern was to help them to dispel their stereotypes about Korean-Americans, I didn't hesitate to fire back with a vengeance in Korean when assumptions were made.

At last, after two years of struggling with this beast, I have gained the confidence and courage to stand up, speak the truth and not be pigeonholed into this box that has no place for people like me. Therefore, I have taken many people by surprise.

The fact of the matter is, most Korean-Americans who belong in the 1.5 category such as myself, do speak Korean and many of them, for the most part, grew up speaking Korean with their parents.

I grew up in an all-Korean speaking home so I'm no exception. So why is this so surprising to people? Isn't this common knowledge?

What's even worse is that I've encountered some Koreans who thought that I learned to speak Korean while in Korea, not before coming to Korea. Of course, I find this completely absurd.

Not only are they discrediting the efforts of many first-generation Korean immigrants in America, who have spread the Korean language and culture in America, they are also disrespecting my parents, both college graduates from top universities in Seoul as well as my ancestors all of whom have their roots here in South Korea.

One of my co-teachers even went on to tell me how lucky I am to have the opportunity to immerse myself in Korean culture and language because the majority of Korean students don't have the opportunity to immerse themselves in English culture and language. Therefore, I should be more understanding of Korean students as a teacher.

How dare she compare my situation to the Korean students! Did these students have to speak English to communicate with their parents like I had to speak Korean to communicate with my parents growing up? I remember being utterly offended by her statement.

A similar response can be said of questions dealing with food such as ``Can you eat spicy food?'' ``Have you tried kimchi?'' etc. I had Korean parents and therefore, I only grew up eating Korean food at home. My mother cooked nothing other than Korean food. The refrigerator at my home was always stocked with kimchi.

So to answer your question once more, yes indeed, I've tried kimchi. I can eat spicy food. I know how to use chopsticks.

So may I ask all of you once more to please ask something more reasonable, appropriate and meaningful next time you meet a Korean-American? There's so much more to ask other than the same, mundane and outdated questions such as the ones I mentioned above.

The writer is currently freelancing as a teacher and journalist in Seoul. She can be contacted at [email protected].

[Rae]

Go Clara!

[Fishead soup]

Our primary duty is conversation teachers. We are ment to teach conversational English and discuss its relevance to culture.

For a Kyopo or Korean American it's best that you at least try to hide your ability to speak English. The reason for doing this is if they know you can speak Korean they will only speak to you in Korean.

As for the spicy food question. You can enlighten them that many westerners enjoy spicy food such as Indian Mexican and Thai.

[rhinocharge64]

To the last poster, what the foook!! Shut up you muppet. Well said by the op.

[ED209]

The audacity of these peasants, how dare they bear their mundane questions and mediocrity upon someone not only more deserving but also a kyopo!

Still could be worse, "Are you Russian?"

[boyne11]

[aarontendo]

Yeah I don't get it. Is it the same students asking her the same questions? If it's just different people then it's sorta natural, just shows they're curious.

I mean I could complain about the fact that I ALWAYS get asked if I like Korean food, if it's too spicy, if I like kimchi...but I figure they're just curious and it's no biggie to spend the one (1) minute to answer.

[Bibbitybop]

Isn't it a blessing that foreigners (not just kyopos) get asked these things? Sure, in a job interview, it's stupid, but on the street or in the office it's great because if give an answer Koreans like, they will love you for it.

Can you speak Korean? Just a little, but I can read and write Hangul, I love it! Oh, wow! Here's some dok!

Can you eat spicy food? Yes, I enjoy the spicy nakgi. Oh, wow! Here's some more dok!

Did you know that Korea has 4 seasons? Yes, I read about Korea before I came here. I love your 4 seasons! Oh, wonderful! Have some ice cream.

[boyne11]

[thegadfly]

Wow -- the Korean-American got treated like an American, and was offended by it....

Not "Go, Clara," more like "grow up, Clara." Yes, the questions are annoying -- but why should folks you meet be any more culturally sensitive to your own unique background than they are to anyone else's? Because you look more like them? Come on, this is a display of the worst attitudes of BOTH cultures -- the "we look alike so therefore we must care more for each other than for the folks that don't look like us" and "people must go out of their way to understand my uniqueness!"

Pfaw!

[sargx]

I don't see the problem with the mundane questions. Maybe they are trying to save face by asking "safe" questions.

[boyne11]

[dethe]

By "The writer is currently freelancing as a teacher and journalist in Seoul" makes her response and letter sound to me something like this" only speak English to me if you are paying, other wise don't talk to me. I am a super special 1.5 generation Korean. I am so cool."

But that is just my opinion

[boyne11]

[joebj1178514]

I'm 1.5 and I'm super, duper cool. I get all the girls, but I know mostly just want me for my US citizenship. You scratch my back, I'll F yours.

As far as the stereotyping, Yea I understand it, but when haven't we sterotyed? Personally, I don't mind it because at least these Korean people will ask you the questions rather than just make judgements. You would probably ask a fellow black friend what he wanted for dinner, rather than picking up a slab of ribs, a 10 piece chicken meal, skittles and Koo Aid, right? Or a white boy, If he wanted a sauce with his steak, and he replied 'Ketchup'. So what's the diff. We all do this stuff, jokingly or not.

The writer shouldn't get too bent up about this because the people who are asking the, seemingty to her STUPID questions, are just trying to learn something about her, they're curious, as well they should be. And if she is spent on trying to become a journalist, she should grow a thicker skin because if this little thing is bothering her so much as to write an essay on it, then good luck with the rest of it girl.

And she was wrong, she should feel lucky to be able to fully immerse herself, and learn the Korean culture right here in Korea. The kids she teaches don't have that opportunity. She's in better shoes than they are, that's for sure. $110 Indonesian-made Pumas for her, and 5,000 won Cambodian-made street market shoes for the kids.