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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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 Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| I would somewhat agree with Hairy Sue, but say that Canadians are just as respected as Americans here. Like most of the world, they view Canada as a friendlier, less pompous extension of the United States. Not that there is any truth to that assumption. In fact, it seems that there are more Canadians here in need of an attitude adjustment than Americans. |
The Canadians in need of an attitude adjustment, must be from central Canada (Toronto).
Several Aussies I know, who have travelled across Canada, remarked that people in BC, were similar to Aussies: warm, friendly, self deprecating & outgoing, & they got less tolerant/friendly, the further east they travelled, & more like the stereotypical loud-mouthed Americans. Travelling still further east again, away from Toronto, they start getting friendly again, eg in Newfoundland. Even Canadians agreed with this conclusion. And it's not restricted to Canada, either. People from Sydney Australia, definitely have a NYC attitude. Both Sydney & Toronto are large cities of over 4.4 million, so maybe it's an urban thing? People from smaller cities of 1 to 2 million, generally don't have the same self centred attitudes. And not all Americans fit the loud-mouth stereotype. Another fallacy.
My own experience supports the above. I overheard 2 Canadians in Hanoi, Viet Nam, whinging, griping, & bitching, that they distinctly asked for no onion on their pizza. When I later asked, where were they from?, the reply was Toronto. And before anyone from Toronto (or Sydney) jumps down my throat, (thus confirming the 'arrogant' stereotype), these are GENERALISATIONS, meaning that they do not apply to everyone. There are also a few bad Aussies / Canadians, from smaller provincial cities, as well as the overwhelmingly good ones. |
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Kwangjuchicken
Joined: 01 Sep 2003
Location: I was abducted by aliens on my way to Korea and forced to be an EFL teacher on this crazy planet.
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="ruffie"]
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| Koreans are grateful that the US liberated them from Japan. |
I disagree. Most of the young ones think Korea liberated itself, and America spoiled the party by starting the Korean war. That's what they're being taught in schools right now. Canada liberated the Dutch in World War Two and every year sends one million tulips to Canada. That's gratitude. What's Korea got?
One million school children who say "USA bad" on a daily basis. The USA, which has saved their hides twice militarily and countless times economically.
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| When I visited Japan in August last year, word got back to me that a lot of the Korean teachers were annoyed with me for spending my Korean earned money in Japan. |
That's rich. It's surely none of their business where you spend your money. Koreans sure spend enough of their money in Japan, but you can't? These Korean teachers couldn't occupy themselves enough with internet shopping, so they had to waste even more time by delving into your personal life?
And for you to actually try and appease them AND use your uncle's sacrifice to keep in their good graces is pretty sad on your part. He didn't dodge Japanese bullets so that fifty years on you could give those petty people a lesson IN THEIR OWN HISTORY in order to remain popular at your school.
Given the treatment of Australian POWs by their Korean guards (most of whom were pardoned by the Korean government despite being convicted of war crimes in international courts), I suspect he may have disagreed with the way you handled that situation. People like those teachers deserved to be ignored. And if a nation is ungrateful for the sacrifices, and deaths of others, it should be ignored when the next crisis rolls around.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me a third time...well we'll see what happens, won't we?[/quote]
I AGREE 100%. If I were the president of the US sometime in the future and Korea was once again being attacked by another country, I would say, "I think it is time for America to stay out of the business of other countries in such a situation and let them handle it themselves." |
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Zebra12
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Location: Ottawa
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 11:20 pm Post subject: US Bazookas and Kimchee |
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It's always intersting to listen to American propaganda. The US flag was placed here to secure its long-term interests; nothing less, nothing more. The American model: continues to shape the local policies; and throughout most of the RoK's history, it has supported the actions of brutal dictatorships...maintaining ideological control and continually re-inventing its 'democratic' intentions here, etc. A simple reading of the "game plan" [for example] as proposed by Gen. McArthur, and one can easilly recognize the sheer lunacy of the programme...all out nuclear war. (That's why he was fired from his post. Military intelligence.)
If you seek deeper insights...rather than superficial babble...read the biographical materials written by Oppenheimer (the inventor of the atomic bomb). He realized the ramifications of his 'patriotic act' too late in the game. His thoughts reveal the depth of genuine concern that he had for his fellow Americans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Oppenheimer
The US should get its ass out of SK and look after its own backyard...the Korean war was a phony police action--a manipulation of the UN charter. (The US sought a similar form of action, under the cover of a semi-transparent UN flag in Iraq...and it got them into a bigger mess.) The British were also foolish enough, to get involved in this recent fiasco too...all over OIL and controlling critical zones of contention. The US has about as much interest in promoting democracy in Iraq, as it did when it sought to control most of Latin America between 1900 - 2000. The "stars" are really about "dollars" and the "stripes" are about about "straps". Just ask the Navajo...or the slaves that tilled the soil. The best hope for the American people, at the moment, is that they elect Obama...he'll help steer Uncle Sam's boat in a new direction--before it hits an [Iranian] iceberg. The Ozzies, well...they can go back to sleep [kidding of course]. Cheers - George Orwell  |
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Nexus11
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| chris_J2 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I would somewhat agree with Hairy Sue, but say that Canadians are just as respected as Americans here. Like most of the world, they view Canada as a friendlier, less pompous extension of the United States. Not that there is any truth to that assumption. In fact, it seems that there are more Canadians here in need of an attitude adjustment than Americans. |
The Canadians in need of an attitude adjustment, must be from central Canada (Toronto).
Several Aussies I know, who have travelled across Canada, remarked that people in BC, were similar to Aussies: warm, friendly, self deprecating & outgoing, & they got less tolerant/friendly, the further east they travelled, & more like the stereotypical loud-mouthed Americans. Travelling still further east again, away from Toronto, they start getting friendly again, eg in Newfoundland. Even Canadians agreed with this conclusion. And it's not restricted to Canada, either. People from Sydney Australia, definitely have a NYC attitude. Both Sydney & Toronto are large cities of over 4.4 million, so maybe it's an urban thing? People from smaller cities of 1 to 2 million, generally don't have the same self centred attitudes. And not all Americans fit the loud-mouth stereotype. Another fallacy.
My own experience supports the above. I overheard 2 Canadians in Hanoi, Viet Nam, whinging, griping, & bitching, that they distinctly asked for no onion on their pizza. When I later asked, where were they from?, the reply was Toronto. And before anyone from Toronto (or Sydney) jumps down my throat, (thus confirming the 'arrogant' stereotype), these are GENERALISATIONS, meaning that they do not apply to everyone. There are also a few bad Aussies / Canadians, from smaller provincial cities, as well as the overwhelmingly good ones. |
I'm actually from Toronto myself (or at least lived there for a few years before coming to Korea. I grew up in rural Ontario). Yes, some of the Canadians with an attitude are from Toronto, but there are problem Canucks from all over the place. It seems like Korea has become Canada's dumping ground for social lepers (excluding you and me of course hehe) |
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glimmer
Joined: 01 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:38 am Post subject: |
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| Nexus11 wrote: |
| Next in line come the Aussies and Brits, with the New Zealanders and South Africans pulling up the rear. All of these other nationalities can easily get jobs, but might be asked to "try not to speak with an accent" |
I'm a New Zealander and my hagwon has just asked me to "try to speak to the students in an *American* accent."  |
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johnny_larue
Joined: 09 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, at least it's encouraging for me that the schools will not have a problem with my accent. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| hairy sue wrote: |
People from the USA are in highest demand.
America built this country's economy,
And the Koreans had nothing to do with it of course
currently defends it from the totalitarian basket case to the north and offers it an excellent subsitute to the backward, closed minded hermit-styled culture that existed before.
For every Korean that protests in Jongno, 10 Koreans are realising this to be true and westernizing, or should I say Americanizing.
Some Koreans might say they dislike the US, but when it comes down to it in my opinion the average American teaching here garnishes a larger degree of respect from the locals than their commonwealth counterparts
I wasn't aware the Koreans could tell Americans apart from their "commonwealth counterparts". And if it comes to that neither can I (unless they have a noticable accent).
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wayfarer
Joined: 05 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject: Re: US Bazookas and Kimchee |
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| Zebra12 wrote: |
It's always intersting to listen to American propaganda. The US flag was placed here to secure its long-term interests; nothing less, nothing more. The American model: continues to shape the local policies; and throughout most of the RoK's history, it has supported the actions of brutal dictatorships...maintaining ideological control and continually re-inventing its 'democratic' intentions here, etc. A simple reading of the "game plan" [for example] as proposed by Gen. McArthur, and one can easilly recognize the sheer lunacy of the programme...all out nuclear war. (That's why he was fired from his post. Military intelligence.)
If you seek deeper insights...rather than superficial babble...read the biographical materials written by Oppenheimer (the inventor of the atomic bomb). He realized the ramifications of his 'patriotic act' too late in the game. His thoughts reveal the depth of genuine concern that he had for his fellow Americans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Oppenheimer
The US should get its ass out of SK and look after its own backyard...the Korean war was a phony police action--a manipulation of the UN charter. (The US sought a similar form of action, under the cover of a semi-transparent UN flag in Iraq...and it got them into a bigger mess.) The British were also foolish enough, to get involved in this recent fiasco too...all over OIL and controlling critical zones of contention. The US has about as much interest in promoting democracy in Iraq, as it did when it sought to control most of Latin America between 1900 - 2000. The "stars" are really about "dollars" and the "stripes" are about about "straps". Just ask the Navajo...or the slaves that tilled the soil. The best hope for the American people, at the moment, is that they elect Obama...he'll help steer Uncle Sam's boat in a new direction--before it hits an [Iranian] iceberg. The Ozzies, well...they can go back to sleep [kidding of course]. Cheers - George Orwell |
^^Raving ideologue alert.
Let's do a simple Q&A to sort through the superficial bullshit in the above rant.
Q: If the United States, regardless of what other "interests" it may have in mind, had not intervened (in cooperation with several other western democracies) in the civil war in Korea from 1950-53, would Korea at the present day be a starving, impoverished slave-state owned in its entirety by Kim Jong-il (as North Korea now is)?
A: Yes.
I'm sure there some on the opposite side of you politically who would agree that the US should "get its ass out of SK" and "look after it's own back yard" (I'm always alerted to a sort of provincial toryism when I hear that phrase), but at least their apathy and contempt is obscured by no such rancid, hypocritical cant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korean_military |
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Whistleblower
Joined: 03 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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| glimmer wrote: |
| Nexus11 wrote: |
| Next in line come the Aussies and Brits, with the New Zealanders and South Africans pulling up the rear. All of these other nationalities can easily get jobs, but might be asked to "try not to speak with an accent" |
I'm a New Zealander and my hagwon has just asked me to "try to speak to the students in an *American* accent." |
I remember my first hagwon telling me that I must be more fun with the kids when teaching. There was another native teacher and korean teacher and I replied that I could dress up in a clown suit if they want. The teachers cracked up and the directors didn't know what was funny. I never got that clown suit that I wanted for my first hagwon.
[img]http://www.carouselclowns.com.au/pictures/maleclowns/stretch_clown.jpg[/img] |
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pootle
Joined: 05 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:08 am Post subject: Preferred Foreign Nationals |
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I'm British and working in three public schools in rural areas. At first, they did think my accent was 'off' - as in it didn't sound like the godawful CD used in class. After 4 months they're getting used to it, and me, and I don't have any problems.
I took the route of deliberately keeping my accent at all times and not veering into North American pronunciation, spelling or stress. I show British English and American English spellings and stress and the kids understand the difference (don't underestimate their capacity to get shit!). I don't give North American pronunciation merely because I can't do it, but even if I could I probably wouldn't - from a sense of feeling false, not any kind of anti-Americanism. |
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jboney
Joined: 14 May 2008
Location: Northern Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:34 am Post subject: |
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That sucks that they want you to speak in a different accent. I wonder if Koreans can tell the difference between a Canadian dialect and an American dialect? Or if they can discern the difference between a New York dialect and an Southern US dialect?
I had a student from Taiwan over here and I could tell that her previous teacher in Taiwan must have been from the West Coast of the US. When I asked her, she said "Yeah, he was from California".
I know if a directoer asked me to change my dialect (New York/New Jersey) and speak in a more "North American" way, I'd be able to do it, but I wouldn't like it. As it is you speak slowly, and you speak differently when you teach ESL, and it's difficult to have to do any more than that! |
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ytuque
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Location: I drink therefore I am!
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Since I hear foreign teachers asking each other if they are Canadian or American, I don't think the average FT can tell the difference. |
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wayfarer
Joined: 05 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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| ytuque wrote: |
| Since I hear foreign teachers asking each other if they are Canadian or American, I don't think the average FT can tell the difference. |
That's certainly true. Most of the time when I meet Canadians, they just seem American and I can't tell the difference from their voice at all. Some areas of Canada still have a distinctive dialect, and sound a little different, but 90% of the ones I meet in Korea are indistinguishable from Americans. |
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