Korean Job Discussion Forums

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

Don't you find the usage of this here strange? "How about Korea?" I never know exactly how I should respond to this. Maybe it's just a local thing but you would never use this term this way back home. You would say "What do you think of ...?". We might use "How about ......?" but it would be in a context like "How about them Leafs?" meaning their recent performance, but the context would be clear. I get asked questions like this all the time here: "How about computers?" "How about chopsticks?" Does this seem odd to anyone else? English teachers seem content with this level and I've never seen any teacher correct it, although I don't suppose I have myself.

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

Don't have a problem with it at all... I heard it in the States all the time in relation to many topics.

ohahakehte · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Location: The State of Denial

theres also "i think that..." before almost opinion, "i feel that....", "maybe....", etc. my academic supervisor always says to me, "i think you better..." when shes explaining something she wants me to teach. i know that shes not being rude, because her english isnt 100%, but it annoys me sometimes, because if a native english speaker said it as often as she does they would be extremely condescending

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

Of course it's incorrect and should be explained.

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

Sample conversation:

A: "I think that kimchi is the greatest food in the world."
B: "How about jap chae?"
A: "Yeah, it's good."

Nothing incorrect there...

A: "I think that kimchi is the greatest food in the world."
B: "Eh... I prefer jap chae."
A: "I think jap chae is good, but I prefer kimchi."

No problems there either. Both are conversations I would hear back home... personally, when people say "I think" I would take it to mean that they are expressing an opinion that they don't require me to agree with. I don't view that as condescending at all...

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

Rylees, you're right, when the topic has already been introduced, and I think that's where the confusion comes from. You're conversation examples are correct, but it's not correct to start a conversation with "How about Korea?" In that case "How about" can only be used for a suggestion eg "How about we see a movie?"

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

So, how about chopsticks, Ryleeys? How about cars? How about prostitutes? How about the Chinese?

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

HardyandTiny · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

ohahakehte · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Location: The State of Denial

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

HardyandTiny · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

'How about ..?' is a clear enough way to elicit a general opinion. I'd guess its spreading into everyday usage everywhere, not just here.

But I think the construction is particularly appealing to Koreans because they have similar 'how' formulations in their own language ('How are you thinking?' etc). I've been teaching 'how come?' recently because I've noticed how commonly native speakers use it among themselves, nearly as frequently as 'why?'

The sooner Koreans get over the notion that they need to always speak in formal correct english, the better. Street vendors in 3rd world countries communicate much more readily in english, for all their mistakes, than tongue-tied precision-obsessed Koreans. I say dont call them on subtle mistakes of nuance. Just get on with the conversation.

HardyandTiny · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I also find 'How about Korea?' to be highly annoying. My first reason is that it is not correct for the reasons given above. When it is used to make a suggestion, about a seeing a movie for example, it is correct and proper.

But it is just not correct to start a topic of conversation with "How about Korea?"

My second problem with it is that it is too general. Zed is right. They need to learn to make specific questions. Do you like kimchi? Are you enjoying your life in Korea? Open-ended questions are great, but this one is toooo open. Depending on the level of English ability of the person I'm talking to, I ask them to be more specific if I think they can do it.

But maybe my biggest problem is that it is all too often fishing for a compliment. I hate that. I have the same problem with "Is it delicious?" and "Is my wife beautiful?" especially when she is sitting right there and "How old do you think I am?" Arrrrrrrg!