Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rt]

I don't speak/read/write/understand Korean language. How can I assess their interpretation from English to Korean? Anyone taught a similar course before? Know of any text books/web sites that might be helpful? I am at a loss!

Your thoughts/suggestions much appreciated!

[iggyb]

That's a tough one. Without a Korean co-teacher, it would be hard.

The Korean language program I went through some higher level courses where translating was a big part of the class, I heard, and the prof didn't like to see people being too literal with the translation --- he wanted them to use their English skills to make the translation read smoothly and well in English - while maintaining the core of the Korean sentence meaning.

So, I am guessing, if you follow that style, if you had a Korean co-teacher who could tell you what the Korean text says, you can adequately judge whether or not the translation works and also edit their texts to make it flow more smoothly in English.

---- If you have control over what texts they translate - look online for popular English stories that have been translated into Korean and use both versions with the original English being your checking point.

You can also get novels and movie scripts and plays that have been translated into Korean. A John Grisham novel or something. Use the English version as your master copy and hand out pages of the Korean version...

[iggyb]

Fairy Tales is a good place to start. They are fairly short texts, simpler language, and all the popular ones can be found in Korean. Ideally, you'd need a Korean version connected directly to a specific English version. I bet you could find a website that has something like that.

I bet you could also find other websites related to Korean and translation that have matching texts you could use.

--- Of course, don't tell the students you got it off the Internet or else they'll go find it for themselves and ruin the point of the activity...

[Scouse Mouse]

Koreabeat!

www.koreabeat.com translates Korean news stories into English and links the original Korean.



EDIT: Removed a link because it didn't have the Korean translation when I thought it did.

[rt]

Thanks for the input guys, but keep in mind that this is an interpretation course, not a translation course. They'll have to orally interpret what they hear/read, not do a written translation of it.

[lifeinkorea]

Why are they having the English teacher do this? If you don't know Korean, then they haven't hired the right person for the job. Likewise, you don't seem to have a job right for you.

[andrewchon]

The job sounds more suitable for a bilingual person.

However, OP is the only one available to do it. So, cheat. Get a K-T to write all the answers for you. You might even learn Korean along the way.

[iggyb]

Well, then I would think your task would be easier than if it were translation:

If you find and use a Korean text that is a translation of an English text, you'll know the background ---- you'll have a solid background from which to judge how well they do orally.

It sounds to me like the key to the work you are supposed to do in that class is to have a common knowledge of what the Korean text says.

You can do that if you use a Korean text that is based on an English one...

[rt]

Yes, but unfortunately it is interpretation, not translation.

What about English language TV shows/movies/DVD's/songs/audio files, etc, that may be available in Korean audio, with English subtitles? Or vice-versa? All I am aware of are a few programs on Airirang TV that have English subtitles.

[iggyb]

[iggyb]

--- Speaking of DVDs and dubbing - you can probably use highly popular Korean movies and TV shows that have English dubbing or subtitles. You just preview the material well before class to get the understanding you need to make the class work...

You might want to ask your Korean colleagues if they know of any American or Western (English) moves or TV shows that have spoken Korean as on option on the DVDs.

It has been years since I was in Korea for any significant length of time. I don't know how common dubbing is these days on DVDs you can get in Korea.

Here in the US, I use Netflix, and occasionally some of the bigger, more current movies will have Korean language options. My guess is that there are many, many more in Korea made specifically for that market.