Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tfunk]

Two of my kids told me about their weekend. With pride and delight, they told me that they had said 'hello' and introduced themselves(boy and girl, aged 6) to a foreigner at a baseball game.

Thanks, whoever you are!

[lifeinkorea]

You're thanking someone for your children's behavior? Kids say hello all the time.

[Jandar]

I think what the OP is getting at is that we all too often forget our roles as ambassadors of the English language.

Outside of work we should at least be willing to engage politely without being expected to deliver a complete lesson with every encounter.

[bassexpander]

I knew a guy who got so sick of the "hello" chorus that he began responding with random words or phrases whenever he encountered a playful group of them preparing for a laugh at hearing the waygook. You've all seen it... you're walking past a group of kids and one of them tries to impress his/her friends by blurting out:

Kid: "Hello!"

So the guy's response was: "Snuffleuppagus!"

_______________

Or this gem:

Kid: "Hello!"

Guy: "Poopy Pants!"


The look of confusion was priceless.

[cdninkorea]

I would engage in an English conversation if a child were to initiate respectfully, but in 4 years plus it's always been a mocking, sing-song "hi! hi! hi! hi! hi!". My usual response is "anyeong! anyeong! anyeong!"

If you students introduced themselves to a foreigner at a baseball game, that implies they did so in a respecful, genuine manner. Whatever you're doing, keep it up!

[Chet Wautlands]

My students often complain to me that when they meet foreigners, the foreigners can't understand them. I tried to figure out why this was by doing a quick role-play.

To my surprise, I realized the reason my students couldn't communicate with foreigners is that I had mixed up 'hello' and goodbye' when teaching them. My students would approach a foreigner and politely say 'goodbye'. Then, after receiving nothing but puzzled stares, they would mumble 'hello' and walk away.

This simple mistake has taught me a lot about the difficulties of learning a language!

[Zulethe]

Every time you get tired of a kid saying hello to you just remember that that kid's the reason you have a job.

I get sick of it just like the next guy but no matter how I'm feeling that day, I always go out of my way to say hello back or at least acknowledge them in some way.

[Ukon]

I never get Hellos.....

[ThingsComeAround]

Some kids only know how to say 'hello'

[le-paul]

actually (and i know im very different to most on this opinion[i] (i know thst what it is...)
i hate it when kids come up to me and say hello

a/ im not a commodity - you dont own me and you cant demand my attention when im trying to eat my feckn dinner jsu cos daddy want s to see where his money has gone etc

b/ im not your friend - so dont say 'hi' to me as if you know me.

c/ i could be a russian pimp for all you know - were not all englishee teachers.

we shouldnt encourage this poo attitude of 'all english teachers are my friend and i own you'. no wonder they have feck all respect for us and dont see us as authority figures...

I wouldnt walk around the ivory coast (for eg) saying 'bonjour' to everyone just cos i know how to say it in french!!, and i certainly would want my kids too either.


i know theyre only kids etc etc but isnt the point that children are taught lessons while theyre young (normally)

bah humbug and i dont care what anyone else thinks - me and eminem are right - stop talking to us!

[seonsengnimble]

I have no problem with the kids. Yes, they are often giggling and laughing, and doing "drive-by" hellos, but they're usually brief and cute.

I'm not particularly fond of ajumas pushing their kids at me and expecting a free lesson or random adults who insist on engaging me in conversation when I'm trying to enjoy a meal or read a book.

I am tempted, however, to approach random Koreans on the street to practice my terrible Korean. "안영하새요?!! 이름이무엇입니까?!! 어느나라 사람입니까?!!!"

[kabrams]

[carpetdope]

Even the smallest interaction with a foreigner can bolster these kids' confidence, which in my exp is one of the main hurdles to learning a language.

[steveinincheon]

I really don't see why as an English teacher you would be bothered if young children (early Elementary age or younger) get excited to be able to use the little bit of English they know in public. Most of the hellos I get in public come from kids who seem genuinely excited to show of their knowledge, and anyone who has spent any time with young kids in any country should know that they can be a bit overexcitable.

Much worse are the adult Koreans who want a foreign "friend" who they basically use for free tutoring, and don't care the least about you otherwise. Yes young kids irritate some people, but they are just being kids - I can't even begin to count the number of times when I acted annoyingly in public at that age - its just something little kids do. Just be glad they haven't been quashed into that apathetic zombified state that they will reach in a few years when they start going to hakwon 60 hours a week.

[idiotinkorea]