Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Halcyom Chimera]

I have spoken to several recruiters over the phone, and at least two of them have commented on my Southern accent. One actually asked if I could reduce it during an interview with a school. I never knew that my southern accent would be such a problem. I have lived in Alabama all of my life (24 years) and know nothing but the way we speak. I speak properly, so I do not know what the big deal is.

Is my southern accent really a deciding factor in the hiring process? I am more than qualified, with a bachelor's degree in education with a concentration in ELA in addition to a class B teaching certificate. My certificate will soon advance to a class A upon completion of my master's in secondary education (concentration ELA) this December.

I guess, since my contact with other cultures is so limited, I am just floored by something I can't help being such a big issue in whether or not I get hired. Should I take lessons to reduce my accent? This is insane. Anyone have any advice or experience something similar? Or am I just taking this the wrong way? I know I always sound affronted when they ask me about my accent, but I don't really know how to react when someone tells me to reduce my natural accent to talk to a school.

Thanks in advance!

[winterfall]

Someone else correct me if I'm wrong. The emphasis is first on the appearance and accent before they consider anything else.

Anyway a neutral or metropolitan. American / Canadian accent is preferred over everything else.

Koreans don't like the British, Aussie, Kiwi, or South African accents but, they're still hire them if they don't have any other options or if the accent is light.

To Koreans they're too difficult to understand and they don't want to learn that kind of pronunciation.

Anyway that's my impression of things.

[lifeinkorea]

Ya'll surely can be hired at here's place in Korea. I can assure ya'll come back now.

[hockeyguy109]

I think your recruiter is just trying to make you sound more mainstream American to get your foot in the door. Just speak clearly and do your best. I would be shocked if they didn't hire you because you have a southern accent.

But that's what I don't understand. This obsession with dialects. Wouldn't it be good practice for the kids to hear a wide range of how English is spoken?

Then again, grammar rules and pronunciation can get confusing for beginners. Being taught by an American in the morning and then a South African at night. That could be very confusing, but in the long run isn't it good practice to hear both ways?

[Perceptioncheck]

The fact is that it's hard for some people to understand the southern accent, especially if they're learning english as a foriegn language. Hell, it's hard for me to understand a southern accent sometimes and I speak English quite fluently.

Surely you have listened to other American accents and can adjust yours slightly? I am from NZ and I have to adjust things sometimes in order to be understood (and not just by my students; some North Americans have accused me of loose vowel syndrome in the past)

Don't take it so personally. You're going to need thicker skin if you're going to be working in Korea.

[pjmancktelow]

i have a very heavy london accent and its not always the best. but i find work no problem. like the above poster said, you're have to addjust a little but thats just working abroad really. keep looking. jobs will come easy enough.

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

This is the first time I've ever heard of Koreans even KNOWING there are different U.S accents. Heck-they can't even be sure if someone is French-Canadian ie non-NET.

It's not the accent dude, it's the pic you sent of you wearing the wife beater. Professional pic and you'll be sweet.

[jiberish]

It's not that they don't want aussie,kiwi, brith etc

It's they don't want any accents period. Koreans are terrible at distinguishing words through an accent. I think this is because korean is a very sound specific language and even the most minor variation is a different word. So they remember the sounds exactly. It's strange to me, like my wife understands me perfectly. But when she met my parents who also have very neutral accents, she couldn't understand most of what they said.

However this being said. You can make argue that not everyone speaks neutral english and that it does wonders on their listening skills so hear some of the accent variations.

[Hova]

[edwardcatflap]

quote: The advantages of having a English teacher from America is so kids can listen and learn the correct pronunciation on words.

Be very careful when you talk about the 'correct' pronunciation of words. What you mean is 'the American' pronunciation of words, which is what most, but not all schools in Korea, seem to favour at this moment in time

[son of coco]

Everyone speaks English with the same accent, don't you know that?

God forbid anyone learns about different accents in their English class. Unfortunately neither I, nor anyone I know, will put on an American accent for a Korean person when they visit Australia.

[Teddycakes21]

[Hova]

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

[Drew345]

I am from Memphis. Seeing how the Southern accent seems to be centered around Tuscaloosa, you probably have a bit more accent than me.
Just try to enunciate every word clearly. Don't let your words blend together. Have a very slight break in between each word. Not a real pause, just don't let the words blend together. In no time you'll be speaking broken English that can be perfectly understood by everyone here.