Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Olivencia]

By embracing globalization Korea has had thousands of native English teachers in their country in their quest to learn to communicate in English. I was wondering what were (and are) the unintended consequences of that decision that Korea has a difficult time accepting. Mixed marriages? Too much exposure to foreign ways of thiniking and lifestyle? etc etc?

[IlIlNine]

The big changes happened at around the time of the '88 Olympics.

Western Toilets, English road signs, Lining Up, etc.

How about western religion?

Also, with more foreigners here, a lot of the 'bad habits' Koreans have have been exposed - prostitution being a big one.

[janafromfrance]

I really think it has given them more stress. I was taken out to an 'Italian' restaurant by a group of mothers today for lunch. They kept asking me what to do while we ate, it seemed as if they thought I was going to look down on them for doing something wrong. One of the mothers dropped a fork and almost had a panic attack. I think the 'teachers' here cause the koreans to think they have to perform in some special way to get positive feedback (some). I guess it would be like some small two year college
having a few Ivy league graduates come and start walking around the cafeteria.

[crossmr]

Remember Korea has been bringing native speakers here for over 100 years. As of this year the first foreigner hired to teach english here was 127 years ago, and the first school opened by a foreigner was 125 years ago.

so the time frame for change might be a lot longer than you're thinking.

[Julius]

[eamo]

Koreans might seem a bit needy for the respect of other countries, just watch Arirang Channnel for 10 minutes if you don't believe that, but the affect of approx 30,000 foreign English teachers in Korea is zilch. We are not affecting Korean society in any other than a negligible way.

[drkalbi]

A better standard of living.

[sarbonn]

Personally, the ESL presence is but a drop in the bucket when it comes to influence because there are so many different westerners represented here from so many different places that the numbers kind of push each other out away from any direct influence. I agree that the biggest influence probably came before the 1988 Olympics, and I was here during that time, and I could see the changes taking place almost before my eyes. But I believe that influence came from US GIs much more than the ESL community because for the most part, that's who influences them the most. Or at least who did.

[Chambertin]

I think we may be missing something.
It is not what influence we have on them, it is what they do with the influence of us being here.

The culture will take upon itself how to sort us and our influences out. Opinions about marriages, cultural misunderstandings and etiquette are all spread through popular culture. So even if we have an affect on the culture the true measure is what the culture as a whole accepts about that influence.

Even though almost every kid in Korea has an opportunity to interact with a forgiver on a weekly if not daily basis they are amazed to see us in the streets. We dont register as people, but talk to most people and the day they realized police or firefighters are people is an event in their memory.

Many of my students thank more for one thing, I took away the fear or nervousness they felt around foreigners. I might suck as a teacher, but even after notebooks filled with tips, tricks and other tasks that is pretty consistent as their number one appreciation.

So the side effects are what the culture chooses to take from the whole, we can only try to make little advances in truth as we hope we don�t become another casualty to fan death in our efforts to fit in, or just get by.

Make ripples, as waves get blocked by the sea wall. Ripples can float through the open gates and spread through the harbor.

[JMO]

Nothing at all compared to the impact of so many young people spending time abroad in other countries. Especially since these young people are of the social class that will be running the show in a few years.

[Nierlisse]

[dirving]

[dirving]

[Julius]

[JMO]