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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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 Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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Most important/Cool languages:
1) English- duh.
2)Italian- Opera is cool. Mafia is cool.
3)French- Be pretentious.
4)Mandarin- 1 billion can't be ignored
5)Arabic- A "universal" language across nations. Get paid by the CIA.
6)Spanish- Substitute Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, and French Guyana for Central America- Belize and you could say a whole continent speaks it.
7)Russian- Massive sphere of influence. Sound cool.
8)Japanese- Anime crap galore.
9)Hindi- Numbers and Bollywood
10)Latin- For classicism and sounding important
11)Ancient Greek- See above
12)German- Great to scream with at your underlings
13)Farsi- Starting to reach here.
14)Portuguese- Because of Brazil, not Portugal
15)Jive- In case you have confused passengers on the Airplane!
16)Swahili- So you can be cool
17)Urdu/Pashtun- So you can not take the wrong bus while backpacking across South-Central Asia
18)Cantonese- China #2
19)Punjabi- India #2
20)Afrikaans- Somethings gotta be #20
I think Korean would be in the 20s or 30s |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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| janafromfrance wrote: |
| Stalin84 wrote: |
Met this fella at an orientation...
"I've been here for twelve years, I got started doing missionary work and then moved on to teaching..."
"Your Korean must be fluent, then."
"No, never got around to learning the alphabet or anything. I know basic stuff." (very basic, found out later).
Later, when choosing a place to eat:
"I don't know how to use chopsticks, can we go to TGIF?"
People like him make the rest of us look bad! |
Why? In this big blue world there are many languages that are really important. Maybe he knew Latin, or German. Learning korean is of zero
use to me. The second I go home, I will not, nor do I want to have anything to do with korea or the language. Chinese on the other hand is important. French is important. Maybe the missionary knew languages that you did not know. What can you do with korean the second you get back home (those who did not choose to marry a local?)
1. go to a korean restaurant and order in korean.
2. Find random koreans and strike up conversations....
3 ?
4?
5????
6???? |
To those who I offended, I am sorry. My intention was not to belittle the French language, or any language for that matter. Any language is of relative importance to the speaker.
The intention of the post to which I was responding was to attack a particular language. I found a poster using a language of declining global importance as an example of why not to learn a language of increasing global presence while actually living in that country to be ironic.
If my post failed to communicate that again I apologize. |
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SeoulMan99
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
Most important/Cool languages:
5)Arabic- A "universal" language across nations. Get paid by the CIA.
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That's just wrong. There are three forms of Arabic throughout the Arabic speaking world:
1) Modern Standard Arabic: most popular with students. Used in media and it is known by educated Arabs. The problem is that no one speaks this on the street, and a lot of people would not know how to speak it with you. Educated Arabs would more likely speak to you in English or French unless your MSA is very good.
2)Litterary Arabic: the language of the Quoran. This isn't spoke and unless you're a scholar you won't learn it most likely.
3) Colloquial Arabic: These are the spoken languages you hear in each country. The main dialects are Gulf, Levantine, Egyptian, Saudi, and North African. The differences between these are as much as the Romance languages, so they are similar, but definitely far enough apart to be separate languages in their own right. |
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fustiancorduroy
Joined: 12 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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If you are living in Korea, you should learn Korean. Period. You aren't going to become fluent (unless you live here for many years and study Korean constantly), but knowing how to read and say at least basic things will make your life easier and your time here more fulfilling. About the guy who's lived here for 12 years and can't read hangul or use chopsticks, seriously, what in 대한민국 has that guy been doing? Staying at home and eating pizza?
And also, the CIA values Korean speakers, much as they do with Arabic and Mandarin. |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
15)Jive- In case you have confused passengers on the Airplane!
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LOL! |
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crescent
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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| janafromfrance wrote: |
| Stalin84 wrote: |
Met this fella at an orientation...
"I've been here for twelve years, I got started doing missionary work and then moved on to teaching..."
"Your Korean must be fluent, then."
"No, never got around to learning the alphabet or anything. I know basic stuff." (very basic, found out later).
Later, when choosing a place to eat:
"I don't know how to use chopsticks, can we go to TGIF?"
People like him make the rest of us look bad! |
Why? In this big blue world there are many languages that are really important. Maybe he knew Latin, or German. Learning korean is of zero
use to me. The second I go home, I will not, nor do I want to have anything to do with korea or the language. Chinese on the other hand is important. French is important. Maybe the missionary knew languages that you did not know. What can you do with korean the second you get back home (those who did not choose to marry a local?)
1. go to a korean restaurant and order in korean.
2. Find random koreans and strike up conversations.... |
Have you been on Jersey Shore? Be honest. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| SeoulMan99 wrote: |
| Steelrails wrote: |
Most important/Cool languages:
5)Arabic- A "universal" language across nations. Get paid by the CIA.
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That's just wrong. There are three forms of Arabic throughout the Arabic speaking world:
1) Modern Standard Arabic: most popular with students. Used in media and it is known by educated Arabs. The problem is that no one speaks this on the street, and a lot of people would not know how to speak it with you. Educated Arabs would more likely speak to you in English or French unless your MSA is very good.
2)Litterary Arabic: the language of the Quoran. This isn't spoke and unless you're a scholar you won't learn it most likely.
3) Colloquial Arabic: These are the spoken languages you hear in each country. The main dialects are Gulf, Levantine, Egyptian, Saudi, and North African. The differences between these are as much as the Romance languages, so they are similar, but definitely far enough apart to be separate languages in their own right. |
I'll take your word for it.
I was completely talking out of my rear on that. I figured there were probably dialects, but I was guessing you could kind of be understood.
At the very least, like 'Chinese' being able to read and write Arabic would be useful. |
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SeoulMan99
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
| SeoulMan99 wrote: |
| Steelrails wrote: |
Most important/Cool languages:
5)Arabic- A "universal" language across nations. Get paid by the CIA.
|
That's just wrong. There are three forms of Arabic throughout the Arabic speaking world:
1) Modern Standard Arabic: most popular with students. Used in media and it is known by educated Arabs. The problem is that no one speaks this on the street, and a lot of people would not know how to speak it with you. Educated Arabs would more likely speak to you in English or French unless your MSA is very good.
2)Litterary Arabic: the language of the Quoran. This isn't spoke and unless you're a scholar you won't learn it most likely.
3) Colloquial Arabic: These are the spoken languages you hear in each country. The main dialects are Gulf, Levantine, Egyptian, Saudi, and North African. The differences between these are as much as the Romance languages, so they are similar, but definitely far enough apart to be separate languages in their own right. |
I'll take your word for it.
I was completely talking out of my rear on that. I figured there were probably dialects, but I was guessing you could kind of be understood.
At the very least, like 'Chinese' being able to read and write Arabic would be useful. |
No problem. I'm just bored and saw that and since I'm interested in languages I thought i'd fix that. Most people don't know that there are various forms of Arabic to the extent there is. |
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tall_dave
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Location: Songtan, S. Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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| janafromfrance wrote: |
| Stalin84 wrote: |
Met this fella at an orientation...
"I've been here for twelve years, I got started doing missionary work and then moved on to teaching..."
"Your Korean must be fluent, then."
"No, never got around to learning the alphabet or anything. I know basic stuff." (very basic, found out later).
Later, when choosing a place to eat:
"I don't know how to use chopsticks, can we go to TGIF?"
People like him make the rest of us look bad! |
Why? In this big blue world there are many languages that are really important. Maybe he knew Latin, or German. Learning korean is of zero
use to me. The second I go home, I will not, nor do I want to have anything to do with korea or the language. Chinese on the other hand is important. French is important. Maybe the missionary knew languages that you did not know. What can you do with korean the second you get back home (those who did not choose to marry a local?)
1. go to a korean restaurant and order in korean.
2. Find random koreans and strike up conversations....
3 ?
4?
5????
6???? |
I think being a missionary in Korea, it might be beneficial to speak the native language. Unless, of course, you're coming to Korea to be a missionary to all those misplaced Germans, Spanish, Chinese, French speaking Canadians, or Americans that need missionarying. (made up that word) |
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SeoulMan99
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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| tall_dave wrote: |
| janafromfrance wrote: |
| Stalin84 wrote: |
Met this fella at an orientation...
"I've been here for twelve years, I got started doing missionary work and then moved on to teaching..."
"Your Korean must be fluent, then."
"No, never got around to learning the alphabet or anything. I know basic stuff." (very basic, found out later).
Later, when choosing a place to eat:
"I don't know how to use chopsticks, can we go to TGIF?"
People like him make the rest of us look bad! |
Why? In this big blue world there are many languages that are really important. Maybe he knew Latin, or German. Learning korean is of zero
use to me. The second I go home, I will not, nor do I want to have anything to do with korea or the language. Chinese on the other hand is important. French is important. Maybe the missionary knew languages that you did not know. What can you do with korean the second you get back home (those who did not choose to marry a local?)
1. go to a korean restaurant and order in korean.
2. Find random koreans and strike up conversations....
3 ?
4?
5????
6???? |
I think being a missionary in Korea, it might be beneficial to speak the native language. Unless, of course, you're coming to Korea to be a missionary to all those misplaced Germans, Spanish, Chinese, French speaking Canadians, or Americans that need missionarying. (made up that word) |
Being that he was a missionary it is surprising that he does not speak Korean well. Missionaries are some of the best langauge learners I have come across. Maybe that's why he didn't continue that path?
Jana - Obviously if you're coming to Korea to live Korean is much more important than any other language. |
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jiberish
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
Location: The Carribean Bay Wrestler
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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| "I'm a English teacher" |
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gay in korea
Joined: 13 Jan 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
| And also, the CIA values Korean speakers, much as they do with Arabic and Mandarin. |
You are half right. There is a value for Korean speakers.
But they aren't nearly as valued as Arabic or Mandarin. Not even close.
By learning and being fluent in Korean you can get a job, but you hit a ceiling pretty early on. |
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SeoulMan99
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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| gay in korea wrote: |
| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
| And also, the CIA values Korean speakers, much as they do with Arabic and Mandarin. |
You are half right. There is a value for Korean speakers.
But they aren't nearly as valued as Arabic or Mandarin. Not even close.
By learning and being fluent in Korean you can get a job, but you hit a ceiling pretty early on. |
You're pretty much right on that. Mandarin and MSA, Egyptian and Iraqi Arabic are considered "super critical needs" languages, while Korean and other forms of Arabic are classified as critical needs languages along with others like Russian, Punjabi, etc. Overall, Mandarin and Arabic would be more useful as there are more jobs requiring these (especially Arabic).
http://careers.state.gov/officer/considerations.html |
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wesharris
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| SeoulMan99 wrote: |
| Cerberus wrote: |
| gay in korea wrote: |
| T-J wrote: |
| janafromfrance wrote: |
In this big blue world there are many languages that are really important. ...French is important....
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That's the funniest thing I've heard all day. Thanks for that... |
anti-french sentiment is one of the stupidest things I have ever encountered. Be it about the second world war or anything else.
And why is this one really stupid?
French is spoken as a first, second, or understood at a high level by half a billion people. It's either the 8th or 9th most spoken language in the world.
So I am now going to contribute something to the actual topic of this thread, re: stupid things said by foreigners...
| Quote: |
| That's the funniest thing I've heard all day. Thanks for that.. |
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I'll agree with you on anti-french sentiment. A true and clear sign of someone being a complete idiot.
But re French language and its importance/usefulness and practicality, well - the only people that consider it imporant/useful and practical are the French.
yeah, it might be around 10th place. That's not really saying much, is it?
can I call massive BS on 500 million?
where is French useful and important outside of France, Quebec and several African ex-colonies?
I could make an argument for Korean being almost as useful/practical/important.
It's still shockingly amazing that a completely defeated France after WW2, managed to get a seat on the UN Security Council, and that French is actually one of the "official" languages of the UN.
Shows how much the world has changed in the last 50 years. (indeed even as late as the 19th century, knowledge of French was required by almost any "educated" European) |
Complete BS on the numbers. It's spoken as a native language by about 75 million people and another 55 million know it as a second language. That said, it is still a lingua franca of international organizations and in certain countries throughout the middle east and Africa. France is one of the 5 largest economies, and it is an essential language for any potential polyglot. It is, and will continue to be, one of the most important languages in the world. |
Sir French is possibly if not probably one of the more useless world languages. I sir do not speak French. Except for Oui and No? . I find the idea of French being a major language laughable at the best of times. Sad at the worst of times.
_+_+
Wes |
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tall_dave
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Location: Songtan, S. Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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However French, in my opinion is one of the more, if not MOST widely recognized romantic languages. Just hearing it makes me want to go out and find a french girl to make-out with. But I'm married, so I've given up on finding one.  |
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