Korean Job Discussion Forums

[methdxman]

Just throwing the question out there.

It seems that no one here talks about the importance of language in terms of integration. I know Korean's a tough language to learn and I know that some of you will undoubtedly list places that you have lived where not knowing the local language didn't cramp your experience.

Does any non-gyopo here speak Korean well? Do Korean people treat you differently because you speak the language well?

[marsavalanche]

I read one person fluent in Korean who said he actually didn't like it at times because he was surprised how many people were talking about him/her behind their back. Also mentioned how much Koreans bad mouth you to your face in Korea. I'm not saying they all do it so stop before you call me another bitter Dave's poster.... but it was an interesting thought.

[gypsymaria]

I've been here 4 months, and I've only learned a handful of useful words and phrases, but I haven't had any proper lessons or studied my little phrase books very intently. I wish I knew Korean better sometimes. It would certainly make shopping and getting around town easier!

But then I think, "I'm only going to be here for 8 more months. What use will I have for Korean when I get home, other than the novelty of knowing another language?" I like learning other languages, but I'm finding I'd rather just learn a collection of useful phrases (like ordering pizza, finding what I want in a shopping center, directing a cab, reading the directions on a food package, etc) and maybe some basic grammar/vocabulary/daily use phrases than plunging in and doing a full language course.

I wonder if there's a "Survival Korean 101" class out there for people like me, who would like to learn enough of the language to get by but don't want to spend years mastering the finer points of grammar and the different levels of politeness. A crash course, if you will. That'd be just about perfect for me.

[tealeeds1]

ive only been here a week and found it a big hinderance already. round yangsan no one really speaks english beyond numbers and yes/no.. busan ive found to be better but still - i need to learn at least basic korean asap.

im hoping to start korean lessons in the next couple of weeks once ive found some that work around my schedule

and aside from the above reasons, i feel its quite rude to live in korea and not speak korean

[Vagabundo]

only minimally.

It's great if you want to integrate yourself into and participate in "Korean culture", but in my case that's precisely what I do not want to do.

I like eating alone, I like eating what I like to eat, I like to treat people on the basis of their individual character not their birth certificate.

and the reasons could go on and on.

the only use for it would be to the ability to get certain tasks or problems accomplished/solved.

[littlelisa]

I would be so happy!

I'm low intermediate now and it would be great to have it easier to speak with my friends (too much vocabulary I don't know). I can have conversations, but if the vocabulary starts being on a subject I don't know much vocabulary for it gets difficult. I'm a lot more quiet and shy when speaking Korean than I am in English.

The more I learn, the easier it is to get around in Korea. I don't have to rely on others as much as I might if I didn't know any of the language. Learning even just a little bit (reading, writing, a few words) was useful, and the more I learned the more useful it was to speak Korean. I also get a lot more respect from people for being able to speak.

I rarely hear anyone talking about me behind my back, and when I do, it's nothing bad (I've heard a few ajummas a few times debating whether I was a boy or a girl -- I have very short hair. If anything, it's funny, not insulting, and that's the worst I've ever heard).

If I could be fluent overnight I would be incredibly happy, but it's a hard language and language doesn't work like that.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Becoming fluent was something that greatly improved my quality of life in Korea. The simple fact that you are fluent or even have conversational ability and are able to read provides you with autonomy, confidence and a far better understanding of Korea.

Even reaching intermediate level is a big plus as an expat.

In fact, learning the language of any country you reside in for any extended period of time is really a no brainer if you want to go beyond the expat circle or beyond being nearly completely dependant on locals to get anything done.

[mithridates]

Not sure about happier, but it does end up making Korea just feel like an extension of your own country. It also seems like the more you use it the less you get complimented on it; either that or Koreans themselves have changed over the past few years. I use it almost 100% of the time (besides when doing things online) and I can't remember the last time someone has told me that my Korean is good. Whatever the reason, it's quite nice that you get to start talking with people more and more in the language and not about the language.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Radius]

[computermichael]

[cheolsu]

I speak Korean at a high intermediate level. In almost three years, I've never heard anyone, aside from rude students calling me bald, talk about me in a way different from English speakers talking about me.

Life is much, much easier if you speak Korean. I dont even know why this is a question. You are becoming a literate member of the society in which you live when you learn Korean. Would your life suffer wherever it is you're from if you were illiterate?

There are dozens of things that I can do which coworkers and friends can't do because they don't speak Korean or barely speak it. I can understand what's going on in my class, talk to students or coworkers, shop, eat, travel, get around, make friends, be informed and generally not walk around in a haze relying on guesswork.

[tomato]

I have compiled a list of reasons why knowing Korean is useful for teaching English in Korea:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=13860&highlight=

I would like to know Korean better so that I can:

■ know what is being said about me when I hear my name mentioned
■ discuss something more profound than "do you like kimchi"
■ avoid the embarrassment which comes when someone asks me a question which I can't understand
■ understand what is happening on television
■ disprove stereotypes about wegukin's
■ defend myself from Koreans who are trying to treat me like a baby

[crossmr]

[morrisonhotel]