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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Bloopity Bloop
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Location: Seoul yo
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 Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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Hey,
I was the original question asker, lol. Thanks for the perspective guys. |
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ChrisLamp
Joined: 27 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 7:19 am Post subject: |
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| tiger fancini wrote: |
| ChrisLamp wrote: |
| I was hired and brought to this country to teach English, the people of this country are going to have to put up with me speaking English. |
You chose to come to this country to teach English. Having made the choice to come to a country where English is not the first language, or indeed widely-spoken in some areas, then expecting the locals to put up with you speaking English may not be such a good idea. It wouldn't hurt to learn a little survival Korean if you're going to be here for at least one year.
| ChrisLamp wrote: |
| It couldn't be more rude than the countless times I'm used by random strangers who spark up awkward and useless small talk. |
If you'd done some research before coming here, you'd have known that this practice is highly common in Korea, and other parts of East Asia too. And hey at least they're trying to use English, which is what the first part of your post implies you want/expect.  |
Although at this point I do expect to be asked "where are you from?" and then,after answering, to be stared at awkwardly by every asshat with balls, that is certainly not what I want. Who wants that?
Honestly every young parent i see prompts their children to say hello to me as if simply by being white in this country it is my Responsibility to help their children practice English.
If Korea expects me to speak English, than english I will speak.
Yes I made a choice to come here, just as the ROK made the choice to bring over thousands of workers who don't speak the language. I came for the money, I'm under no illusions, and the Gov't is certainly not kidding itself that I have anything to offer other than my ability to speak English.
That said, of course I have learned the basic "survival korean". I can get by asking for a chair in English with a point and a grunt, I'm not wasting my time learning anything beyond that. I'm out of here in six months and never looking back. |
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tomato
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:33 am Post subject: |
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| sadguy wrote: |
| what do you do in that situation? |
Learn some Korean so you wouldn't happen the next time!
The last time I checked, the word "chair" was in the dictionary.
| ChrisLamp wrote: |
| I was hired and brought to this country to teach English, the people of this country are going to have to put up with me speaking English. |
What's the major premise of your argument, that everyone should work their jobs twenty-four hours a day?
I guess a doctor should carry around a pocketful of tongue depressors and look down people's throats.
I guess a TV wrestler should go around beating people up.
I guess an artistic model should go around naked.
| sadguy wrote: |
| i forgot to mention that my friend and i are asians. to a lot of koreans, they think you speak korean because you look asian. |
That's a big ten-four!
I was at an October harvest festival with two Asians.
One was a Chinese-American who never even opened a Korean textbook.
The other was a gyopo, but her level of proficiency was so low that she had to speak to the vendors in English.
So I had to do the translating for them.
But guess which one the Good Samaritans grabbed by the shoulder and said "캥 아이 헬프 유.�
| eamo wrote: |
| I've heard Koreans say they are very self-conscious to speak English in front of other Koreans because they might be judged to be too smug and smarty-pants. |
Thanks.
I wondered why Korean English students thought, "Oh boy! There's a wegukin! Now I have a chance to practice my English!" even though they are surrounded by thousands of other English students who also want opportunities to practice English.
It reminds me of a Mad Magazine parody of Barry Lyndon. The title character meets a girl who complains that she is sad and lonely.
Lyndon says, "I'm sorry, I wish I could help you, but I have the same condition."
The girl says, "You also have a case of the stupids."
I'll quote you again and take another direction:
| eamo wrote: |
| I've heard Koreans say they are very self-conscious to speak English in front of other Koreans because they might be judged to be too smug and smarty-pants. |
But the Fergusonians aren't the least bit self-conscious about speaking English to a wegukin who wants to speak Korean.
They apparently don't care if the wegukin thinks they're too smug and smarty-pants for implying "I think your Korean is lousy. It's a waste of time for you to practice Korean because you'll never learn it. It's a waste of time for me to condescend to speak Korean to you because my English is better than your Korean and I'm better than you are. So 메에에에에에롱 to you!"
| Kaypea wrote: |
I can't count all the times I've said something in crappy broken Korean to people, even older people, and they respond in grade school level English. It's fun  |
I'm glad you enjoy it.
Can I have your name and cell phone number?
The next time I run into one of those guys, I'll send them your way.
| ChrisLamp wrote: |
| If Korea expects me to speak English, than english I will speak. |
Too bad all the minority members back home aren't like you, ChrisLamp.
Then all the Black people would still be Uncle Tomming around, all the women would still be Betty Booping around, and everything would be nice and peaceful, just like it was before.
| Quote: |
| the Gov't is certainly not kidding itself that I have anything to offer other than my ability to speak English. |
And you have no other attributes?
I'm disappointed to hear that.
I thought maybe you had some musical skills--or some artistic skills--or some athletic skills--or maybe some other interest.
I thought maybe you had some opinions--like maybe approving or disapproving of politics in your own country--or approval or disapproval of what you see in Korean society--or whether or not God exists.
I thought maybe you had some emotions. I thought maybe there was something which made you happy--or something which made you sad--or something which made you angry.
In other words, I thought maybe you were a unique individual who would appreciate being treated like a unique individual. |
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Zulethe
Joined: 04 Jul 2008
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:52 am Post subject: |
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Hey, mate, didn't you get the memo? When speaking to a Korean person who doesn't speak English, just speak really loudly and then they will understand you.
Jeesh, one would think everyone would know this by now!! |
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ChrisLamp
Joined: 27 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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| tomato wrote: |
| sadguy wrote: |
| what do you do in that situation? |
Learn some Korean so you wouldn't happen the next time!
The last time I checked, the word "chair" was in the dictionary.
| ChrisLamp wrote: |
| I was hired and brought to this country to teach English, the people of this country are going to have to put up with me speaking English. |
What's the major premise of your argument, that everyone should work their jobs twenty-four hours a day?
I guess a doctor should carry around a pocketful of tongue depressors and look down people's throats.
I guess a TV wrestler should go around beating people up.
I guess an artistic model should go around naked.
| sadguy wrote: |
| i forgot to mention that my friend and i are asians. to a lot of koreans, they think you speak korean because you look asian. |
That's a big ten-four!
I was at an October harvest festival with two Asians.
One was a Chinese-American who never even opened a Korean textbook.
The other was a gyopo, but her level of proficiency was so low that she had to speak to the vendors in English.
So I had to do the translating for them.
But guess which one the Good Samaritans grabbed by the shoulder and said "캥 아이 헬프 유.�
| eamo wrote: |
| I've heard Koreans say they are very self-conscious to speak English in front of other Koreans because they might be judged to be too smug and smarty-pants. |
Thanks.
I wondered why Korean English students thought, "Oh boy! There's a wegukin! Now I have a chance to practice my English!" even though they are surrounded by thousands of other English students who also want opportunities to practice English.
It reminds me of a Mad Magazine parody of Barry Lyndon. The title character meets a girl who complains that she is sad and lonely.
Lyndon says, "I'm sorry, I wish I could help you, but I have the same condition."
The girl says, "You also have a case of the stupids."
I'll quote you again and take another direction:
| eamo wrote: |
| I've heard Koreans say they are very self-conscious to speak English in front of other Koreans because they might be judged to be too smug and smarty-pants. |
But the Fergusonians aren't the least bit self-conscious about speaking English to a wegukin who wants to speak Korean.
They apparently don't care if the wegukin thinks they're too smug and smarty-pants for implying "I think your Korean is lousy. It's a waste of time for you to practice Korean because you'll never learn it. It's a waste of time for me to condescend to speak Korean to you because my English is better than your Korean and I'm better than you are. So 메에에에에에롱 to you!"
| Kaypea wrote: |
| I can't count all the times I've said something in crappy broken Korean to people, even older people, and they respond in grade school level English. It's fun |
I'm glad you enjoy it.
Can I have your name and cell phone number?
The next time I run into one of those guys, I'll send them your way.
| ChrisLamp wrote: |
| If Korea expects me to speak English, than english I will speak. |
Too bad all the minority members back home aren't like you, ChrisLamp.
Then all the Black people would still be Uncle Tomming around, all the women would still be Betty Booping around, and everything would be nice and peaceful, just like it was before.
| Quote: |
| the Gov't is certainly not kidding itself that I have anything to offer other than my ability to speak English. |
And you have no other attributes?
I'm disappointed to hear that.
I thought maybe you had some musical skills--or some artistic skills--or some athletic skills--or maybe some other interest.
I thought maybe you had some opinions--like maybe approving or disapproving of politics in your own country--or approval or disapproval of what you see in Korean society--or whether or not God exists.
I thought maybe you had some emotions. I thought maybe there was something which made you happy--or something which made you sad--or something which made you angry.
In other words, I thought maybe you were a unique individual who would appreciate being treated like a unique individual. |
You really think you're here because you can whistle all of Don Giovanni through your nose? Youre here because you speak English. Period. You may have other talents but they couldn't care less. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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^
Tomato has a gift of word and a knowledge of fine music. Maybe a parody of 'Non Piu Andrai' for English Teachers is called for.
Of course we still need to keep 'Poco contante, Poco contante' in there. |
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RangerMcGreggor
Joined: 12 Jan 2011
Location: Somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Some people get annoyed if you come up and speak English, though if you make an attempt at broken Korean they will be less likely to be annoyed. |
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