Korean Job Discussion Forums

[myenglishisno]

This comes up in my classes a lot when talking about my age and student's ages (usually comes up on the first day actually).

I say I'm ____ age in Korea and ____ age in Canada.

I've tried to explain this before and Koreans just can't seem to get it... it seems about as alien to them as their age system seems to us.

I know that China and Japan don't use this kind of age system. Why does Korea use it? Why are they unaware that every other country in the world counts their age as 0 from birth?

Just curious.

[highstreet]

Are your students kids? That's probably your answer right there.

[northway]

[Old fat expat]

When a child is born in Korea, they are in their 1st year. Although a westerner will say they are x months old, a Korean says 1st year. Hence a 15 year-old student (by western age) is in their 16th year. Their answer is correct given how they respond to the age question.

Add to this the use of the Lunar system that results in the birth date moving, and you have your reasons for age that does not fit your sensibilities.

strokes and folks.

[CasperTheFriendlyGhost]

A 15 year old student could either be in their 16th or 17th year, depending on when her birthday is.

[CentralCali]

I chalk it up to the way so much of the education here seems to be of the "There is only one right answer" variety. Adding a different paradigm is introducing an additional right answer. It just simply does not compute. After some point--different point for each individual--the concept is grasped.

[Captain Corea]

[CentralCali]

[Zackback]

Thanks CC for that is extremely important for me to know.

[myenglishisno]

[AtmaWeapon]

I've been here a year and I still don't fully understand how it works. When you are born you are 9 months old and then everyone turns a year older on LNY, which is a different date every year? Jesus that is confusing. Are there any other countries in the world that have age systems like this?

[CentralCali]

China. Where do you think Koreans got the idea from? And it's not 9 months old at birth, it's one year. The simplest way to think of it is how old you'll be on your birthday in the year that starts on Lunar New Year, not forgetting to add that one year of course.

[joelove]

The questions "What year were you born?" and "When is your birthday?" can clear things up. I've had some students who really weren't that bad at English stumble trying to answer these though. Maybe it's like using the English names for foods; they're not used to doing so.

[isisaredead]

[vDroop]