|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Scorpion
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
|
 Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:55 pm Post subject: Korean television viewing habits. |
 |
|
I really don't understand Korean television viewing habits. Not just the absurd shows, or the volume that they set it at. What I don't get is why there needs to be a television on everywhere. Every shop has one. I can't stand at the counter being served without becoming aware that I'm obstructing ajumma's view of her drama. Why is there one in every restaurant. My barber shop has one. The taxi driver watches one while he's flying through a red light. There's on the the bus that I take to work everyday. There's even a friggin television in my elevator that blares adverts. And if there's not a tv in the subway, they're getting out their smartphones to watch television on them. What's with this obsession with having televisions everywhere. Is it a misguided effort to convince themselves that their society is modern? Whatever the reason is, it's highly annoying.
End of rant. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
fortysixyou
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Completely agree and empathize. TVs are everywhere and in every situation here. Why watch TV while we're eating a special dinner I just cooked? Or while we're putting up a Christmas tree? I'm happier just to throw on some music in another room. TV is pretty much all my girlfriend does on the weekend as well. Couch, TV, CSI marathon. 10 hours Saturday. 10 hours Sunday. I liked her so much more before I bought a TV. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
metalhead
Joined: 18 May 2010
Location: Toilet
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
| The TV thing doesn't bother me so much, there are people that need that sort of non-thinking entertainment everywhere. What disturbs me is how few Koreans seem to read for leisure/pleasure. Long bus trips, subway rides, coffee shops etc - seems so few of them read, they'd rather sleep or (wait for it) WATCH TV. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
Is the tv any more brain-damaging than surfing Youtube, Reddit and Yahoo answers all day? I don't think it is, you just feel cleverer because you're able to post your pathetic attempts at an opinion.
Not you guys, you're teachers, but there are lots of idiots in every country. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
| What's really annoying is the TVs in the aisles in the supermarkets that constantly play the same commercial over and over again. You don't have to shove your product down my throat when I'm freaking buying it, you tools. Do not understand that particular marketing strategy. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
le-paul
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 2:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
its sort of understandable with the kids who get hardly any freetime and need to get a quick fix but its really not healthy for adults. most tv isnt even remotely educational and just fills their heads up with nonsense (like mbc) that will be regurgitated as fact.
however, that being said, its getting like this back home and people build th lives around recorded tv shows. but at least we dont watch when were driving !! no matter how long i live here, ill never get over that:) 
btw justin c - hes entitled to a rant if somethings bothering him, its an annoymous forum and no ones being hurt. being rude isnt much of a pathetic attempt at an opinion really either is it? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 2:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
le-paul it wasn't directed at the OP or anyone else on Dave's (I'm assuming we're all teachers or at least educated and not mouth-breathing, daytime soap-watching, X Factor-loving, fast food-eating neanderthals).
And yes being rude isnt much of a pathetic attempt at an opinion, either  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 3:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
| OP while the shows may be absurd to you, they are not to the Koreans who watch them....just keep that in mind. As for the rest of your OP, you may want to lay off the societal analysis judgement a bit as you were smearing it own pretty damn thick. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rkc76sf
Joined: 02 Nov 2008
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 3:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
| metalhead wrote: |
| The TV thing doesn't bother me so much, there are people that need that sort of non-thinking entertainment everywhere. What disturbs me is how few Koreans seem to read for leisure/pleasure. Long bus trips, subway rides, coffee shops etc - seems so few of them read, they'd rather sleep or (wait for it) WATCH TV. |
I've noticed that. Maybe it's because Korean language is more implied than English, so it's more difficult to paint a picture, I don't know. They like to read their comic books, though. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 4:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
| rkc76sf wrote: |
| metalhead wrote: |
| The TV thing doesn't bother me so much, there are people that need that sort of non-thinking entertainment everywhere. What disturbs me is how few Koreans seem to read for leisure/pleasure. Long bus trips, subway rides, coffee shops etc - seems so few of them read, they'd rather sleep or (wait for it) WATCH TV. |
I've noticed that. Maybe it's because Korean language is more implied than English, so it's more difficult to paint a picture, I don't know. They like to read their comic books, though. |
By the way, they do read at home, but you are not there to see it...also they sometimes read on their tablets or smartphones as well. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 4:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| By the way, they do read at home, but you are not there to see it |
So how do you know then? Koreans read less than other nationalities it's obvious. They have far less free time for one thing and are pressurised into doing a lot more group activities in the free time they have. Reading habits is a topic area that comes up time and time again with adult students, in IELTS practice lessons for example. When you come across someone who's actually read a few novels, it's a joy to behold but generally in my experience there are two replies to the question 'what do like to read?' Either the bible or that book by Steve Jobs.
Last edited by edwardcatflap on Tue Aug 28, 2012 4:31 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 4:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| What I detest is the way the volume goes up as soon as the commercials begin. Do they really think we didn't notice? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 6:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Quote: |
| By the way, they do read at home, but you are not there to see it |
So how do you know then? Koreans read less than other nationalities it's obvious. They have far less free time for one thing and are pressurised into doing a lot more group activities in the free time they have. Reading habits is a topic area that comes up time and time again with adult students, in IELTS practice lessons for example. When you come across someone who's actually read a few novels, it's a joy to behold but generally in my experience there are two replies to the question 'what do like to read?' Either the bible or that book by Steve Jobs. |
Live with a Korean woman (my wife), visited my in-laws home often enough and my wife's brothers home as well. Lots of Korean friends.
Reading habits is an interesting topic to discuss in Korea. If it is of any interest to you, my wife and her friends all read tons of novels. In fact my wife and her 2 closest friends mail each other books to and from Canada/Korea. 
When my wife goes into a reading transe, forget it, she is gone for a few evenings of reading!
Her mother reads but not novels. In fact, there are many types of readers, some love novels, others prefer essays or more practical books. My FIL is a retired engineer, he reads engineering books and mags all the time and has no interest in fiction.
So passing judgement on how much Koreans read as oppposed to other nationalities like you did is a bit odd unless you have proof backing this up. It is possible Koreans read less than others yet more than others. It is possible they read different things (which to me is pretty normal). I look at kids where we live in Canada and reading is going down the toilet my friend. Holy crap, it is a struggle to get my son to read when he is not in school. He does read some but not nearly as much as I did when I was a kid. He is far more attracted to electronics than he is too books. When you look at teens in Canada, it is the supremacy of the social media over books. Times are changing.
I am a chronic reader, I typically have a 3-5 books on the go at any given time. These vary from novels to professional development reading, to sports and travel lit. Discussing this with someone requires that this person also be an avid reader and that is not all that common I find.
Also, have you read Korean novels at all Ed? If you want to discuss novels with Koreans, perhaps you would have better success discussing local literature. There are more and more Korean novels translated into English for example.
As for the initial OP on TV...perhaps before calling Korean shows absurd, the OP should check out stellar TV shows like "Stars in Stripes", "The Duck Dynasty", "Dog the Bounty Hunter"or the high quality (gag) day time soaps...now thats QUALITY TV right there.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 6:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
edwardcatflap wrote:
Quote:
By the way, they do read at home, but you are not there to see it
So how do you know then? Koreans read less than other nationalities it's obvious. They have far less free time for one thing and are pressurised into doing a lot more group activities in the free time they have. Reading habits is a topic area that comes up time and time again with adult students, in IELTS practice lessons for example. When you come across someone who's actually read a few novels, it's a joy to behold but generally in my experience there are two replies to the question 'what do like to read?' Either the bible or that book by Steve Jobs
Live with a Korean woman (my wife), visited my in-laws home often enough and my wife's brothers home as well. Lots of Korean friends.
Reading habits is an interesting topic to discuss in Korea. If it is of any interest to you, my wife and her friends all read tons of novels. In fact my wife and her 2 closest friends mail each other books to and from Canada/Korea.
When my wife goes into a reading transe, forget it, she is gone for a few evenings of reading!
Her mother reads but not novels. In fact, there are many types of readers,
some love novels, others prefer essays or more practical books. My FIL is a retired engineer, he reads engineering books and mags all the time and has no interest in fiction.
So passing judgement on how much Koreans read as oppposed to other
nationalities like you did is a bit odd unless you have proof backing this up. It is possible Koreans read less than others yet more than others. It is possible they read different things (which to me is pretty normal). I look at kids where we live in Canada and reading is going down the toilet my friend. Holy crap, it is a struggle to get my son to read when he is not in school. He does read some but not nearly as much as I did when I was a kid. He is far
more attracted to electronics than he is too books. When you look at teens in Canada, it is the supremacy of the social media over books. Times are changing.
I am a chronic reader, I typically have a 3-5 books on the go at any given time. These vary from novels to professional development reading, to sports and travel lit. Discussing this with someone requires that this person also be an avid reader and that is not all that common I find.
Also, have you read Korean novels at all Ed? If you want to discuss novels with Koreans, perhaps you would have better success discussing local literature. There are more and more Korean novels translated into English for example.
As for the initial OP on TV...perhaps before calling Korean shows absurd, the OP should check out stellar TV shows like "Stars in Stripes", "The Duck Dynasty", "Dog the Bounty Hunter"or the high quality (gag) day time
soaps...now thats QUALITY TV right there.... |
Patrick, you live in Canada and your observations on Korean society come from observing your wife, and your family and friends when you visit twice a year. I live in Korea and I teach and test literally hundreds of adults a month. I've read about three Korean novels which is more novels in total than the average student I come into contact with has read. And these are
not typical Koreans,they are the intelligentsia of Korea who have high powered jobs or are planning to do Masters here or in foreign countries. I know you always like to stick up for Korea in an argument but there's nothing wrong with saying one kind of pass time is more popular in one country than another. And that's basically all I'm saying
Last edited by edwardcatflap on Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:03 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nate1983
Joined: 30 Mar 2008
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
Patrick,
Just wondering what sorts of novels Koreans generally read..would they be comparable to western "classics"? I'm from the US and even excluding American authors, I haven't met many Koreans who I expect would have a similar exposure to classical literature. In my opinion western literature provides a deep cultural perspective and critical thinking skills that seem to be remiss in many Koreans' perspective of the world. And obviously many works that we read in English have been translated (Hugo, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy) so it's not like Koreans would benefit any less than us by not knowing the original language.
Are there similar Korean/eastern works, or do they actually read western ones? All I'm aware of is things like 소나기, which I don't imagine anyone could consider in that class. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
