Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dwoodworth]

Hey everyone,

I was hoping to start a discussion about the pros and cons to learning Korean while teaching in Korea. Of course learning the basics is a given. That's just respectful. But how much extra time should you put in if any at all? Since there are so many variables, Let's take the hypothetical that we're talking about a new teacher looking for an adventure so they decided to move abroad to teach. They decided on Korea. They are definitely committed to staying for the 1 year contract and they are OPEN but not decided on staying for another year. How much should they learn?

I discuss this here in a video: https://youtu.be/sEHUDBBopbE

Enjoy

[greatunknown]

Reading Korean, Korean numbers and 20 simple phrases. You want to be able to shop, read a menu, politely ask for something and, tell a taxi driver where you need to go. Thats enough to get by imo.

[dwoodworth]

I think that's a good bare bones approach. What about learning more? Do you think the return on investment (learning Korean) is worth the effort and time?

[edwardcatflap]

The argument for

Make more Korean friends, have access to a larger dating pool, get more respect from the locals and Korean workmates, network and get a better TEFL job, eventually be able to get out of TEFL and work for a Korean company, enjoy popular culture more, understand when Koreans talk about you in front of you.

The argument against

You won't understand when Koreans talk about you in front of you, do you really want/need Korean friends or their respect, Korean women who are prepared to date foreigners usually speak English already, the best paying TEFL jobs don't require Korean, working for a Korean company is a nightmare, would understanding what they say in Muhandojun make it any funnier?

You decide.

[World Traveler]

It takes a LONG time to get good. Do you enjoy speaking in English with Koreans who suck at English? I don't. If I'm not being paid to converse, any prolonged exchange is more often then not unpleasant. How much study does it take to get to the point you are not annoying Koreans by speaking Korean to them? Quite a lot. One would need to study for HOURS every day.

According to this (not sure if it is true or not, but I would guess yes), if a person studied coding every day for three hours a day, within a years time (or less) they'd be good enough to get a $93,000 a year job:
http://teachinginkoreanuniversity.com/stephen-mayeux-english-teacher-turned-javascript-developer/

Study Korean for three hours a day every day and after a year you'd still be lousy at it, with no financial benefit. (It least that's been my experience.)

[Fallacy]

I second the assessment of edwardcatflap. Depending upon the intended length of stay in the ROK and the longer term personal/professional goals for life, possible answers to this question are realistically as follows: up to 2 years = none necessary; up to 5 years = as much as you like; beyond = more than all.

[Fox]

[edwardcatflap]

[DaeguNL]

[World Traveler]

English is mandatory for all Koreans. They get ten years of it in the public school system, then more in university. How many of those can speak it reasonably well? Not that many. (And if they can, that makes learning Korean not worth it.) Not everyone will be good at a language after 1,000 hours of study. Most won't. I guess you have a natural knack for languages, surpassed only by your wit. ur teh new urbanmyth lol.

[Plain Meaning]

Laughing at the linked post which claimed learning Korean "isn't necessary or useful." In Korea, its certainly useful. Is it necessary? Only by a quirk of the Korean education system is it a shade less than necessary.

[Leon]

[Whitegirlinasia]

It depends on what you want out of the country. If you are here for the money and experience, you can get by with hangul, restaurant korean, classroom korean, and "where is the bathroom". If you want to be a culture ninja, you have to study like crazy.

I studied Japanese like crazy when I was living there. I adapted, learned and absorbed the language and culture. Passed proficiency tests, and functioned seamlessly in the culture.

It was both rewarding and disappointing. No matter how hard you try, someone will good naturedly try to lend you a beginner handwriting guide or ask you how you learned to use chopsticks even if the conversation you were having a moment ago was about politics or another complex issue.

At the same time, I would not have made the same friends there or enjoyed the culture on the level I did if I had not put in the time and effort.

If you have the natural inclination for language learning, it will take 2 years of hard study. Clock several hours a day and you can get yourself there.

But if you are here for the fun of it, basics are all you need.

I learned some Korean. But when speaking another language it seems you take on some of the cultural personality. And I have a hard time identifying with the Korean soul, so I decided to leave instead.

[cj1976]

The above post nailed a very common feeling amongst members of the expat community - alienation. While some might argue that they felt a sense of 'disconnection' before learning Korean, others might say they feel that way despite learning the language.

[mithridates]

I've found it easy to find Koreans that don't identify with the 'Korean soul', since it's so prominent. Just add a few criteria (likes real music instead of k-pop, doesn't dislike Japan, interested in a language that isn't English/Chinese, etc.) and you've weeded out quite a large portion of the population. Then go to meetups based on some of these criteria and what you'll find are some very unique people.