Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sliver]

Hello this is my first post to this board.

It took two days for approval and so the thread I wanted to reply to has become a little redundant.

I want your opinions on how PRIDE effects English aquision by Koreans.

My personal opinion is that too much pride is one of the biggest hurdles SOME Koreans have to overcome.

To much pride to go through the necessary stage of making many mistakes in practicing English so they stick to only those phrases they are well versed in.

To much pride to allow themselves to be corrected on their test papers.

To much pride so that they rather do anything than show their language deficiency.

Maybe I am bating a little. Maybe in some cases it could be argued that it is not pride but fear of ridicule. Are these the same thing?

I don't know but am interested in your opinion.

I am learning Korean and have done things because of pride, that looking back inhibited my learning progress. I have overcome that now (I think) and my Korean level has improved dramtically.

Some thoughts please.

[weatherman]

your are right about the pride thing, but that is only a symptom of the whole societal condition. I beleive there are many others reasons why Koreans don't, won't, can't pick up English very well. And if you had to ask me it would be the learning strategies that they DON'T learn, and less to do with pride.

[FlagWaver]

I dunno.

I worked for a company doing conversation only. No testing, no listening drills, just conversation and scenes they picked from movies to watch and discuss.

Some of my better speakers told me they practiced reading classics and some English Lit aloud in front of a mirror every night for 30 minutes. Some of the others heard this and started doing it. I was indeed moved by their efforts.

[jajdude]

Mainly it is a matter of numbers I think. So few foreigners. No need to use English in Korea. But I admire those who can, well- travelled or not.