Korean Job Discussion Forums

[peppermint]

I've noticed my students calling me SAM a lot lately, I'm pretty sure it'san abbreviation of Song saeng nim, just wondered if anyone else gets this?

[peppergirl]

Yes it is. They originally used it when SMS-ing (�� is a lot shorter to type than ������).

[visviva]

just be glad it isn't actually your name. argh...

[T-dot]

you near daegu?

thats where ive heard it most. its a short term for teacher

[waggo]

Its a Busan dialect word that has travelled up.

[FUBAR]

Yeah Saem, is short for teacher.

First week at the school. The students would always say... Saem, Saem... And I would always say... "No... My name is not Sam." Then one of the corrected me and told me that "Saem" is short for Teacher.


I have heard it in Daegu and Busan.

Speaking of dialect. One of the teachers told me that "Alla" is Kyungsan slang for Baby. First I have heard of that.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

It's a little disrespectful if they address you that way, from what I gather. It's like saying "hey Teach!"

Sparkles*_*

[peppermint]

That's kind of what I was asking but I'll take it. Beats the hell out of just being called Peppermint ( not Miss Peppermint) by a third grader. Besides, I am twenty years younger than most teachers at my school, I can see why they'd try it with me.

[Chillin' Villain]

"Hey, Teach!"

- That's great.... I had a couple suburban homeboy students when I was teaching back in Edmonton who'd say that... Thought it was kinda funny... That and "Mr. Dubs" ... (Using "double-u" as an abbreviation for a last name is kinda dumb when the last name has less syllables than the letter...Guess they could've called me "Dubya", but someone else already took that).

[FUBAR]

[jazblanc77]

No, you shouldn't let your kids call you saem. Rule of thumb is to always keep up the teacher act or else they will think you are thier friend and figure that they can get away with a host of other unacceptable behaviours.

[ThePoet]

[jazblanc77]

Thanks Poet, I too have lots of teaching experience with 3 years coaching and 11 years teaching and I understand exactly what you are saying. I was just trying to say that, especially in Korea where language style is conected to the level of respect you accord a person, it can be troublesome. Being called "Saem", is a form of banmal, the lowest level of curtesy in the Korean language which you usually use with someone with whom you are very familiar and at the same level or with someone of lower status. I joke around with my kids a lot and am very friendly with them, however, it is really hard for them to see where "the line" is on acceptable behaviour and speech patterns. I understand a lot of Korean and when they speak to me in Korean, I am constantly having to remind them that they shouldn't banmal me or treat and that I am their teacher. I like to keep a relaxed atmosphere in my classroom but, it is entirely necessary that they understand where the line is between our friendliness and our student-teacher relationship. As I teach kids, this definition is always a little hard for them to remember.

So, I wasn't saying to not be friendly. I was just warning that a teacher should be prepared to draw the line in the sand often while also understanding how Korean customs work in terms of the relationship between language and respect.

[peppermint]

I did draw a line. Peppermint Saem is okay, just plain Peppermint is decidedly not.