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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 2:20 am Post subject: Mandatory Korean Tests for Foreigners |
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Korea is introducing mandatory language proficiency tests for foreigners who want to work in the country, the Labor Ministry said Monday. The ministry will designate institutes to administer the test. Representatives will travel to countries exporting labor to Korea several times a year and supervise the test. It will cover listening, speaking and reading comprehension. Foreign workers need to pay for the test themselves and submit the certificate of proficiency with other application documents when applying for jobs in Korea from their home countries.
Chosun Ilbo (March 7, 2005)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200503/200503070033.html |
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peemil
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Location: Koowoompa
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 2:33 am Post subject: |
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| Does that apply to English teachers? |
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jinglejangle
Joined: 19 Feb 2005
Location: Far far far away.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 2:47 am Post subject: |
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It can apply to English teachers all it want's to. It won't be enforced I imagine.
You're not allowed to teach here without a bachelors either, but that doesn't stop anyone. On the other hand, it could conciveably drive salaries up somewhat for those who speak Korean. |
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Universalis
Joined: 17 Nov 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 2:54 am Post subject: |
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| jinglejangle wrote: |
| You're not allowed to teach here without a bachelors either, but that doesn't stop anyone. On the other hand, it could conciveably drive salaries up somewhat for those who speak Korean. |
Bring it on then, I say:)
Brian |
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jinglejangle
Joined: 19 Feb 2005
Location: Far far far away.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 2:58 am Post subject: |
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| Umm....Bear in mind that's wild speculation on my part. And this bill is probably just a feel good and political ride on the latest wave of anti-western sentiment, that being directed at teachers after all. |
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Mashimaro
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: location, location
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:00 am Post subject: |
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| I knew all that study would payoff some day ^^ |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:41 am Post subject: |
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Doesn't apply to English teachers. I really, really didn't think even Real Reality would fall for this one.
An article in today's JoongAng Daily explains that this test is part of a new work permit system for "foreigners wishing to work in factories in Korea". It quotes a ministry official: "We are not asking the workers to hold advanced proficiency qualifications but only enough to understand hazard signs written in Korean and simple orders from supervisors"
So, unless RR and the rest of you are planning to drill holes in bowling balls or some such thing, this doesn't apply to you (though this isn't clear from the piece in the Chosun). Perhaps RR was thinking this meant that when your employers (wonjangnims, school foreign-teacher wranglers, university department heads, etc.) start barking "simple orders" at you in Korean, you'd now be required by law to understand and grovel appropriately. 
Anyway, many of us get "tested" one way or the other in this respect every day we work and live here. And I wonder if this isn't the case for most foreigners in Korea, even those in the ESL industry and those who just wouldn't be here if they didn't speak English. |
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PEIGUY
Joined: 28 Mar 2004
Location: Omokgyo
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:55 am Post subject: |
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| JongnoGuru wrote: |
Doesn't apply to English teachers. I really, really didn't think even Real Reality would fall for this one.
An article in today's JoongAng Daily explains that this test is part of a new work permit system for "foreigners wishing to work in factories in Korea". It quotes a ministry official: "We are not asking the workers to hold advanced proficiency qualifications but only enough to understand hazard signs written in Korean and simple orders from supervisors"
So, unless RR and the rest of you are planning to drill holes in bowling balls or some such thing, this doesn't apply to you (though this isn't clear from the piece in the Chosun). Perhaps RR was thinking this meant that when your employers (wonjangnims, school foreign-teacher wranglers, university department heads, etc.) start barking "simple orders" at you in Korean, you'd now be required by law to understand and grovel appropriately.
Anyway, many of us get "tested" one way or the other in this respect every day we work and live here. And I wonder if this isn't the case for most foreigners in Korea, even those in the ESL industry and those who just wouldn't be here if they didn't speak English. |
define simple though? what a Korean may find a simple instruction someone from another country may not.. |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 5:07 am Post subject: |
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Wow... I can count the ways this could backfire on someone who thought they'd be doing their race a favor.
Better communication means better chance that these foreigners will hook up with some Korean ajumma and end up getting a better visa.
Add to this the makin' of mixed-race babies, as well as the declining future population, and full-blooded Koreans will gradually (and more quickly) disappear. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 5:37 am Post subject: |
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| If you are a foreigner, does your country have a similar language requirement for foreign workers? |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 5:39 am Post subject: |
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| PEIGUY wrote: |
| JongnoGuru wrote: |
Doesn't apply to English teachers. I really, really didn't think even Real Reality would fall for this one.
An article in today's JoongAng Daily explains that this test is part of a new work permit system for "foreigners wishing to work in factories in Korea". It quotes a ministry official: "We are not asking the workers to hold advanced proficiency qualifications but only enough to understand hazard signs written in Korean and simple orders from supervisors"
So, unless RR and the rest of you are planning to drill holes in bowling balls or some such thing, this doesn't apply to you (though this isn't clear from the piece in the Chosun). Perhaps RR was thinking this meant that when your employers (wonjangnims, school foreign-teacher wranglers, university department heads, etc.) start barking "simple orders" at you in Korean, you'd now be required by law to understand and grovel appropriately.
Anyway, many of us get "tested" one way or the other in this respect every day we work and live here. And I wonder if this isn't the case for most foreigners in Korea, even those in the ESL industry and those who just wouldn't be here if they didn't speak English. |
define simple though? what a Korean may find a simple instruction someone from another country may not.. |
I wouldn't know for sure, but I'd guess it would be things you'd say at a factory, like "wear eye protection", "this here's the safety catch, but we don't really need to use it", and "owwww!!! You *$&%$-head!!! Get that #$@&*ing thing off my foot!", and "we're docking your pay for taking too many wee-wee breaks"... Basic stuff like that.
In any case, I'm sure the factory-worker wannabes will all take practise tests before they take the real one. The rest of us can try our hand at it too, if we're bored.
Last edited by JongnoGuru on Tue Mar 08, 2005 5:46 am; edited 2 times in total |
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whatthefunk
Joined: 21 Apr 2003
Location: Dont have a clue
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 5:43 am Post subject: |
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| JongnoGuru wrote: |
| An article in today's JoongAng Daily explains that this test is part of a new work permit system for "foreigners wishing to work in factories in Korea". It quotes a ministry official: "We are not asking the workers to hold advanced proficiency qualifications but only enough to understand hazard signs written in Korean and simple orders from supervisors" |
This is a great idea...how many Nigerian guys do you think can speak Korean and would love to have the opportunity to come to Korea for a bit to work in a factory for 12 hours a day making almost no money? Speaking Korean is a skill that could be marketed and those lucky Nigerians who can speak Korean would be able to find a much better job than a factory one I imagine. I realize that the article stated hazard signs and simple instructions were all that would be required, but in what fricking dimension do Korean supervisors give simple orders??? |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 5:54 am Post subject: |
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but in what fricking dimension do Korean supervisors give simple orders???
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jinglejangle
Joined: 19 Feb 2005
Location: Far far far away.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 6:22 am Post subject: |
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| Real Reality wrote: |
but in what fricking dimension do Korean supervisors give simple orders???
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 6:26 am Post subject: |
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| Real Reality wrote: |
but in what fricking dimension do Korean supervisors give simple orders???
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In what fricking dimension do they give terribly sophisticated, complex or subtle ones?
 
Maddening, yes. Unreasonable, sure. Blunt, typically.
Give me an example of what you mean. |
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