Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ladyandthetramp]

I know this has been brought up before, probably by me, but after two years here I'm getting really annoyed by this.

I'm studying to become a certified Korean language teacher (Korean version of TESOL), and we pretty much have two different professors come in every day. A few have asked where I'm from or other such questions, which although I'm sure will get annoying after the 20th time, is acceptable...well, not really.

Today's instructor talks for about an hour about bilingual instruction and then begins to use an English example. At this point, an hour into a class conducted in Korean, she looks at me and asks, in English, "Can you speak Korean?"

Wtf is that? This is the third or fourth week of class to become a Korean teacher, conducted in Korean, and an hour into it she assumes that the whitie can't speak Korean.

The other students in class were surprised that I speak Korean. These are students who want to become Korean teachers, yet apparently think none of their students will ever speak Korean.

What's more, I'm sick of the "Can you read Korean?" question by everyone, including people who have spoken Korean with me and know that I graduated from Yonsei's Korean program.

It seems that even if you prove to them that you can speak Korean, they still can't believe that a non-Korean can speak �츮 ��.

[Bulsajo]

[Summer Wine]

[shakuhachi]

Just reply that you can read and write Korean. Be confident.

[kimchikowboy]

Given the times I've been in a classroom of Korean teachers of English where none of them actually spoke any English, I would say it was a legit question.

[Bulsajo]

[djsmnc]

Can you use chopsticks?

[wwidgirl]

I've had people assume that I can't speak English because I look asian (well I am asian). Don't take it too personally. But yeah it can definitely be frustrating.

And of course Koreans assume I speak Korean because I look Korean (well I am korean).

[Cedar]

I like to say things like (in Korean) "No, I can't. Wow, your English listening is great!" or "No, I can't, we are communicating through telepathy" (�̽����� in case you'd never learned that one before). If I was in your shoes (your program) I'd probably say (still in Korean) "No, you don't need to speak or read or write Korean to teach it. It's a really easy job."

If people are acting like that to you, I really am wondering what the requirements for entry to the program are!

[Bulsajo]

[bulgogiboy]

Haha, I can understand a stranger in a bar asking you that question, or one of your students, but you're enrolled in a Korean teaching course-that's crazy! Maybe the teacher's just plain stupid...?

Having said that, it probably doesn't help that the average ESL expat in Korea can barely(if at all!) string a sentence together in Korean after 1,2,3,4+ years in the country. I think Koreans have gotten so used to bone-idle, excuse-making whities not being able to speak even basic Korean that they just assume none of us can(they're usually right). You're obviously just being judged because of the poor attitutide of others. Don't give up though! You get nothing but respect from me!

I love studying foreign languages when I'm living abroad. It makes life easier, it's a challenge, it gains you respect(for the most part), and it's fun to speak foreign languages! I don't know why more ESL teachers don't do it, I think it's a rewarding experience. There are 6 billion people in the world and a significant percent of them can't speak English, so sometimes you have to do the unthinkable...

[jajdude]

Hey go to Incheon... or some other hickville. I thought this was a joke until I experienced it: some of the taxi drivers cannot read hangul.

Honestly. I pointed to the sign " yeah jick jin ga say yo" but the guy could not read the sign

True!

[joe_doufu]

[Cedar]

[joe_doufu]