Korean Job Discussion Forums

[periwinkle]

My co-worker just did 2 straight days of interviews. The inteviewees are currently college students, and our company may potentially hire them. I've done these interviews in the past, and trust me, my Korean is better than their English, and that's not saying a lot. Some of the candidates came in, bowed to my male co-worker, and said, "Hello, ma'am", then turned to the female interviewer and said, "Hello, sir". My co-worker asked, "What country would you most like to visit?" Answer, "Australia." Then he asked what city they would like to visit in Australia, and they said, "Switzerland." Yeah, yeah Sydney- Switzerland. Both S words. Kind of like confusing Pusan with Prague or Portugal, right? Luckily, I'm not that dumb.

Well, apparently they were as dumb as a box of rocks, so that explains the low level of English. My co-worker said the female interviewer is a 9 year company vet, and she was absolutely appalled at their level of English.

Luckily, I was teaching that day, so I was spared the torture and tedium of listening to drivel and pre-rehearsed, generic answers. I'm not looking forward to the interviews when my turn comes around. My co-worker said he got a lot of "chesun-hamneeda"s. Actually, I think that's crap, too. They don't care enough to really work on their English, even though they'll use it everyday if they really want the job. The "I"m so so sorry- I'm embarrassed to speak English, etc." act is just that.

I learned the difference between monsieur/madame/madamoiselle even before I started studying French (I'm not Canadian, btw!). I just don't get how students who have been studying English for years can make a mistake like that, and I see this consistently!!! Geez, if I had a nickle for every time someone called me sir.......

Sorry for the rant. I'm having a bad day.

[peppermint]

I know exactly what you mean. I made it a point to explain the difference between Ma'am and Sir to my students early in the school year. They understood and called me Ma'am. The Vice principal heard this, and lectured my students about not respecting me, and how they should always call me "sir".

Corporal, can I borrow your fork?

[periwinkle]

[canukteacher]

Unfortunately, most of our students have never received a good grounding in English. Yes, they study English for years, but most of this is grammar, and quite often that grammar is taught in Korean. Many never hear much English until they either go to a Hagwon, or get thrown into some required Uni class.

I worked in the public school system last year, and that was the first year that these kids actually received instruction in English. Prior to my arrival the Korean English teacher taught English entirely in Korean! That's one of the questions I asked my uni students this semester......How much of your English education has been taught using Korean?.....In most cases it ranged between 80 and 100 percent. Furthermore, many of these students have never studied with a native speaker.

It is impossibe for them to speak English when they are not hearing the language. When English students receive their English lessons delivered in English then they will learn something, and hopefully they will be able to attend these interviews and not come across like idiots. Unfortunately, I don't think that will happen anytime soon.

There is a bright side. The employment picture for English teachers in Korea will continue to be bright

[lastat06513]