Korean Job Discussion Forums

Gorgias · Joined: 27 Aug 2005

I asked a recruiter for a foreign teacher's e-mail to investigate an institute that had a job opening, I asked J_____ who is supposed to be from Montreal about the school and got this back, am I paranoid, or is this obviously written by a Korean:

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Nobody who writes like that, on a formal reply, should be teaching English.

If you are really concerned, try a phone call

flint · Joined: 11 Apr 2004

AbbeFaria · Joined: 17 May 2005 Location: Gangnam

Insist on a phone call. Do be forewarned though, the phone calls are usually monitored by the boss. I sidestepped that issue by getting the teacher's email address during the phone conversation. If there is something to say away from listening ears an email or cell number is the best way to go.

Some things in that letter definately don't sound like they came from a native english speaker. And in the off chance they did, like the other guy said, he shouldn't be teaching.

But don't be shy about turning down the job if things don't feel right. I turned down nearly a dozen before finally taking one. And if you think your recruiter isn't being honest with you, there's nearly as many of them as their are hogwons. I can refer you to the one I used if you're interested. He was straight with me on every step.

-S-

fidel · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ

I would say he is a native speaker and quite probably a member of Daves. Very Happy

After reading these forums, you'll find there are a number of native English 'teachers' out there that have a poor grasp of the English language.

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

Stinkin!!! Call em.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

That was no native speaker. (unless it was some kind of sick joke)
I would think twice about working for a place that would try and pull this kind of stunt.

Call if you want to, but in my books I wouldn't even give the place a second thought. There are better jobs out there. Keep looking.

Hobophobic · Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 6:08 pm Post subject:

Sounds to me - no insult here - like a Francophone...if it is infact a native speaker....but some of the wording did sound a bit like a Korean trying hard to pass as a native speaker...

...the bit about you working longer than the other teacher and maybe they can't afford to provide you with housing....hmm....I wouldn't consider it...but I am fond of living in some sort of shelter...

Paddycakes · Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul

I think it's pretty obvious that that's a Korean trying to pass him or herself of as a native speaker.

The "gonna" phrase is a little too telling, as is the use of the word "mind."

A lot of French Canadians can speak perfect English, especially if they are from Montreal.

If the writer is a francophone whose English skills are that lacking, I doubt he or she would have survived very long in Korea.

Probably would have been fired the second he got of the airport bus and said: "Okay, were can I get da poutine 'ere?"

margaret · Joined: 14 Oct 2003

Definately sounds Korean. Insist on a phone call if you're really interested in the job or just curious as to who this person is.
Otherwise--pass. You can even give them the reason--that he sounds like a Korean, not a native speaker.
Margaret

K-in-C · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Heading somewhere

TJ · Joined: 10 Mar 2003

I lived and worked in Korea for 4 years ..... That email definitely doesn't sound right. However, I must agree with some of the other replies where they said that some people teaching english have a poor command of their native language. So, there is a very slight possibility that the teacher really is a native speaker.

A phone call should clarify matters. Alternatively, reject that job and look for another.

VanIslander · Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:30 pm Post subject:

There's no way a native speaker wrote that. And it has NOTHING to do with spelling mistakes, which lower level native speakers make too.

Koreans have alot of problems with the "to be" verb: "will [be] top secret"... "till [am] paid"... "there [is] around 36 kids"... "you will supposed to teach"...

And with indefinite and definite articles: "the good result of a good work"

And this IS typically Korean: "..."you know the korean poeple's mind"...

And the "gonna" sounds alright but the "wanna" is odd in that context, as a sort of forced parallelism or something...

"i do not exactly [know] how many

You are being deceived.

That's all the reason and warning you need to discontinue all negotiations with them and look elsewhere.
Seriously.

The director I have has never done anything underhanded. Those that do once will again and again.

Don't be a fool. Look elsewhere. But if you do take the position, realize you deserve whatever you get (or don't get).

Jaygee · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Location: Seoul

This email is obviously from someone who's a native french as translation patterns are easily spotted in the above text. I lived in Montreal most of my life. I used french at work and I can definitely see the french way in this. Or, an immigrant from another country (Quebec is really open on this matter) who's been in Montreal for X number of years. But certainly not native.
As for some of you natives, writting "definately" doesn't help the craft ...

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I've lived and taught in Montreal and Joseph's first (and second and thrid) language could be anything. Definitely talk to him. He could be a Portuguese immigrant who went to French primary school, English CEGEP, and showed up at university (like some of my students) functionally illiterate in three languages.

Isn't it scary to think that the teachers with the worst English skills probably don't even post messages here?