Korean Job Discussion Forums

[doggyji]

[SPINOZA]

Something Koreans will never understand #387,129

*gets colors and flashcards out*

No, I'm not cold. It's 30 degrees celcius in this room. I'm cold out there but not in here. If I wear my coat or a sweater in here I will quickly become too hot, so I have my coat for out there and - because it's 30 degrees in here thanks to those excellent heaters - I'm happy to where just my t-shirt.

[seoulsucker]

[eamo]

[billybrobby]

[SPINOZA]

Koreans are hopeless at expressing large numbers in English because - as a rudimentary knowledge of Korean shows - they count differently.

100,000 (100 x 1000) in English = 10 x 10,000

1,000,000 (1000 x 1000) in English = 100 x 10,000 in Korean.

other than that, their Math classes I've observed, whilst they didn't baffle me as a man of lofty genius, would confound the average Sociology or Pyschology grad from our countries.

[PaperTiger]

Rediculing foreigners/complaining about foreigners for being different while expecting them to immediately adapt and act like Koreans.

Two or more Koreans walking down the sidewalk in a way that obstructs all other foot traffic, while walking as slowly as humanly possible.

Eating the same crap three times a day. Being suspicious of anything that isn't rice or slathered with red pepper...anything un-Korean.

My wife gets parking tickets for parking somewhere for 10 minutes, but taxi drivers can park in the right lane or in FRONT of an intersection and nobody even honks. No other laws here seem to be enforced, but somehow PARKING constitutes a priority (because it generates profit, I reckon).

People who cut you off in traffic or perpetrate other moving violations on others based on your age or sex. Some people actually look so they can be sure they've screwed over a woman, foreigner, or someone younger....even if they could cause an accident by their actions.

Idiots selling things with megaphones or loud bells. I don't know what's worse, the fact that they do it at all hours of the day and all weekend...or the fact that nobody tells them to be quiet. I'm pretty sure Korean people are mostly deaf.

[Privateer]

Things Korean don't understand:

1. English!

They're clueless! (I know there are tons of people who speak very good English but it had to be said).

2. The twenty-four hour clock.

Timetables will post up times like '2600' or even '2700' hours. When asked why they don't start over from the beginning after 24 hours, the answer is invariably 'to avoid confusion'. Way to just ruin the whole concept of the 24 hour clock guys.

[billybrobby]

[periwinkle]

On the topic of making a line (I can't spell queuing-?):

My MIL and I ran over to a subway vending machine. She wanted coffee, and I (I don't drink swill, unless I need a caffeine fix something fierce!)was rapidly searching for coins (train was coming). We were standing off to the side, near the coin slot. There was someone getting a coffee, and a man my MIL's age standing behind that person. There were also other people off to the right of the machine waiting. No obvious line, unless that guy figured he had started one. He threw an absolute fit when we ran up. Said in broken, angry English, "I'm first- I'm waiting!!" I just nodded my head, and continued looking for coins. Then he said the same thing to my MIL in Korean, and she said she understood. Of course we would've let the others go first- they were there first, after all). I think he got huffy because he felt he made a line, so she should've gotten behind him, instead of standing off to the side. I was quite shocked at his indignation, really. He was so upset by such a trivial matter- we didn't get into the line he felt he created

[HapKi]

[korian]

have to laugh at some of these. in japan now but the cold outside cold inside thing is rife here too. i am always hot in korea or japan when i'm inside. in summer the aircon is too low and in winter too high.

the 24 hour thing gets me here too. football on at 04:55am is listed as 28:55. what the F?

the whole being alone thing too. why aren't you married? you're 32. is there something wrong with you? you are strangee. why no wiiiipe? you must get marrieduh!!

[ontheway]

billybrobby,

I teach at a high level English school in Korea. We teach math, science, social studies, and a range of specialized communications programs all in English to high level Korean kids. These are the very kids you have refered to: the kids who go to America and get into high level classes there. Well, that's fine. The highest level students in Korea manage to get into and compete in the highest level classes in America. No problem. Koreans and Americans have similar abilities distributed over similar bell curves. And I expect my students here to be among the best anywhere they go in the world. Our English program is fast paced and rigorous.

That said, it's still true that Koreans are behind their American peers in math. This is because, like every other subject, average Koreans try to memorize and cram their way from exam to exam. They memorize problems and answers rather than learning to understand and solve problems. This goes for a large percentage of those high schoolers you refered to that take courses in Calculus but don't actually learn it.

Korean students cram, memorize, take tests and then quickly forget what they've learned. This is the basic education system. Koreans are not inferior, but their education system is.

The international tests are flawed in comparitive studies because many countries have selection systems for the tests that exclude less able students and offer rewards for successful test takers. But, in America, the best students are often excluded from the tests.

Why? Many countries (like Korea) perceive this test as an international challenge. They want to "win". Their governments want to show how great they are and their countries and citizens are. They cheat to win. (What Koreans cheat, how can it be?) The brightest students are selected and are encouraged to do their best.

In America, the political interests have the opposite needs. The teachers unions and school administrators always want more money and power. Scoring lower on these international tests gives them political leverage to expand the government bureaucracy and get increased funding. There is no political downside, because outside the politically influential education establishment, international comparisons are generally a non issue. They are not considered unimportant, because they are not considered at all. So, school districts have a decades long policy of excluding the best. Average students are selected, half do not show up to take the test. They have no incentive or inducement to take the test, put forth any effort, nor even to stay and complete the exam. Many do not bother to complete the test, but their scores are included.

This strategy was actually explained to me by the head of the math department at my high school. No one in the math club was allowed to take the test.

[stumptown]

[Summer Wine]