Korean Job Discussion Forums

antoniothegreat · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Location: Yangpyeong

this sounds like a newby question, but i want to ask anyways. today, a teacher that my school hired only this year came up to me and asked "your name is ##### right? I dont speak good English, can you teach me?" first, he didnt say my name right, but here is the thing. I get along pretty well with some of my teachers, and if those i consider friends ask me to help them, i dont mind correcting them and helping pronounciation, but I sure as heck am not going to teach some guy that I have just met, that is insane.

sure, i teach and prepare english lessons for 45 hours a week, why not waste my time teaching you as well!!!

my point, i like my school, i might sign for a third year there soon. what is the best way to tell this moron no without looking like an ars? i currently teach one lady, but she is my best Korean friend, and she teaches me Korean, so how do i say no to one person and yes to another?

thanks

Pak Yu Man · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Location: The Ida galaxy

How about you say "sorry..I have no time".
duh.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

When Koreans don't want to do something they invariably say: "I'm busy". Every Korean knows what 'Busy' means because they are all busy.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

A good number of Koreans seem to use, Can you teach me English? as a form of offering friendship. They don't actually mean lessons. It often means something like Drop over to my desk for a chat, or Let's go have coffee sometime.

I wasn't there when your conversation happened, so I don't know if this is what was meant, but at least in many circumstances, it is true.

antoniothegreat · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Location: Yangpyeong

ok, i feel kind of stupid, but i just wanted to hear what others say. because wouldnt just saying "no, i am too busy" be rude?

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

If the person is specifically asking for lessons, then it is not rude to say, "Sorry, but I'm too busy these days."

If the person was making a general statement of friendliness, then yes it is too rude. In that kind of situation, just smile and say Sure. It doesn't obligate you to actually do anything. You can't help it if you have a 'promise' when he shows up at inconvenient times.