Korean Job Discussion Forums

noelinkorea · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: Shinchon, Seoul

This discussion actually reminds me of my Korean studies. One guy from the US (short, pale, slicked back balding head, and rather nerdy) had given himself a Korean name and was militaristic about its use. Apart from ethnic Koreans, no-one else had a Korean name. Not a big deal until he argued with a Korean teacher about his name - at the introductions point for one class, he refused to give his English name...because it was "too difficult for Koreans". Whatever. His name was Christopher, a long name by Korean standards but hardly deadly. And Chris is always a possiblility.

It wasn't his name that was the problem, it was his attitude actually. He was yelling across the room with the teacher that �� (Chan-u) was enough. We were all pretty shocked, and I later found out (from him - he was one of those guys who'd just walk up and talk to you, like him or not) he'd chosen his name based on choosing extremely difficult �� (Chinese characters). During the year-and-a-half of studies there, he would wear t-shirts written in Korean of Chinese characters against the Japanese invasion, and extolling the virtues of Korea. Yawn. This embarrassed the Korean teachers, and left the rest of us curious.

Maybe it's true what they say, it's all in the name.

flakfizer · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:18 pm Post subject:

I had a student who named herself, "Easy" because her last name was E (Lee) and the first syllable of her given name was "Jee." I told her just to make sure to introduce herself by saying, "Hi, my name is Easy." and NOT, "Hi, I'm Easy."

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Koreans really think that foreigners can't pronounce their names. One of my former students who's living in Kansas says nobody can pronounce her Korean name, which is Jiyoung.

One of my adult phone students was going by Brandon, and recently decided to change his name to Hong Kong, to my slight protest.

In my first job I had a student whose English name was "Little Green." I forget how he got the Green but the Little was in reference to Little John because he was huge for his age.

kermo · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject:

I'm teaching University these days, so I'm hesitant to change names, but I just taught a class with a girl named Jones and another named Sting. Sad

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

So you want to learn Japanese:

http://pepper.idge.net/japanese/

periwinkle · Joined: 08 Feb 2003

That's a funny link.

Privateer · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Location: Easy Street.

redlightorchestra · Joined: 16 Jan 2006

one of my students named Lou,
wanted to change his name,
I asked what he would change it to and he spelled out for me
P-E-A-C-H-E-S I am not sure what he was trying to spell.
but the class taunted him and he decided to keep Lou.

He is a really tough looking fella, I wish he would have gone through with the change. I think it would have been cool.

Free World · Joined: 01 Apr 2005 Location: Drake Hotel

Len8 · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Location: Kyungju

Had a third year female university student with a name "Bob". I used to say Hi Bob everytime I saw her. She decided on the spir of the moment that that was going to be her name

kermo · Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:05 am Post subject:

endofthewor1d · Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Location: the end of the wor1d.

Cedar · Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:47 am Post subject:

This is a damn funny thread.

My first year in Korea, before I'd decided that I was anti-English names for students, I was teaching in a hagwon and of course when I arrived they had English names, that was accepted. (and at first I didn't question it).

But how many Jennys and Michaels do you need?

So I made a list of acceptable names and from then on the new students had to chose from my list. It was great...

Nothing ridiculous, but none of that allowing them to choose over popular names like Sarah, Sally, David... I wanted names with style!

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

I had this one little girl who insisted that she be able to change her name to "Hobox". After about 1 hour or arguing I went to her regular Korean teacher and then after 3 attempts at getting her to understand she convined her to keep the name Amy.