Korean Job Discussion Forums

Len8 · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Location: Kyungju

I was in between classes at the place where I work, so I decided to sit in a class in which they were showing a movie about early childhood education. I was bored at the time, so I went in and sat in the back. Most of the dialogue was in Korean, but I managed to pick up the gist of it. Students of course were very attentive. Every so often though there would be an English person giving a dialogue either alone or with someone else. The Korean translation was written at the bottom of the screen. Funny thing though was that students were immediately distracted and not interested when there was dialogue in English even though the Korean translation was at the bottom of the screen. They were always talking amongst themselves and goofing off when the English voice came on.

I was quite flabergasted. We as westerners will continue to give a movie as much attention as we can when there is dialogue in English to help us with the different language.

Have these students been programmed, brainwashed to turn off when English is spoken, or are they just plain incompetent in their own language and can't read Hangul?

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I don't know. I tune out when I don't understand the language. I can only communicate at a passable level in Korean when I'm drunk. Normally I can just deal with basic stuff.

I teach 3 or 4 classes that are good enough and interested enough in English that they do pay attention most of the time. Then I have about 10 other classes that tune out a lot. Mostly they just want to get the lesson in the book completed, perhaps as quickly and as painlessly as possible without regard to understanding what it means.

Only the really bright or really good at English elementary kids can get into the lessons, or have the attention span or patience or unusual conceptual ability, to be really good students. Most of them could (or couldn't) give a toss, and, for example, when asked to find England on a map, will think it's in the USA. Then again, they don't have the conceptual knowledge before middle school, yet so many middle schoolers are burned out and embarrassed in English classes.

I was brought up in an English-speaking only society. Studying French did not appeal to me. I disliked the teacher and the lessons, and saw no value in learning it at the wise old age of 13. I wish I knew more now.

These chants of "Dae Han Min Guk" reflect that for most Koreans the rest of the world is not really significant to them on any deep or personal level, except maybe they've travelled or have relatives abroad. That's my opinion, anyway. I could indeed be wrong.

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:03 pm Post subject:

Kids don't like subtitles.

Same thing happened when I was back in junior high.

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

crystal · Joined: 04 May 2006

I agree Hater Depot, am sure I've read that before.

It's true about subtitles, kids don't like having to read when they are watching TV, it's too much work. I can be the same too though, at times I just don't want to have to read subtitles, it's so much easier and requires less energy to listen

desultude · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:49 pm Post subject:

I have to wonder about the OPs attitude towards English, when he chooses to hyphenate "to-wards" in his title. Confused

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

Maybe he's Alexander Pope.

It kills me how many errors there are on the customs and immigration forms at Incheon Airport. Way to make a great first impression, guys.

Mowie · Joined: 28 Feb 2003

I have read this post before.

Delirium's Brother · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 7:58 am Post subject:

So have I (read this post before). Somebody is trying to elicit some illicit data for their graduate degree, I think.

willardmusa · Joined: 28 May 2006

I've found my students are willing to sit through an entire movie that is in English with English subtitles . . . if the movie is interesting enough; relevant to their lives or interests.

My colleagues and I have used such movies to see if they could have an effect on the students ability to read a bit faster and trusting that without having to have all the details they can still get the gist; and at the same time to expose them to somewhat more "everday, common" English conversation than they get from conversation textbooks.

Medic · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

Translations could have been lacking as well. Have seen a lot of stuff translated from Korean to English that makes you cringe.

The technical nature of the discussions might not have been accurately translated.

Could also have been an indication of the general lack of interest in the topic of the movie, or the students general dislike of English.

Anyone got a link to OP being posted elsewhere. I would be interested to read the the other comments.