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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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 Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:06 am Post subject: For those that speak Korean, how much better would |
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you say your quality of life was for being able to converse in Korean, overlooking situations in stores, restaurants and the daily stuff in general?
Might sound a bit of an obvious question, will be coming over next summer from the uk and have been learning for the last 18 months approx and am taking the proficiency test in september. my level is like lower intermediate at the moment. |
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seoulsista
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
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| Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:59 am Post subject: |
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| Well, you are certainly ahead of the game. It has improved my outlook on Korea dramatically. If your only contact with Korean people is through Hagwons and Family Marts you tend to be very cynical towards the country. |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:08 am Post subject: |
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i havent been on this forum long but can i just say i fully agree with your stance on Kunio's thread (you know the one). he she is so blinkered its scarry 
yeah korean is a tough language, harvard and stanford linguists estimate the third hardest for a western tongue to learn. little by little as they say. i just hope that when i get to korea people will a) be able to understand me (im told my pronounciation is very good [for a foreigner]), b) wont think im from another planet (though they might think this anyway  ) |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:52 am Post subject: |
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Well, are you single? Because if you are, it'll open up a whole new world to you. In general, you'll be able to meet more people, not just girls. People will respect you more.
My listening skills suck badly, but I can't wait until I'm good enough to understand old people. I'd really love to go down to the park on a Saturday and shoot the breeze with the old timers. Imagine the stories they have.
Language is the key to a true cultural experience. You'll be glad you can speak and read. |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:02 am Post subject: |
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yeah i am single 
listening is very hard becaus even by Koreans own admissions it is a very fast language, little by little as they say.
yeah id love to listen to stories from the war vets or even ones that return from the la riots. lol |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:42 am Post subject: |
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| stevieg4ever wrote: |
yeah i am single
listening is very hard becaus even by Koreans own admissions it is a very fast language, little by little as they say.
yeah id love to listen to stories from the war vets or even ones that return from the la riots. lol |
They'd love to tell you too. Play 바둑 in the park with them one day a week like Homer does and you'll hear just about everything. |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:53 am Post subject: |
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im looking for hot chicks but it would be typical of my luck to meet some drunk ajosi to tell me his life story.
ill pay attention to the economic crash, riots, war, nookie and world cup but the rest will be purely for practice. |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:55 am Post subject: |
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| stevieg4ever wrote: |
im looking for hot chicks but it would be typical of my luck to meet some drunk ajosi to tell me his life story.
ill pay attention to the economic crash, riots, war, nookie and world cup but the rest will be purely for practice. |
Get a Cyworld page then. You can get that now before you arrive and start meeting people.
The most interesting old people to talk to are those that were around during the occupation. |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:03 am Post subject: |
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dude im not travelling 8000 miles to speak to old peeps even if they were on roof tops in la tooting guns nah cheers for the advice
yeah i have a lot of friends on msn and a lot of korean friends generally but cy world and myspace xanga i dont tend to have a lot of time for tbh that said cyworld is extremely popular, i have a hanmail address thats about it
i imagine they do have a story or two to tell
| mithridates wrote: |
| stevieg4ever wrote: |
im looking for hot chicks but it would be typical of my luck to meet some drunk ajosi to tell me his life story.
ill pay attention to the economic crash, riots, war, nookie and world cup but the rest will be purely for practice. |
Get a Cyworld page then. You can get that now before you arrive and start meeting people.
The most interesting old people to talk to are those that were around during the occupation. |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:14 am Post subject: |
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| stevieg4ever wrote: |
dude im not travelling 8000 miles to speak to old peeps even if they were on roof tops in la tooting guns nah cheers for the advice
yeah i have a lot of friends on msn and a lot of korean friends generally but cy world and myspace xanga i dont tend to have a lot of time for tbh that said cyworld is extremely popular, i have a hanmail address thats about it
i imagine they do have a story or two to tell
| mithridates wrote: |
| stevieg4ever wrote: |
im looking for hot chicks but it would be typical of my luck to meet some drunk ajosi to tell me his life story.
ill pay attention to the economic crash, riots, war, nookie and world cup but the rest will be purely for practice. |
Get a Cyworld page then. You can get that now before you arrive and start meeting people.
The most interesting old people to talk to are those that were around during the occupation. |
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Ah. I thought you only wrote the lol here about the la riots.
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| yeah id love to listen to stories from the war vets or even ones that return from the la riots. lol |
Anyway, Cyworld is the way to go. Just in case you're not sure how to register here it is:
http://wiki.galbijim.com/How_to_register_on_Cyworld
There's no better way to meet people before you come here than Cyworld. People that aren't looking for English practice that is, a la ublove. |
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Hater Depot
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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| It really cuts down on stress. |
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seoulsista
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
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| Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:07 am Post subject: |
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| stevieg4ever wrote: |
i havent been on this forum long but can i just say i fully agree with your stance on Kunio's thread (you know the one). he she is so blinkered its scarry
yeah korean is a tough language, harvard and stanford linguists estimate the third hardest for a western tongue to learn. little by little as they say. i just hope that when i get to korea people will a) be able to understand me (im told my pronounciation is very good [for a foreigner]), b) wont think im from another planet (though they might think this anyway ) |
I know I wasn't crazy on that one. I rarely if ever talk to people like that here but in that case it was more than warranted. She was an insulting, dillusional train wreck and the most frustrating part is that because she said early on that she was a Korean female no one was going to call her out on it. The thought is: if she's Korean and female and has an opinion on anything more than celebrities and body weight than she should be given a huge dose of credit for even thinking about these issues (those mentioned in the thread) at all despite how ignorant and insulting her opinions were. Moreover, a lot of people were very embarassed that she had pointed out the obvious: that we are in the company of some, who say pretty horrible stuff about this country and if they refuted anything she said she would simply paint them with the same brush. Kermo, being a good example.
I study a bit on my own, go to Korean class once a week at the YMCA and have had three language exchanges. Not only has the ability to speak with people I meet out and about changed my outlook on the country but in the process of learning I have met and formed good friendships with the people I have studied with, all of my language exhanges for example where all women my age, who I socialized with and keep in contact with.
Korean people (generalities alert), as you might expect, open up almost immediately when you speak to them in Korean. So much of their inhibitions about speaking to foreigners derives from a feeling of anxiety about speaking English which some misinterpret as coldness or even hostility. When you are on an equal footing or they have the language advantage they will be much more willing to talk to strangers. |
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kunio
Joined: 25 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:50 am Post subject: |
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| seoulsista wrote: |
| She was an insulting, dillusional train wreck. Moreover, a lot of people were very embarassed that she had pointed out the obvious: that we are in the company of some, who say pretty horrible stuff about this country and if they refuted anything she said she would simply paint them with the same brush. Kermo, being a good example. |
The difference between me and you is I wouldn't say someone is this and that with a few internet posts. I just saw a thread called how hawt are you? and was really surprised to find out you are actually a woman and a decent looking one. I didn't expect eveyone to love my post when I wrote in that aggressive tone but didn't expect a western woman call me names because I didn't appreciate her pity. I joined this site without knowing large part of this forum was mainly for non-Korean ESL teachers bashing Korea relentlessly and was very embarassed to see some posts about my home town and yes, was scarred.
Stevie, I don't know why you have to comment about me here but thanks for your feedback as you are entitled to your own opinion but a little sad as I always had a good time in London with a lot of mates. And I'm sorry if I scarred you.
About your question in the thread - the reason I came in to this thread - I believe your level of Korean is more than enough for a life in Korea. In fact, I got a better job offer when I said I didn't speak Korean which I do fluently, decided to do a private tutoring only to avoid a contract. Well, good luck. |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:59 am Post subject: |
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| you say your quality of life was for being able to converse in Korean, overlooking situations in stores, restaurants and the daily stuff in general? |
No comparison.
It opens a lot of doors.
It allows you more autonomy here.
It allows you to better understand the culture (if you actually pay attention of course).
It opens up a whole new field of litterature.
You get to know your Korean friends better.
In short, only positives here.
It also can have a very positive impact on your professional life and open doors beyond teaching. |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 4:11 am Post subject: |
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okay i obviously havent met you but the confrontational and aggressive nature of your thread was quite alarming but, as you point out, you do feel that Korea gets unecessarily bashed a lot (which it does).
I would NOT bring my korean friends to Dave's esl if im being honest. because they dont have the command of english that 99.9% of posters have they are likely to take it at face value and it would offend them deeply but, if they dug deeper, imo it would force them to confront some harsh realities about their much loved homeland.
| kunio wrote: |
| seoulsista wrote: |
| She was an insulting, dillusional train wreck. Moreover, a lot of people were very embarassed that she had pointed out the obvious: that we are in the company of some, who say pretty horrible stuff about this country and if they refuted anything she said she would simply paint them with the same brush. Kermo, being a good example. |
The difference between me and you is I wouldn't say someone is this and that with a few internet posts. I just saw a thread called how hawt are you? and was really surprised to find out you are actually a woman and a decent looking one. I didn't expect eveyone to love my post when I wrote in that aggressive tone but didn't expect a western woman call me names because I didn't appreciate her pity. I joined this site without knowing large part of this forum was mainly for non-Korean ESL teachers bashing Korea relentlessly and was very embarassed to see some posts about my home town and yes, was scarred.
Stevie, I don't know why you have to comment about me here but thanks for your feedback as you are entitled to your own opinion but a little sad as I always had a good time in London with a lot of mates. And I'm sorry if I scarred you.
About your question in the thread - the reason I came in to this thread - I believe your level of Korean is more than enough for a life in Korea. In fact, I got a better job offer when I said I didn't speak Korean which I do fluently, decided to do a private tutoring only to avoid a contract. Well, good luck. |
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