Korean Job Discussion Forums

Ghostinthemachine · Joined: 22 Jun 2003

I don't just mean the incessant giggling sometimes when I ask a student a question.

What would otherwise be deemed tragedy in other parts of the world seems to be high comedy here.

Shortly after I started teaching here I met one of my students on the street. More to make conversation than anything else I asked him why he hadn't been in for the last few classes. He started laughing and then told me that his father had died of a heart attack. I told him how sorry I was to hear about it. That brought more laughter! Confused

Other examples from class were when a student told me she broke her ankle roller-blading and when a student told me he had been hit by a car when he was a child and had to spend 8 months in hospital. The other students found these stories hilarious.

Today in class a student asked me if I'd ever been mountain climbing. I said no and explained that I'm afraid of heights and that moreover a friend of mine climbing in the French Alps a few years ago had fallen to his death........that brought the house down. Shocked

Any insights or similar experiences to share?

Zyzyfer · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 1:29 am Post subject:

Start asking about mentally handicapped family members. Laughs will turn to surly looks, all directed at you. Most informative class I ever taught, that one with the mentally handicapped lesson.

BTM · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Back in the saddle.

Embarrassment or social discomfort is expressed (or better perhaps, defused or smoothed over) with laughter, more often here than in North America. It is not the same as the 'ha ha that's quite amusing' laughter that we expect.

Don't they teach you people this stuff the first week? Wink

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

BTM beat me to it; Nervous laughter is entirely appropriate in Korea, as is smiling/grinning when you've made a mistake.

Ghostinthemachine · Joined: 22 Jun 2003

BTM wrote

William Beckerson · Guest

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Sorry.

camel96 · Guest

Some of those pirated handycam DVD's are pretty cool. Once I watched a version of Saving Private Ryan in Thailand that had laughter all the way through it. It was like a Benny Hill episode... Confused

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

One can be culturally aware and sentitive and all that, but try the one where the waiter spills something hot on you and covers his embarrassment with "nervous laughter" ... your principles get challenged ...

Hyalucent · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: British North America

FliptheCoin · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 7:17 pm Post subject:

One time I went on a date with a Korean guy. He ended up inviting a whole mutual group of friends along, which was fine. I understood that he didn't speak much English and probably would have felt uncomfortable alone with me. Was a little disapointed though.

The next day at work another teacher asked me about my date and I said it was ok but we ended up going out in a group. Was seriously shocked and pissed at her response. She howled in laughter and poor Engish, "HA HA HA he has no emotion for you!"

Although I get along fine now with this same teacher, I still remember this particular episode, and just how pissed I was that she was so nervy.

Oh another day in Korea....

Tiberious aka Sparkles · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: I'm one cool cat!

It always baffles me how Koreans can get such a kick out of the fact that I recently got a haircut. What with that?

William Beckerson · Guest

The open sores on your head?

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

...absolutely Buljasso ... I have been at a crosswalk, light goes green, and I'm about to start crossing, when a car comes screaming up at high speed, locks into a skid, and stops deep into the stop area ( i would have been mush ) and then glares at me when I cross in front of her as if I'm the one causing her major hassles ... gotta love it

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003