Korean Job Discussion Forums

Satori · Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: Above it all

Language is about identity. And English name helps them to get into the English speaking "mindset" and by being another person it also helps them to drop inihibitions about trying stuff and getting it wrong.

Porter_Goss · Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Location: The Wrong Side of Right

flakfizer · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:39 am Post subject:

This topic has come up before I think and I wonder, was it only I who was called by a foreign name in my foreign language classes? My name doesn't really translate to other western languages in the John/Juan/Johann sort of way. So, in Spanish class, my teacher assigned me the name, "Hugo" and in French I was given the name, "Philippe." I thought it was fun. I tell my students they can give me English nicknames if they want but they don't have to. It's funny, 95% of the best students are eager to choose an English nickname for themselves. They think it's fun. (I teach at a college). The ones who choose not to are usually the ones who sit in the back and never really participate. If I were taking a Korean class and the teacher wanted me to make a Korean nickname for myself, I would do it and think it kinda neat.

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

If you want to make a tongue in cheek joke on this, why don't you name your kids after famous pop stars? Then they can walk around and say "Hi, I'm Bono, I'm Madonna, I'm Prince, I'm Britany, I'm Elton..." I think that would be a riot! Very Happy

Kimchi Cowboy · Joined: 17 Sep 2006

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

Reluctantly, I make Dev correct here.

Koreans giving themselves fake English names like Britney and Brad, Koreans in Emart using the display and fingers as opposed to speaking, are part of the same thing. The genuinely believe they're being helpful, but it's actually extremely patronizing behaviour, like we're incapable of remembering their two-syllable names, like the waygookin in Emart doesn't understand numbers (the possibility that Mr Foreigner might've lived in Korea for 5 or more years doesn't enter their heads). People saying "hi, my name is Su Jin Lee" - same thing. Gosh, the concept of a family name coming first - complicated stuff, I know. Rolling Eyes

It winds me up and I shall totally crush any future guilty parties. However, in their defence, they really are trying to be helpful and I realize that it's my own sense of Western, politically-correct conception of condescension that's at work in these irritating situations.

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

I'll bet Harry, D-ick, Buddy, Gaylord, Peter Pullen, Mike Hunt, and Ben Dover don't consider their own names to be the sweetest sound.

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

My current work doesn't seem to have a specific policy, so I allow the kids to pick their own names - but I always ask each student if they prefer to use their own Korean name or an English name that they choose - probably 20% keep their own name, which makes me happy. As it turns out, I seem to be able to recall the Korean names better than the English ones...if only because every third boy is Alex/James/Peter etc.

I don't like the switching name idea very much, but I have had first hand experience of it. While travelling the Trans-Siberian a few years back, I met various people of course. Before I could even cross into Russia, I was at a tiny Chinese border town where a group of 30-40-something year old Russian women were shopping on the Chinese side. I spent all day with them, and by lunch time they still couldn't recall my name, so I told them the Russian equivalent over lunch and they immediately took it on board...the original Nikolai became Kolya (a variant of the former) just as quickly - and only then they could remember who they were talking about. Not that my English name is truly that difficult (see my handle).

Although not a fan of the name change thing, it seems practical for some people...perhaps those not accustomed to foreigners or other language pronunciation systems? (In such a case, we as teachers maybe have little excuse...).

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

saybanana · Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Location: LA

I teach 22 classes, each with about 40 elementary children. I cant remember anyone';s name, even when they run past me and say
"Hi teacher, My name is Joon Min, nice to meet you" -- thats all the know really.

I also teach a speacial class of 20 students. we meet 3 times a week. For the first two weeks, I called them by their Korea names. The whole class would laugh at me and the person whose name I said, because I said it wrong. Anyways, I taught introductions those weeks and half asked me to call them by their English name. I said ok. I asked everyone who wanted an English name to pick their own. They all did.

I let the students have the option to want a name. I also gave them the option of picking their name. I did write own a list of 50 boy names and 50 girl names popular in America in 2005.

I know if you teach kindergarten or young ages, maybe you should give them sensible names.
I have a group of students once, I was subbing for a teacher. Their names were names of animals. Tiger, Turtle, Duck. Also one was named Lemonade, but spelled different.
I also have a class of 20 students and 3 boys named David, I didnt give them the name.