Korean Job Discussion Forums

[uofagirl]

I plan on moving to Hong Kong next year to teach and need to find people to practice Cantonese with in Seoul. Do you or anyone you know speak Cantonese? I don't need lessons, just casual speaking. PM me or reply here if you can help. Thanks!

[tzechuk]

I speak Cantonese, as does Letty.. but we don't live in Seoul. Sorry.

[Roch]

[uofagirl]

I might have to take you up on that offer Roch. There doesn't appear to be really any Cantonese speakers here in Korea(Mandarin sure but Cantonese no).

[Lao Wai]

Hey uofagirl,

Good on you for wanting to learn Cantonese. However...you are really going to make a concerted effort to use it in Hong Kong. I bought the lonely planet phrase books for Korean, Mandarin, And Cantonese. I used the Korean book until it became worn looking, and also used the Mandarin book when I lived in mainland China. I accidentally left the Cantonese phrase book on the airplane on the way here (HK). I think it was an omen. I say this because I've been here in Hong Kong for about 10 months now and can speak barely any Cantonese! How pathetic is that? So many people speak English here that I just automatically speak English everywhere I go because the salesperson initiates the conversation in English first. I don't even think about! When I do encounter someone who doesn't speak English it jars me back into the reality that I'm in a 'foreign' country. I can count in Cantonese and say hello, thank-you, where, here, there, but not much more. I have never been this useless with learning a language before. Also, I would just feel 'weird' speaking Cantonese here. I was never shy when speaking Korean or Mandarin. I guess I'm the same way with French though. Even though I can converse in French I never speak it back in New Brunswick (Canada) because it would just feel strange. All of the French people can speak English (for the most part)

Anyway, my students think I'm some kind of genius because I can say lei ho (hello) with almost complete accuracy. One word, and they think I'm amazing. Ha ha ha...

[uofagirl]

I'm actually Chinese-Canadian and just want to polish(or rather expand) my limited Cantonese. I was recently in Hong Kong for a trip and was extremely frustrated at my inability to communicate and comprehend more complicated vocabulary and slangs. Simple conversational phrases(what I call "relative talk") is fine but anything else....

I'm definitely kicking myself for not having cared more when my parents used to force me to go to Chinese school on Saturday mornings when I was in elementary and junior high school.

[tzechuk]

You can call me and we can chat.

PM me.