Korean Job Discussion Forums

mithridates · Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:04 am Post subject: The sly look

I get this look from time to time on the subway from 20-something guys when I pull out a hanja textbook or Korean newspaper or something they usually wouldn't expect me to read. It's quite subtle but I'm quite sure I'm not imagining it; it's this kind of 'and what are you doing with *that*, little one?' kind of challenging/condescending look. It's a lot more subtle than the older men who just turn their heads and have a good read along with me. The sly look is quite interesting; I remember a Korean guy I knew back in Vancouver before I came here the first time. I was his English teacher and he told me that though his English was good, he didn't think it would ever be perfect, and besides, he wasn't sure if he wanted it to become perfect because the Canadians might think he was arrogant.
'Hm?'
That was my reaction then but it makes sense now.

masuro · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 8:10 pm Post subject:

When I worked at MBC I tried hard to speak Korean as well as I could. I worried about making mistakes but the producer told me not to worry about it. In fact, he said, people don't want to hear a foreigner speak perfect Korean. Strange to say, but when I meet a Korean who speaks English extremely fluently I like it less than when a Korean speaks English very well but with a few flaws. I don't know why.
I've never gotten sly looks when I open a Korean book but I do get some people looking at the book and then at me. Just surprised, I guess, since most foreigners here can't speak more than a few basic phrases of Korean.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

I find the opposite,
When i read the paper here people will be surprised at first and then say something positive about how I can read Korean and how it is good I make an effort. However, my reading comprehension is better than my listening so they start going at 1000 miles an hour which is a little embarresing for me but it reinforces how good it is to use the language here.
Not once have a recieved a negative comment and the sly looks you talk about I think are looks of wow, can a foreigner read Korea, well that means Korea is gettingmore important in the world.
I think you are reading to much into things.

mithridates · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 2:06 am Post subject:

Well, 95% of the time I get the surprised/impressed look, usually from old people, 40+ men and women, and women from just about all ages. It's just the 20-something men that I occasionally get that feeling from. And I've never heard anything negative, but I do get the odd condescending/not too well thought out comment.
I.e. I'm on the subway studying for a hanja test. Man approaches and asks about the test and finds out that it requires a knowledge of 3500 written characters. Man: 'Wow, you might even know more Chinese characters than me!' So then I naturally ask how many he knows, to which he replies, 'Well, just my name and the days of the week'.
Which is fine of course, just odd.
Or comments like 'You know thousands of hanja, have you also picked up hangul?'

masuro · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 2:18 am Post subject:

mithridates · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 6:29 pm Post subject:

Yeah, actually I'm over in Japan right now to take one of their Chinese character tests that requires 6000. It's really hard though, so I might have to try it again in February. Back in Korea on the 30th.
The test in Korea has some eight levels I believe, the first one (level Cool

being for children and requires a knowledge of 50. Then it goes up by a few hundred every time, something like 150, 350, 500, etc. The tests are quite nice because they're held a few times every year and the levels are quite varied so you can just take the one you're guaranteed to pass and go for the next one a few months down the road. Why, have you studied them too? I passed level 2 in August and now I'm taking level 1.

buddy bradley · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Location: The Beyond

Arthur Fonzerelli · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Location: Suwon

no one is looking at you... it's all in that overactive head of yours...

masuro · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 3:46 am Post subject:

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

When they ask me "how is it that I can read korean and speak the language." "I tell them "how is it that you can't speak english or read english?" That quiets them quickly.

masuro · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 4:53 am Post subject:

HardyandTiny · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

Last time I tried to read Korean on a train was 1999 and I assumed the Koreans couldn't care less, and I didn't care much either.

Now on the same train in 1995 I was almost swallowed, then came in like magnets, even ajumma would throw in her bit, yelling at the old guy to shut the hell up. That was fun!

Seoul ain't what it used to be, but what is?

We shouldn't expect a fully developed nation to have its citizens rushing to get to know us, right? No one expects this in France right?
It's not France, but it's Tokyo 1995 or 1998 maybe.

As far as people giving looks.
Yep
People give looks.
I've been getting looks my whole life.
Everywhere.
I've had black guys giving me looks in New York because I had new shoes and I was studying calculus on the subway. That of course is what I THOUGHT. I have no proof.
Just me thinking like you.

yep
looks
many looks
we get looks
what planet are you from?

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I don't know if I agree that we shouldn't expect Koreans to know any English. And I don't know if I agree that we should try and learn their language. Of course it's great if you learn all you can, but if you are busy working maybe you won't learn so much. And now young people are studying English like crazy but still Koreans are mostly awful at English. So maybe it is foolish to expect English from them, but it's their loss if they cannot speak to non-Koreans. The rest of the world isn't going to start learning Korean anytime soon. Their language belongs to them and mainly to this peninsula. Our language, fortunately, belongs to a lot more!

mithridates · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2003 4:29 am Post subject:

I haven't gone to university yet; it's been self-study up to now. The test is tomorrow so I'm busy NOT studying (my technique for the day before a test)...as for what planet I'm from, likely this one. I like the looks, actually; I missed them when I went back home. Probably not going back there again.

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

Can you tell us more about this hanja test you're taking - or at least the Korean version of it, and how I might obtain more info about doing it (eventually)...also, what materials/specific books would you recommend to study hanja? I have a few already, but my study has been piecemeal and largely out of interest, as well as to increase my general vocab in Korean. Any good methods? Finally, have you had any issues with studying kanji and then hanja, given that some characters are different?