Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Three out of four Seoul residents can't speak English, according to a survey by Seoul Metropolitan City.

The survey of 1,000 people over 20 years old found that 74.2 percent find it hard to communicate in English or can hardly speak the language. Only 1.5 percent of the respondents said they are good at communicating in English.

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200312/kt2003122118195611990.htm

[Howard Roark]

That doesn't surprise me in the least. In fact I would have thought the number who could speak English would be even lower. I mean, 74% can't speak English. Is anyone truly shocked by that?

And that's for Seoul. It's a pretty safe bet that percentage is even greater for other parts of the country.

I work at a company so I live in my own little English world here, as most employees can speak English fairly well. But last year when I was teaching kids I rarely met Koreans who could speak English well, or at all most of the time.

[sakamuras]

Well, the fact that most people in Korea really don't need to use English on a daily basis, why does this surprise you? Speaking English isn't a means to survival in Korea (yet, at least). Korean is still their official language, and I think they're doing just fine with that.

[jaebea]

I'm with sakamuras. Considering the level of homogeneity (there's that 'h' word again), it doesn't surprise me at all. I would have guessed it to be lower.

Since they were asked to grade themselves in their ability (from what I could read), I think there's a fair bit of margin we could play with.

jae.

[dogbert]

I agree with sakamuras also. Plus, if as jaebea says, the Koreans evaluated themselves, I'd bet that the tendency was toward under-estimating their own ability.

[just because]

Heres a question RR,
How　many long term English residents can speak fluent Korean. When you live in the culture it is much easier topick up. How much have you learned RR???

[jajdude]

75% sounds extremely generous to me. I'd say over 95% is more accurate.

[Gwangjuboy]

[Gwangjuboy]

[Corporal]

Moreover, I speak better Korean than my husband speaks English, which he started studying in high school, and I've only had the last two years to learn Korean.

Mind you, I get the definite impression he was kind of a lazy student.

[HardyandTiny]

I had two years of Spanish in high school and all I can remmeber is about 10% of it.
Seems pretty good that 25% of Seoulites can speak English.
How long have Korean people been studying English intensely?
I'm sure that percentage will increase to 50% in the next 20 years.
Lots of money for you teachers.

Corproral: What method did you use to learn Korean?

[jajdude]

[quote="HardyandTiny"]
Seems pretty good that 25% of Seoulites can speak English.


25%? No way!!! Even 5% is generous! Lived in Korea a few years? Less than 5% of Seoulites can communicate beyond quite basic English. And outside Seoul, gotta be less than 2%.... I am sure of this.

[Real Reality]

Only 1.5 percent of the respondents said they are good at communicating in English.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200312/kt2003122118195611990.htm

[hellofaniceguy]

If the majority of koreans can't speak English, that's their problem. It's their country. But.....
If koreans want the world to accept them, invest, visit, bring big business to korea, then they need to speak English. It is the universal language it seems. Majority wins. And yet, koreans study English three years in middle school and three years in high school plus YEARS and YEARS of hokwons, in college and still the majority can't hold a conversation in English! The non koreans I have met in korea, ie: those fron Iran, African countries, European countries, China, Japan, India, etc. all I have met have a good command of English!

[jajdude]

I thought the headline "75% of Seoulites lack speaking ability" was misleading. If it were only 75% none of us would have jobs! Perhaps it is fortunate for us that is really is 95% or more. More jobs.