Korean Job Discussion Forums

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Maybe I'm off base on this issue, but I don't think so. I think it's a good idea to use 'forms of address' as teaching points. Just having one brief lesson on it and then not expecting them to use the correct form is like teaching the past tense and then ignoring future mistakes with it. They will never learn.

When they use improper forms, like Teacher or just the last name without Mr./Ms/ etc, they are not being disrespectful. They are using Korean cultural forms, which is fine when speaking Korean. But in English, most of those are rude in most situations. If you don't teach them the difference, how will they learn and avoid offending someone in the future?

I think with names that are difficult for them to pronounce we should use them for pronunciation lessons--and not get offended when they mispronounce them. Over time, they will get better.

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

No I don't think they do either. They just use songsangnim. I was refering to how so many Koreans tell me to address them when we first meet. "Call me Kim". It is an OK form.

pollyplummer · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Location: McMinnvillve, Oregon

My students are to call me Miss Coffey, or I will not answer to them. I dont answer to son-seng-nim, nor do I answer to my first name or my last name only. I dont answer to Teacher or Coffey Teacher or anything associated to their cultural norms in my classroom. They want me to teach my culture and my language. They're going to address me the way I want to be addressed. Occasionally I will forget if we're just in the hallway and they're saying 'hi'. But in the classroom I completely ignore them unless they address me properly.

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

Whatever you say, but I've worked in a Korean office environment for over six years and I have not ONCE heard one Korean refer to another by simply his surname. It is just not done here.

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

Young and old alike address me by my Christian name. It's easier and as the only Mr.Collins I know is my father, then that is fine by me. Smile

Ryst Helmut · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 5:45 pm Post subject:

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

My students call me by my first name. I gave up trying to get them to pronounce my last name, because it's very difficult for them, and I hate hearing it butchered 5,000 times a day.

Most people call me, "Derrek Teacher."

I don't mind.

JacktheCat · Joined: 08 May 2004

Same here. My last name is very hard for Korean speakers to pronounce.

So my students just call me "[first name] teacher" or "songsengnim."

Doesn't bother me a bit.

It's not like they will ever treat me the same as a Korean teacher anyway.

There are other and more important cultural battles to fight with the students.

Badmojo · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:26 pm Post subject:

Most of the students at this current gig call me "Teacher". I don't think I've ever told them what my last name is. At my last school, they split it up more between "Jim" and "Teacher." That was fine with me. I don't ever want to be called Mr. anything. Same thing at my Chinese university, Jim, Jim, Jim.