Korean Job Discussion Forums

Fat Sam · Joined: 05 Dec 2005 Location: Gyeonggi-do

I would love to think that you made most or all of this up off the top of your head. I taught adults for a year and never managed to garner a controversial word out of a single Korean. Maybe you have a different style of teaching that brings out the xenophobe in them. I generally avoided the controversial topics.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Yeah, I only have one story about a student who laughed his guts out when he saw a picture of a black kid in the textbook. And that kid was bound for the US on an exchange program, so I'm sure he got that beaten out of him.

I'd expect Christians to be a little more intolerant here like anywhere else, but it's a bit much to expect the same small bunch would volunteer all that.

Sooke · Joined: 12 Jan 2004 Location: korea

So, apparently I'm a troll and what I have posted is beyond the realm or credibility. I guess everyone on this board has seen and heard everything, so therefore what I posted was impossible.

OK, here's the answer: Their age is between 23-25. They are all guys who have finished their military service, and about 50-60% were ex-KATUSA soldiers. There were no women in the class. These fellas were in an intensive TOEFL course, and considering their service as english speaking auxillaries to the US Army, their english was very good indeed. I taught them TOEFL convrsation, that is, a conversation class based on the questions they would find on a TOEFL written exam.

I taught two classes of these guys, and there were about 15 to a class. In each class, there were a vocal few (3-4 guys) who spit out everything and anything to try and get my goat. Although they had to study TOEFL, these guys wanted nothing to do with the west nor western culture. The same students would say this crap in class, and the rest would nod in agreement (probably more out of respect of their age, not based on the merits of their arguements.)

How did I deal with this? From day one, my philosophy was that they could say whatever they wanted, as long as they could back it up with at least three specific examples or reasons for each point. I also informed them that if they kicked out the racist bullsh!t they would probably be severely nailed by the proctor of the TOEFL exam, whomever that may be.

Sorry to offend the apologist Seoul-living-"I've seen everything there is to be seen with my own two eyes, and nothing else exists" beyotches. You may now return to your self-gratification and putting down of others. You are a bunch of Fucking tools.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I enjoyed this thread, and I learned from it.
Sooke, thanks for posting it.
I'm being serious here.
Having taught a ROK Navy class that changed from night to day depending on which officers attended, I'm only a little surprised, but I suspect that some of the comments may have been over the top in order to gauge your reaction to them?

goodluck · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Location: The far east

so Sooke, you allowed your students to say that their neighboring countires were monkeys? can you please inform me of the "three examples" they used to back this up, don't believe it for a second, I suspect a high degree of exageration here.
Maybe if you put the class and post in context like "a few right wing soldiers/ former soldiers have some strange opinions, i would then take your post a little more seriously.

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

If they were KATUSAs then they probably know what American soldiers think like. Most of those guys never leave their bases. The ones that you see on the street are usually the more adventurous, open-minded ones.

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

pulpkorn · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:20 pm Post subject:

When missionaries bashed the bible amongst natives all over the show during colonial times nasty stereotypes about various races and ethnicities were one of the things they disseminated. Could it be that it's still happening?

I guess the real question is: if Sooke's account is true, is it more of a reflection on Korea or Christianity?

peppermint · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:35 pm Post subject:

I'm surprised at some of the negativity of some of the quotes, and that there's such a high number of Shocked

worthy ones, but I'm not surprised that a person might hear a few of them while here.

I've been asked why the Ni***er word is unacceptable, been told that the Pill makes you permanently sterile, and a few other gems of enlightenment from students. Then again. I've heard some rather backwards comments from people at home too.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

You are aware that the opinions of your ex-KATUSA's are formed by THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT, aren't you?

Sooke · Joined: 12 Jan 2004 Location: korea

Sooke · Joined: 12 Jan 2004 Location: korea

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

I really liked the thread.. Sooke its very good that you posted..

As for that Chinese/Japanse I would have asked him whether he thought he was more advanced then the said Japanses/Chinese Monkeys. Then I would admit that he was more advanced and I would promote him to the status of a Baboon.