Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PeteJB]

Why is it, that Koreans usually go off the deep end when you get to know them - For example, my girlfriends family all speak to me in relaxed, speedy, slang Korean. Needless to say, having only studied Korean by myself for sometime, and only been officially studying it at school for three months, this is a bit of a headache. After every time meeting them, I'm left feeling like I've had several bottles of liquor. Sometimes I can understand, but usually not. And usually, even when I can understand, I can't think fast enough to answer them which is very frustrating. And there they are, staring at me waiting for an answer. I've had to hold back my frustration several times from them, because I often feel like having a go at them to give me a break, give me sometime to learn, because I'm not ready for this level of communication yet. It's too much. I know that, manners are important to your partners family, especially in Korea - But giving them a bit of a telling off is really tempting.. I want to understand everything they say, which makes it even more frustrating. One day, I'd like to get revenge on my girlfriend by meeting my family - She doesn't speak a great deal of English, although she can read and write well. Just her pronunciation sucks. It's the fact that, no one seems to think about my situation and give me a damn break. I still consider myself a newbie to this language, no matter how many thousands of words I may know.

Then there are those friends who treat me like a Babo. Either they speak to me in English, ask me not to talk in Korean or dumb their Korean down too much to the point of it being painful to the ears.

Sometimes I wish I could learn at the speed of a genius, in a matter of weeks..

[sistersarah]

It's funny, because I was saying the same things to my husband last night after studying yesterday afternoon. Sometimes after studying, I get this feeling like I have so far to go that I'll never speak Korean.

Also what's weird, and maybe you'll find the same, the more I learn, the harder it's getting for me to hear things. Before, I used to just listen, but now I'm listening too hard for the little details that can totally change the meaning of a sentence. By doing this, I kind of lose the larger meaning... Does that make sense?

And about family, I can totally relate.... My husband has one uncle in particular that I'd like to tell off so badly. At every family gathering he has some comment on why I can't speak Korean yet, or he heard of such-and-such foreigner from such-a-such place that learned Korean in a year. So what's wrong with me?
News flash, buddy, I work full-time plus some in the English industry! Of course my learning is going to be slow compared to someone who's studying Korean full time....

haha, another story... when that stupid show, "Chatting with Beauties" first came on KBS, my father in law called and told us to tune in. He said those women can speak great Korean... why can't I?
My husband and I had a very short conversation that went something like this:
-tell your father I can quit my job immediately and study Korean full-time if he really wants that. You can make the money for the next year or more while I study. How does that sound?
- I understand.

[tractor]

[postfundie]

[sistersarah]

[nobbyken]

Depending on your location, you could find a place which has midweek and/or Saturday classes.

Most Koreans have been learning some sort of English since middle school, but still say it's bery difficult.
I reply that Korean is also difficult, and takes while too learn.
Full-time study would see you pretty fluent-ish in a couple of years, but part-time study may take longer.

[Captain Corea]

[PGF]

I explained to my wife and her family that I did not have to learn Korean because I was here to teach English. My wife understands. No one else does though. I told her loud mouth cousin that we were signing up at a Chinese hagwon and that I needed to learn Chinese because they are such a powerful nation and that Chinese would make me a lot of won in the future. (it was fun for me....).

Anyway, now I have a kid on the way so I am reluctantly learning the intermediate basics. I am smart enough to realize though that I will never master Korean. I'm too old and too unwilling. I need the fundamentals so that I know when my kid is talking shiite to me. Other than that, why? it's Korean for god's sake.

Korea's the size of Pennsylvania, maybe.....

[koala5]

That is so sad. The fact you are married to a Korean and living in Korea for I gather the rest of your life would say there would be good enough reasons to learn Korean. The fact you slapped your own family in the face by saying you will study Chinese shows the intellect of such an individual. Please do not bring children into this world.

I really don't know what is so special about you. You come to teach English in Korea? So what? What do you do for the other hours in a day. What do you do at family dinners? What do you do at chuseok and Seolnal? Sit there and say nothing or go to some PC bang, when you could be actually practising Korean.
So sad

[ryouga013]

I love it. "Why don't you speak Korean?"
-one month passes-
"Why don't you speak Korean yet?"

I should prepare a small pass out document that says something to the effect "unless you are willing to assist me in my language learning your constant asking 'can you speak yet'? aren't going to magically assist me" I am doing more important things with my time than learning a language that I won't use after I leave the country.
--
I had some guy, I shit you not, try to ask if I spoke Korean, or "why don't you know Korean yet?" 3 times in two hours... and he wasn't an Alzheimer's patient. (I know that's what he said because someone translated it to me that I trusted)

[Scotticus]

While I understand their expectation for us to speak Korean, they seem to be unable to understand our situation. They've been studying English their whole lives, on top of the fact that English is an everyday occurence in modern Korean. On the other hand, until coming to Korea, I had not once heard more than 5 Korean words in my entire life. In addition, most of us have jobs that don't afford us a ton of time to devote to learning.

[PGF]

[tomato]

[princess]

[princess]