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michaelambling
Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Location: Paradise
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 Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:29 am Post subject: I'm being disrespected, right? |
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The profs. at my university always introduce me as "Michael", in English and Korean, even though I have a Ph.D. They always introduce themselves and other professors as "Prof. Lee", "Prof. Kim", etc.
I don't care, but I just want to see if I'm understanding the subtext. This is disrespect, right?
Edit: I'm so sorry for using "Kim and Lee" as my examples, mods! Please don't ban me!  |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:56 am Post subject: |
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| michaelambling wrote: |
The profs. at my university always introduce me as "Michael", in English and Korean, even though I have a Ph.D. They always introduce themselves and other professors as "Prof. Lee", "Prof. Kim", etc.
I don't care, but I just want to see if I'm understanding the subtext. This is disrespect, right?
Edit: I'm so sorry for using "Kim and Lee" as my examples, mods! Please don't ban me! :cry: |
Just Treat Us Like Equals: Foreign Professors
Translated article at The Marmot's Hole by Robert Koehler, posted on September 19, 2007
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/19/just-treat-us-like-equals-foreign-professors
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The foreign professors complained that they are treated like hagwon teachers. They said they are sometimes told by the school to teach foreign languages to students outside their department, leading many professors to feel like they�re hagwon teachers.
Foreign professors are also being discriminated against in terms of hours and wages. Prof. Gabriel (fake name), who teaches at a certain university, said Korean professors teach an average of seven hours a week, while the foreign professors teach at least 12 hours. Prof. Karlson (fake name), who teaches at another university, said there were differences in wages, too,... |
Foreign scholars merit equal status: The foreign professor -- colleague or hired hand?
John B. Kotch, JoongAng Ilbo (June 14, 2002)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=1904927
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| According to the Samsung Group's chairman, Lee Kun-hee, to succeed globally, Korea must forgo the thought that Korea and being Korean is superior, and foreign specialists must be treated with respect.... |
Foreign Tenure Professor Quits SNU Without Notice
By Kang Shin-who, Korea Times (October 13, 2008)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/10/117_32610.html
Foreigners Have a Hard Time in Korea � Report
Chosun Ilbo (January 30, 2007)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200701/200701300016.html
Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448 |
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sarbonn
Joined: 14 Oct 2008
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:57 am Post subject: |
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Sounds like they're being sensitive to western culture where we tend to use someone's first name as the reference rather than the last name as they do here. Honestly, it wouldn't bother me, and it doesn't bother me. I don't need people calling me Dr. just because I have a Phd. I don't really care because calling me by my first name doesn't take away my degree and the work I put in to get that degree.
I tend to get respect from people after I talk to them for awhile because they realize I am worthy of it. I don't really feel the need to worry about it beyond that. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:04 am Post subject: |
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| sarbonn wrote: |
| Sounds like they're being sensitive to western culture where we tend to use someone's first name as the reference rather than the last name as they do here.... |
Are they friends or colleagues? If they refer to themselves with titles (such as Professor or Dr.), then they should refer to all colleagues with titles. |
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michaelambling
Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Location: Paradise
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:14 am Post subject: |
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| sarbonn wrote: |
Sounds like they're being sensitive to western culture where we tend to use someone's first name as the reference rather than the last name as they do here. Honestly, it wouldn't bother me, and it doesn't bother me. I don't need people calling me Dr. just because I have a Phd. I don't really care because calling me by my first name doesn't take away my degree and the work I put in to get that degree.
I tend to get respect from people after I talk to them for awhile because they realize I am worthy of it. I don't really feel the need to worry about it beyond that. |
They're being sensitive to western culture by calling themselves "Dr. Lee" when talking in English? Explain that one to me. |
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linky123
Joined: 12 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:32 am Post subject: |
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| You should remind them you didn't go through 10 plus years of college to be called "Michael" like a 22 year old fresh out of college teaching kindies. They should adress you as Dr. whomever or Professor whomever. |
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cmr
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:33 am Post subject: |
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Why don't you ask them? 
I mean, if you want to know why they do something, I believe you should ask those people, not people here. After all, what you're going to get from people here is ideas, opinions, guesses, but no facts.
Ask the other professors at your university politely why they refer to you or address you differently than when they refer to other collegues. That should help to get rid of any misunderstanding. |
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PeteJB
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:38 am Post subject: |
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| In Korean classes, everyone is addressed properly by our teacher. So I become 피터 씨 not just '피터' - The 'being sensitive to culture' is bull. |
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michaelambling
Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Location: Paradise
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:42 am Post subject: |
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| cmr wrote: |
Why don't you ask them?
I mean, if you want to know why they do something, I believe you should ask those people, not people here. After all, what you're going to get from people here is ideas, opinions, guesses, but no facts.
Ask the other professors at your university politely why they refer to you or address you differently than when they refer to other collegues. That should help to get rid of any misunderstanding. |
I don't ask them because there is a huge gap between what people tell you and what they really think, in Korea or anywhere else. I doubt they'd tell me the truth, or anything close to it (especially since they've lied to me quite a few times in the past few weeks). |
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NoExplode
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:58 am Post subject: |
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| cmr wrote: |
Why don't you ask them?
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Are you joking? And be completely ostracized? That would cause everyone whom ever called him Mike to lose face. Thereby causing han (loathing) against him, and then he has to look over his shoulder for the knife to his back. |
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Jeff's Cigarettes
Joined: 27 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:06 am Post subject: |
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| Are you a prof or an English teacher? If the former, that's right Kimberly of them. |
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Mr-Dokdo
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:07 am Post subject: |
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| Are you a real professor, or are you one of us? |
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Alyssa
Joined: 15 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:10 am Post subject: |
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They see you as a 'clown', it is their way of putting you down.
come on, what if some head Harvard Prof. came to your uni, for some special seminar, do you think they would say "Welcome to our school.....BILLY.."
No, they would say "Welcome, Dr. Miller". Those guys who call you by your first name are just showing you zero respect. |
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michaelambling
Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Location: Paradise
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:24 am Post subject: |
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| Mr-Dokdo wrote: |
| Are you a real professor, or are you one of us? |
I'm one of you...hopefully not for long.
Alyssa's right. I might be joining you in Japan. |
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Straphanger
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Chilgok, Korea
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:27 am Post subject: |
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To the guy who started the thread, "Just Say No":
Just say "I'm sorry, it's DOCTOR Smith, please." |
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