Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bundangbabo]

I have been at my public school for 5 months and thought I carved out a nice relationship with a lot of my students - I thought I was approachable anyway.

I got my students to write about their 5 days at the English village that they recently went to and a lot of them have written and spoke about 'being scared of foreigners' (which disappeared when they went to the English village apparently)

'You are scared of foreigners?' said I 'So you have been scared of me - for the 5 past months?' and the little bastards said YES!

'What have you got to be scared about?' I said to them 'What difference is there between you and I' but I didn't get anything like a decent answer.

So there you go - all the time they were saying hi and participating in my lessons while I was making them laugh - they were shitting themselves the whole time - I give up!

[jkelly80]

This fear isn't ingrained, it has to be learned. I wonder where they get it from.

[cj1976]

They might mean they are afraid to talk to foreigners. Even adults are the same.
If you want to strike fear into the heart of a Korean, make them think they will have to talk English. The teachers at my school are so nervous around me because of this.

[Bibbitybop]

And that is why, if Korea wants to be involved in global business, Koreans will always have to learn English face-to-face with foreigners.

[mj roach]

generations of k/grandmas telling kids if they are noisy and misbehave.....
'the foreigners' will catch them and take them away
'the foreigner' = bogeyman

[justaguy]

When students tell me they are scared of foreigners, I tell them I'm scared of foreigners too.

[bogey666]

hahahaah

I'm scared of foreigners too!.. hahahahah

but I DO think it's very true that Korean adults are "embarrased" (for lack of a better word) and reticent to speak English for fear of making a mistake or not being understood.

not sure what drives this - I've been part of it is a drive to perfection, perhaps there are issues of "face" involved.

I don't know.

I also don't know how and at what point it develops in kids but it's there by high school age (the years I teach)

that is one of the reasons I find Korean elementary school kids so precious and precocious though. I don't think this fear and reticence is there yet.

Yesterday I was walking back from Paris Baguette at lunchtime (yet another indigestible public school cafeteria offering) and two of the cutest little Korean girls saw me.. made big eyes, then started giggling to each other... then one said.. Hello!!!

and I waved and said HELLO!

more giggles... the one yells out.... "what's your name!?" (in well pronounced English)..

I said.. my name is "Bogey" , then waved and walked across the street back to school.

little kids are precious.

[BS.Dos.]

[justaguy]

Nonpayment isn't exclusive to Korea.

That's what export insurance is for.

[Suwon Sister]

Several times we have overheard mothers and grandmothers warning their kids to behave or my husband (who is 6' 5") will grab them and take them away. We had wondered why some children are so friendly while others look terrified to see us.

The first time I thought it was a fluke but it has happened time and time again.

Becky

[hwarangi]

I'm surprised their fears were assuaged by a trip to an English Village. The one I went to was one of the creepiest places I've been - reminded me of the Simpsons' episode when Lisa drank the water at Duff Gardens.

[rayjoy]

[bluelake]

[jkelly80]

[bogey666]