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juchangok
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
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 Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:57 am Post subject: Should I hide the fact that I can speak Korean? |
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| When I get to Korea and start teaching, should I hide the fact that I can speak Korean fluently? I read both positive and negative things about it so if someone could give me their opinion of this, I'd appreciate it. |
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blackjack
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: anyang
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:03 am Post subject: |
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| Are you Korean? If so then no because they are going to assume it anyway. If no then spill the story how that happened |
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juchangok
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:09 am Post subject: |
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oh yea I'm Korean and thanks for your response 
Edit: Would it actually help my relationship with my Korean co-workers if they know I speak Korean? |
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blackjack
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: anyang
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:14 am Post subject: |
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| juchangok wrote: |
oh yea I'm Korean and thanks for your response
Edit: Would it actually help my relationship with my Korean co-workers if they know I speak Korean? |
Hell yeah but you may also be expected to do a lot of extra work and talk to parents and stuff tho |
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juchangok
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:18 am Post subject: |
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| I may end up biting off more than I can chew, but I don't mind. I like talking actually haha. |
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Big Mac
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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| It would be interesting to pretend that you don't know how to speak Korean and then you can listen to all the nasty things they say about you. Actually, that might get irritating after a while. |
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Slowmotion
Joined: 15 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Big Mac wrote: |
| It would be interesting to pretend that you don't know how to speak Korean and then you can listen to all the nasty things they say about you. Actually, that might get irritating after a while. |
Maybe you just suck, cuz I haven't heard them saying any "nasty" things. |
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beercanman
Joined: 16 May 2009
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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| I knew a gyopo guy who did that. He'd tell the kids and sometimes adults he met he was from Hong Kong. His Korean was good, not as good as English. He did report hearing some often funny things when others assumed he had poor Korean skills. |
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hellofaniceguy
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Why? "They" are going to find out anyway! |
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ulsanchris
Joined: 19 Jun 2003
Location: take a wild guess
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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Don't let the students know you speak korean. Your co teachers can know but should only speak english to you. Let them know you don't want the Students to know that you can speak korean.
once your students know that you can speak korean they will only speak to you in Korean. YOu can tell them that you know a few words but can't really speak any korean. That way you can help out with some vocab. |
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b-class rambler
Joined: 25 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:28 pm Post subject: Re: Should I hide the fact that I can speak Korean? |
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| juchangok wrote: |
| When I get to Korea and start teaching, should I hide the fact that I can speak Korean fluently? I read both positive and negative things about it so if someone could give me their opinion of this, I'd appreciate it. |
It just depends on what kind of situation you're going to end up in. Sometimes, it can be a massive advantage that (a) people know you understand Korean or (b) you are able to use it, or, of course, both of those. But other times it might better if either or both of those weren't the case.
I'd suggest initially trying to keep your options open as much as possible for as long as you can. Perhaps be really overmodest about your Korean ability at the start. Admit that you do know some Korean and your listening is ok, but your speaking is really weak and always insist on answering in English, even when they speak to you in Korean. This lets you understand when it's something that it's to your advantage to have understood, but means you can often pretend you haven't understood in the opposite scenario.
Obviously it's something you have to do carefully and if you let too much of the cat out the bag too soon, there'd be no going back later. |
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cpolian
Joined: 18 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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I just say I know a "little". I would keep communication with coworkers/employers on a strictly English basis.. I just don't see any good happening out of Native speakers who speak both; 98% of the time it seems like you just get a lot more work thrown at you.
But if you're full Korean I'm not sure if there's going to be much of a difference honestly. |
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NightSky
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject: Re: Should I hide the fact that I can speak Korean? |
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| juchangok wrote: |
| When I get to Korea and start teaching, should I hide the fact that I can speak Korean fluently? |
definitely, at least initially. I have heard some very interesting exchanges between a potential boss and potential manager when they just assumed (naturally) that it was safe to talk in front of me. |
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mishlert
Joined: 13 Mar 2003
Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun
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| Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Big Mac wrote: |
| It would be interesting to pretend that you don't know how to speak Korean and then you can listen to all the nasty things they say about you. Actually, that might get irritating after a while. |
That's not a bad idea. Later, when you let be known that you do speak Korean and call them on all the things thay had to say, the look on their faces will be priceless. Also, listening to their excuses will be a hoot.
Talk aboput a major loss of face on their part. |
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soakitincider
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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Yes. And then ask for a raise or you'll "forget' you can speak their language. Say this in Korean, smile, and walk off. Jaws WILL drop!  |
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