Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CSlinguist]

To those of you that can actually converse in Korean, how do your co-workers, students, employers etc. respond to you? I have heard that being able to speak Korean can sometimes be a hindrance as many schools ban Foreign teachers from using any Korean in class. Seeing as speaking English at people who honestly have no clue what you are saying is seen as reinforcing language learning

I've been studying Korean for 4 years so I am able to hold conversations in Korean and I am wondering if coworkers would be more positive about this or more guarded about speaking around me. Anyone have any experiences to share?

[djsmnc]

Anyone who gets guarded or irritated about it is just using you. Completely cut them off immediately.

[jonpurdy]

My co-teachers asked me to speak English since I can practice my Korean with everyone in the whole country, they can only practice their English wiht me. Fair enough; they're both nice and helpful teachers.

I recently wrote up weekly camp report cards in basic Korean (to be sent home for the parents). Was then told to write my comments in English underneath. Not sure why, considering all the other foreigners had their English comments translated into Korean by their co-teachers.

[djsmnc]

[Countrygirl]

I know only a little bit of Korean but my co-teachers love it. It helps communication to be able to figure things out with two languages to play with. It should also make you a better teacher because you will have a better understanding why Koreans are making the English language mistakes that they are making.

[PRagic]

I speak English regularly with only one of my co-workers. All meetings are held in Korea. In general, it's a huge plus to speak Korean in my workplace, and appreciated by both faculty and students (outside of the classroom).

I've always looked as language as more of an augmentation skill than a primary skill. If someone wants to speak English with me, that's great; it's easier for me! The important thing is having successful communication, no matter the language in which it is accomplished. Maybe that's just me.

[NYC_Gal]

I use some Korean to help my students. My grammar is far from correct, but it really does help when I'm asking the little ones to do tasks. I'll use the a word or short sentence, after having said it in English. I always follow with the same in English again. It's only when they seem confused, but it helps.

3rd graders certainly aren't going to understand the difficult words that my coteacher loves to throw at them. She doesn't understand that she sounds foolish using large words with 3rd graders and in general. She doesn't understand the nuance behind certain phrases, and, for the most part, is incorrect. I've told her time and time again to use simpler words, as there's less room for error.

"Students. It's time for greetings and we can try to do dialogues and role play."

or

"Now let's improvement our vocabulary."