Korean Job Discussion Forums

[optik404]

http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2013/09/17/keep-your-multilingualism-to-yourself/

[waynehead]

Lord no, but then my Korean level is at the "cutely poor" stage, as in, aw, at least he's trying. As the author mentions, these are just two isolated anecdotes...it's hard for me to imagine a cultural trend of "don't-speak-to-me-in-my-language" folks.

[World Traveler]

Some good tips on this page:
http://koreanchamp.com/2010/10/13/mission-impossible-getting-koreans-to-speak-korean/

[faeriehazel]

I think the attitude definitely exists, but I don't think it's THAT common. I have noticed Koreans ignoring foreigners attempting to speaking Korean, although usually that's because the foreigners have a heavy accent and many Koreans can't be bothered to make the effort to try and understand, especially if said foreigner is accompanied by a Korean.

I don't think most Koreans would feel mocked by a foreigner speaking fluent Korean. I do agree that there might be a sense of being trespassed - this is OUR language, you have no business trying to speak it when you're not even Korean. Again, not a prevalent attitude, but I wouldn't be too surprised to encounter it, especially in older Korean men.

[yodanole]

Only speak Korean outside of work. Your Korean will come along fine, so will work.

You're here for your English ability, not for your charming personality or your devastating good looks.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Westerners speaking Korean (or trying to) may encounter different reactions in different settings.

1- At work if working as an English Teacher.

Trying to speak Korean to Korean colleagues may be met with English responses because most schools have (or had) an "English only" policy while at work. Some colleagues may not be in the mood to try and understand the garbled Korean many of us use when we first start.

2- Out and about

This can vary again. Some store clerks or service industry workers may see an attempt to practice their English or may feel you will prefer to speak in English (as a courtesy) thus may respond to you in English even if you speak in Korean. Again, some Koreans cannot be bothered to try and understand the garbled Korean we westerners sometimes use because they may be busy or have no interest (this reminds me of downtown Montreal where store clerks will often switch to English when someone speaks to them in accented French).

In many other cases you will get a response in Korean. However, if you then freeze like a deer caught in the headlights, well, the conversation may switch to English.

My experience was that I got responses in Korean the vast majority of the time after my level reached intermediate. Before that it was largely hit and miss.

As for the "older Korean men may feel defensive if a foreigner speaks Korean" thing. It may happen but the guys at the park near my old apt in Busan were more than happy to speak in Korean with me when I went to play Korean chess with them on Sundays. Even when my Korean was at best on the level of a babbling toddler.

[Ginormousaurus]

[12ax7]

Robert Phillipson is controversial, to say the least.

His book, Linguistic Imperialism, is a bit conspiracy theory-ish.

In it, he argues that "the dominance of English is asserted and maintained by the establishment and continuous reconstruction of structural and cultural inequalities between English and other languages".

Now do you understand his story?

[Janny]

In Korea, I mostly used basic phrases and got what I needed. Sometimes I would try a little more and we would hit that wall: the Korean would either be a) unable / unwilling to understand my Korean, b) so startled that I was actually speaking that they would not reply and just laugh, thereby making my own ego bruise and the conversation would end, or c) they would start speaking rapid-fire Korean, whereas I would have to either backtrack or abort.

Anyway, quite a few times a Korean would say to me "oh, so you know how to speak Korean!" because she / he would discover I had been there for 8 years. That was awkward, because...no.

In Shanghai, it seems most foreigners I'm meeting know basic Mandarin. Like they can have short conversations and the interactions switch back and forth from Eng-Mandarin quite easily. Personally, I am scared about how difficult the Chinese characters appear to learn. That will be my first hurdle.

[nate1983]

[byrddogs]

[Janny]

So it's opposite of my Korean experience then? Because there, I learned to read and write in a few days. Speak, no. Should I just try to focus on speaking at first?

[byrddogs]

[nate1983]

[faeriehazel]