Korean Job Discussion Forums

[seoulmanbob]

I am curious about the viability of an developing an English Zone (a specifically English speaking area that the students are not required to attend) in a university setting. What are your experiences regarding this type of situation?
Has it benefited the students, or is it just a waste of time?

Thanks,
Bob

[Cave Dweller]

Enforcement is the toughest part.

I think for English to take off here, people have to want it. One of the many huge reasons why teaching English here is so inefficient.

[seoulmanbob]

thanks for that C.D.

I am guessing from the lack of responses that it is probably not a very successful venture.

[drcrazy]

Such a thing is very common in many universities; high, low, and in between. There are always some to many very serious students that make it great fun for the teachers.

[drcrazy]

Take this up with the chair of your English department. I have been on campus of a huge number universities my many many years here, and to not have an English Zone (they go by a ton of different names) is a bit shocking to me.

[drcrazy]

Oh, and at some universities it is so popular they have full time faculty just for that.

[PigeonFart]

I have no experience with Universities in Korea but i know from my language-exchange-club experience, Koreans find it VERY awkward to speak English to other Koreans.

I think it must be because culture and language are all intertwined here much more than western countries. I speak English but have no emotional connection with the language at all. I feel that English doesn't belong to me (maybe cos i've seen so many different nationalities use it).

But Koreans really do connect the korean language, culture, and a KOREAN FACE all together as one thing. So choosing to speak English among themselves is really weird for them. That is a problem for them when they want to practice English.

So do Koreans ACTUALLY speak English with each other in these Englsh zones?