Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mindmetoo]

Back when I first started at my hagwon job I was put in a small office with the other elementary teachers. One side of the office is the math teachers, the other side is the English teachers. The English teachers, though Korean, generally adopt English names. My boss, however, goes by her Korean name "Mira" because it's a name that could easily be taken as an English or Western name.

We talked about Korean names that easily transit to English names. I mentioned I have a Korean friend named Mina which also dovetails well with English names. My boss added the Korean name "Jina". My comment went like "Yeah, but it sounds a lot like 'Gina' which is not a very attractive name to some. Calling someone a 'Gina' is kind of an insult, she's a woman that chews gum and complains a lot and is kind of stupid. If I had the Korean name Jina I'd change it."

Anyway, we wrapped up this name conversation and then I introduce myself to the woman who was sitting right next to me. I ask what her name was.

"Jina," she said.

Talk about dying of embarrassment.

[schwa]

My first week in Korea I'd been meeting all my new hagwon classes & I'd had a particularly fun time with one class of middleschool students. Near the end of our hour I innocently remarked that all my other classes had been a mix of boys & girls, but this one was different, all boys.

One hand went up. "Yes?" "I'm a girl." Damn. She & I turned several shades of red. Her hair was short & she was wearing a jacket & tie uniform deal, but I still felt a fool.

From then forward I noticed she always wore some kind of accessory in her hair & maybe a bit of make-up to class. We became friends. A smart girl too, she ended up moving to Canada on her own to do highschool there.

[Bunnymonster]

I have a kindy student who can literally get his foot in his mouth, a feat he delights in showing me........

[mindmetoo]