Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Big_Bird]

Previous to my arrival in Korea, I'd taught in China, where British English is the English variety of choice in the educational system. My English matched their textbook English and there was no need to constantly monitor my ��Britishisms.�� I did, however, think it was important for my students to be aware of that other very influential standard in the world, US English, and pointed out the alternatives from time to time. Some (though not most) of my students actually disliked this, saying they only wanted to know about British English (which I myself thought a silly attitude).

But on coming to Korea, I was in for a rude awakening. My first day on the job involved writing the word ��aeroplane�� on the board. My 10 year old students stared in shock. How extraordinary that their teacher couldn��t spell airplane! They never quite trusted me after that!!

I remember an American being surprised by my poor English when I said "My family are...." He started to lecture me about using good grammar. I was absolutely shocked. He was unaware that while collective nouns are singular in American English, they can be singular or plural in British English.

I find myself constantly on my guard. I��ve confused and shocked many a Korean student with my British spelling. Theatre vs Theater, Aeroplane, vs Airplane or the double consonant in words like travelling.

Interestingly, in my role as an ��English Professor�� (HAHA) it��s not a problem. Both Universities I��ve worked at encouraged my use of my native variety. But in other situations, I try to give the (very ignorant and/or prejudiced) customer what he/she/they expect/s.

However, even college students are often unaware that there are at least 2 spelling systems used in international English. In a test paper I wrote for my students, I wrote the word ��theatre.�� During the exam, one student (with a particularly serious attitude problem) brought my attention to it with malicious glee, thinking she had caught me in an error.

While the choice of US English is appropriate in Korea (and, knowing which side my bread is buttered, I��m quite content to ��toe the line��), I��m still surprised that so many students (and even some Korean English teachers) are unaware of the other internationally accepted standard. A ten minute introduction is all that would be needed. Perhaps they got one but they were sleeping?

What a shock they��ll get when they start working for an international company that deals with countries other than America. Both China and India (making up about one third of the world's population) use British English, for a start.

I met an executive of LG who was desperately seeking a British teacher. His spoken English was very good, but his listening skills only came into play when listening to US English. He��d had a Canadian private tutor for 2 years, and studied the US variety exclusively for years before that. However, in his work for LG, he��d never had to deal with US or Canadian customers. Instead, they were all from places like Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Scotland and England; and he could barely understand a word.

Ever since then, I��ve tried to expose my students to a variety of accents during listening classes.

What are your experiences?

[dogbert]

It's quite simple:

My airplane flies through the air.

Does your aeroplane fly through the aero?

[crazylemongirl]

My third grade textbook has entire unit devoted to introducing different variations on english. We have a lot of fun with that lesson
my students are particularly fond of bangers, gobsmacked, chunder, pukerooed.

Occasionly my students catch me spelling something the 'british english' way. It's changing slowly.

[Hanson]

I love telling my students that Canadians follow the British spelling of most words (not aeroplane - that's just crazy!). Programme, centre, colour, and so on. Americans are pretty much the only ones who use the different spelling. They also are the only ones not to use the metric system. Instead we get inches, feet, yards, Farenheit(sp?), miles, pounds(lbs), ... I still struggle with the conversion of Farenheit into Celcius. [(F-30)/2=C] works well until you get under 30F...

Actually, I use "Pronunciation Games", a book full of quite good pronunciation activities, which was published in the UK and uses British words (like 'lift' - elevator, 'flat' - apartment, and yes, 'aeroplane'). I enjoy teaching the differences in English. Two words' pronunciations that always screw me is the British/Aussie pronunciations of 'garage' (pronounced like 'carriage') and 'buoy' (pronounced like 'boy')...

[Wangja]

[peppermint]

[R. S. Refugee]

[tzechuk]

[tzechuk]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

It's especially fun when playing hangman. My kids were forever stumped on 'favourite'. I think it's especially difficult for Koreans because, like American, they have a lot of difficulty understanding that there is more than one way of doing things. With new kids it's also fun to guess the nationality of their previous teacher by how they pronounce certain words.

[dulouz]

When I go hunting, I like to use bows are areos rather than a gun.

This concept is a manner of iregularity. I'm satisfied with how its addressed. Spanish class had this as well. I've had several Spanish teachers and they approached it as interesting but not important. If I play a game with a kid or give and assignment and they use a different spelling and show its just not an error, then they get credit. I could give them a big list to show the differences but I don't have the time.

[agraham]

I just learned this year that the Canadian standard for -ize/-ise words is usually to use ize. In the past, I've typically spelled the "British" way and used '-ise' for words like 'organize' or 'scandalize' that were in doubt.

[Wangja]

[Bozo Yoroshiku]

[tzechuk]