Korean Job Discussion Forums

[periwinkle]

I used to use Korean quite a bit, but these days, I barely use it. I think it's a combination of things- different job (no kids/ teaching English for specific purposes), and I live in Seoul (when I lived in Incheon, I had to use Korean~ only once in a blue moon would I run across someone with passable English).

When I first came here, I took classes and made an effort to study. I've been here almost 5 years now, and I just can't be bothered. It's also a combination of laziness and different priorities now. Anybody else in this boat? I still pick up new words, but if I've been here for 10-15-20 plus years and still have fluency issues, it doesn't matter to me anymore.

I used to not understand how people could live in the US and not speak a lick of English. Now I get it. My friend's mom emigrated to the US from El Salvador over 30 yrs. ago, lives in a Hispanic area of Queens, and speaks no English. I used to wonder how that can happen, but now I think I can relate!! Anyway, I'm not saying I've totally given-up- I just don't feel like a loser for not knowing more than I do. I used to let Koreans shame me for not knowing more, but now~ whatev~

[Demophobe]

A wife who insists I use Korean at least half the time, One person who speaks English at both my schools, a smaller town...all adds up to frequent Korean. Always, in fact.

I'm thankful for that, although, outside my wife, I tend to use the same Korean time and time again. Shopping, bank, dry cleaning, ordering food, etc...

[bellum99]

I am in the same position, a little. My Korean skills are disappearing because I seldom use them.

[SuperHero]

[pet lover]

I know less and less as time goes by and I could not possibly care less about it. I do not need it for my job. I do not need it in my home. I do not need it when out walking the dogs (which doesn't happen in the winter anyway). I simply do not need it. I speak about Korean when out shopping as I speak English when shopping back in the States. Very, very little. You don't need a lot of communication to buy something. I used to feel bad about it, but no longer. I've given away my books and tapes for learning Korean and refuse to even pretend an interest any more. If I'm still here 50 years later and don't know any more Korean than I do now, well, I don't think it'll bother me a bit. I know enough to understand the basic level little kids when they tell me that they need to pee, puke, or drink water. Beyond that, even if I DO understand, I usually pretend not to. And I've done that long enough that it's coming true.

[bellum99]

Ouch.

[periwinkle]

I get where you're coming from, petlover- especially the part about pretending not to understand when you do. I do this all the time with taxi drivers, and with people who ask me 20,000 needless questions (e.g "Do you have this in medium?" "Why yes! Is it a gift? Do you need it wrapped? Do you have any questions about our return policy? Do you want a different color? Would you like a skirt that matches?"........ad nauseum). It's amazing the economy of language I've realized since I've been here, and how much time you waste with nicities (sp?), formalities, trying to impress, trying to be helpful, etc. (see above example).

I know I have a bad (well, indifferent) attitude, but man, I love not wasting time, and I love being left alone!!

[Yo!Chingo]

I find you don't even really need to know the language to get along alright. I too at one time couldn't understand how anyone could live in a country and not know the language, but then I don't plan to live here over a year or so. I feel that if you plan to live here on an extended basis you should learn, but Koreans make it easy not to. Hell they pay us to teach them English. I'm giving them free lessons everytime I open my mouth!!! Most of them do speak some English though. If they don't there's someone else that I can do business with who does! Sad but true.
Besides... it's easy to play the clueless foreigner.

[Demophobe]

[biscuit]

My Korean has gotten so much worse since I've gotten married.
It's just so much easier to let my husband do the talking if there's anything complicated to be said. As he's a native speaker it just goes so much faster...

I've become so lazy about it. My plan is now that I'll just learn with my daughter.
She's 6 months old now so she'll be starting at a very basic level.
Hopefully I'll keep up as she becomes fluent....

[pet lover]

I don't walk my dogs in the winter because the older one has something wrong with his hind legs. Cold seems to make it worse. A simple five minute outing in the park across the street will have him dragging himself with his front feet only for the next four hours or so. I can't very well tak the little one out all the time and leave him behind and besides, she hates the cold weather and gets sick easily. The reason I'm not walking them isn't because it's too cold for ME....it's too cold for THEM.

Oh, and I deal with around 100 people every day with my job. That's a hundred different personalities, needs, wants, desires, etc. So, forgive me if I prefer to have some alone time when not at work. I'm just not that interested in the average stranger on the street or clerk in the store. I don't care about them and don't feel like I should either. I care deeply about my kids--not people I don't even know. And I don't feel like I have to get to know everyone so that I can then care about them. I know my limits. I'm comfortable with them.

[tomato]

I am more persistent than you guys--or more disagreeable, take your pick.
I insist on speaking Korean to Koreans in Korea, and these are the retorts I get:

�� "When your Korean is difficult to understand, you are imposing on those who could converse with you more easily in English."

In other words, don't get in the water until you know how to swim.

�� "When Koreans speak to you in English, they are just trying to help you. If you won't speak to them in English, you are being unappreciative."

Try presenting a similar argument to a liberated woman who is being treated with gallantry by a gentleman.

�� "If you speak Korean poorly to our clients, you might make a bad impression."

�� "It is not fair to speak Korean all the time. Koreans want to learn English, so you should be willing to speak English half the time."

In other words, you are on duty as an English teacher 24 hours a day.

[Homer]

I speak Korean in everyday life and find it quite useful.

I used it to communicate with my in-laws and nieces who speak no English.

I use it to chat with the old guys in the park while we play Changi.

I used it when shopping, at restaurants and in everyday life.

My wife and I speak English to one an another as we got to know each other in that language. However, we often communicate in Korean when at her parents place or when visiting her family or meeting some of her friends.

I find that Korean opened up a whole different side of Korea for me.

As for the reaction a westerner gets from Koreans when speaking Korean...I have not really had the experience that Tomato had. But, thats just my case and I can see why some people might experience what he has.

Also, I can see why many foreigners here would not see Korean as valuable when indeed you can get by with very little of it and with English if you live in a bigger city.

I just thought that since I was living here for a few years, learning the language made sense.

[SPINOZA]

I personally found it extremely embarrassing walking up to Koreans and speaking English and arrogantly expecting them to know what I was talking about when I first arrived. That alone was sufficient reason to make a big effort with the langauge and it's reaped rewards. Contrary to what others have said in this thread, I find that English ability in Seoul is limited.

To be absolutely honest, I hate waegooks who don't make any effort. I know some people who can't even order kimbap or say bye! Shameful, stupid morons. Heaven only knows what feeble universities these untermensch got their degrees from! One should do it for its own sake! Else, don't come crying to me when you're a victim of xenophobia. I'd be unpleasant to you too if you walked up to me back home and spoke your native language expecting me to understand every word and cater to your every diabolical whim.

I went into Sand Presso near Gyeongbokgunk recently for some coffee. I had a fairly lengthy interchange with the pretty female server. She thought I was awesome for knowing a bit of Korean. 10 minutes later, a young Canadian couple walked in, ordered in English, spoke very quickly, didn't smile or be pleasant in the least and it was obvious to all present that they were just an arrogant, unfriendly pair of f_ckwits. Very typical Seoul fare, you feel.

[Homer]

I will add that for a mid or long-termer, not learning Korean seems like a strange choice to me.