Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Toby]

Have you noticed that the only language Koreans are exposed to is American? TV education programs, newspapers, movies, sitcoms and anymore you care to name.

Have you also noticed that more and more countries, other than American, are sprouting and developing in Korea?

Have you also noticed that Koreans hold a huge prejudice against Americans?

So why is American the only language they are exposed to?

I make a point of teaching English and not American - pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary. Some of my elder classes appreciate it as they are getting a different accent - Queen's English, or that's what they think!

American and Canadian are, for all intents and purposes, the same. Only as far as pronunciation and spelling are concerned. Correct me if I am wrong, but Canadians follow American spelling?

English, Aussi and Kiwi are also the same for the same reasons as above. Their pronunciation is similar, but again, some vocabulary is different.

The Irish fall into their own league as their pronunciation can be very different.

Plus the blatant and horrible over exaggeration of the American accent on TV is painful to watch and listen to. Am I alone in thinking this?

And before anyone thinks this is me directing an attack at America or Americans, it's not. It is purely an observation about a whitewash by a language in a country that seems to be having lass and less contact with that country of origin.

I think that, to make something more beneficial, the TV language programs should have comparative accents on them, so that Koreans are exposed to languages other than American.

[dogbert]

It would be even better were Koreans exposed to good grammar by their English teachers.

[eamo]

Irish pronunciation differs more from English English than Australian or New Z?

Not sure about that.

We've been through this before anyway. It's more to do with class than country.

A public school boy from Surrey speaks nothing like a comprehensive school Newcastle kid. Yet both are English.

Working class people from any country can be real hard to understand at first.

It's the middle classes who have the rounded off accents.

[kangnamdragon]

[jajdude]

One class I have is reading some high-level British English stories. Sometimes there are words/expressions unfamiliar to me.

[Tiger Beer]

Koreans are just following the Scandinavian example .

But anyways, some textbooks have the British words and the others (the higher majority) have the American words. (I have to use words like lorry, tube, etc, just like Brits have to use van, subway, etc. when teaching at times).

In regards to (desired) pronounciation.. the US-Korea relationship (in regards to politics, economics, movies, etc.) is MUCH stronger on almost every level than the British-Korea influence in those realms.. so no real shock.

Regarding how Koreans speak.. it doesn't sound English or American or anything else.. sounds Konglish and unique to itself.

Generally though, Korea, Japan, Latin America, is in the American sphere of influence in regards to learning English.. whereas most previous British colonies (like Malaysia, etc.) and of course Europe which prefers British English (except Dutch & Scandinavians which seem to love American accents for reasons unknown).

I'd be more interested to know the Scandinavian/Dutch reasonings for American accents than the Korean interest.

[Sage Monkey]

[Toby]

[keithinkorea]

I teach both British and American English when it comes to spelling, the differences are few and far between.

I would never, ever teach American pronunciation as it is often lazy and unclear, especially when spoken with a Korean accent. I like my students to be able to say 'better, rather than 'bedderrrr'. All the over the top contractions that are used in some of the American English textbooks are way too complex sound horrid and often just confuse Koreans.

I teach them for example to say 'Where did you go to?' rather than 'whereja goda?' which is encouraged in some American English speaking 'instructional' texts.

Vocab wise it is pretty important that the student is instructed that a 'boot' is also known as a 'trunk' in some parts and that 'pants' are usually worn inside 'trousers' unless you're a very strange individual or an American superhero Also 'cars' are sometimes strangely called 'automobiles' and 'sidewalks' are a strange concept when few of us walk in the middle of a road.

[dogbert]

As terribly as Bush himself butchers the language, I would much rather hear him speak than your average chav.

[keithinkorea]

[dogbert]

[funplanet]

reason K's prefer American English is that the major exams are based on American English...at least that is what I have always been told...

I did take the TOEFL for kicks and it is American based...so maybe some truth to it

[VanIslander]

Over two-thirds of all native English speakers are American.
And American English is known as the language of business.
And they actually pronounce the "l"s and "r"s, which helps pronunciation.
And America's rich, so Koreans want to be associated with such.
There are many reasons.

[katydid]

I'm curious as to what countries teach British English and which teach American English in Asia. Korea and Japan teach American English. I imagine unless you are at an American school you teach British English in Singapore and Hong Kong. But I wonder if you teach English in Thailand or Cambodia, what style of English do you have to teach there?