Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mindmetoo]

My brother works at Ford, in IT. Here in Windsor we call it Ford's. But anyway, they hired this Korean developer. He carries around a Korean/English dictionary and never answers questions directly. He always says "email me the question" and then answers it in email. He basically understands very little English and is clearly fielding out the emails to someone with better English.

My brother asked to have him fired before his 3 months were up. His director, who hired him, over ruled him. My brother pointed out he doesn't seem to understand much English.

"How'd we hire him in the first place?"

The director responds "I swear when I interviewed him his english was much, much better."

They suspect he sent in a friend to do the interview and trusted whitey has a hard time telling them apart.

I told my brother it would not surprise me.

(Although to be fair, I've certainly stretched the truth at times in my resume depending on the job. Although sending in another person to interview for me is pretty ballsy.)

[Ya-ta Boy]

This sounds like the beginning of a great soap opera-type story. Keep us posted on developments.

[RACETRAITOR]

Can he answer the questions in e-mail?

[JongnoGuru]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[happeningthang]

I've had adult students who are flustered when called upon to answer a direct question, and if not pushed would rather not. When they do contribute later on, having had time to 'construct' the response, it's evident they understand everything that's been said.

I've made the mistake time and time again, assuming the people who don't say anything, don't know anything. I know Koreans I encounter are treating me like an imbecile because I'm stuttering, and sputtering my Korean responses.

Maybe the Korean guy wants his questions in email form so he can be sure he's not mishearing, misunderstanding anything being said. I'm a native speaker and after listening to the different English accents, and collaquialisms you hear from fellow expats, I'm not always that sure what's being said.

It's pretty obvious to anyone who's been teaching in Korea, that Koreans do better with written English than they do with spoken. If his English is that bad, at least the question is nice and static as an email, so he can use that Korean-English dictionary to check on what you're saying, instead of making people wait.

I doubt that the guy is fielding out the e-mails to someone with better English, or that he subbed someone in the interview. It seems more likely to me that he prepared for the interview and made a concerted effort to speak, and now that he's got the job he's being careful not to make any mistakes. I'd guess the guys English isn't perfect, but that it's good enough to get through the interview.

[mindmetoo]

[mindmetoo]

[Harpeau]

So what do you do? Hire an investigator and check his IP address?! I could see Newf saying to the guy: "Stay at your to and I'll come to where your at, bye!" "...up to her knees in gravel, Ies the bye that builds the boats, Ies the byes the sailor...."

Yes, keep us posted.

[Corporal]

[nautilus]

korean students sometimes don't answer. to us its a mark of disrespect to apparently ignore a question.
to them its a face-saving way of saying "I don't know/ I'm not sure/ let me think about it/ give me time to make a full and proper answer".


However..this guy should change his ways if he is in another country. if he is hampering the effieciency of your firm..then fire him..Its a hard world.

[ticktock]

OP, why is it such a big deal that he doesn't understand English? You said your brother works in IT, and this korean bloke's a developer, so I'm assuming the job requires a certain techincal skill that the Korean bloke, despite his pitiful English may well be more than qualified to deliver.

My Colombian ex-flatmate is a lovely bloke but has incredibly hard time using English (speak, read, write, listen). Yet he's a highly experienced and competent engineer and have recently been hired by a certain global company, to work for their UK branch at a senior position with jaw-dropping pay and perks. You'd think his English would have improved but it's still excruciating to talk to him cos he doesn't understand. My point being, he's hired based on his skills and not his English.

Reading your post, one can't help but feel that your borther has a) some sort of personal vendetta against the bloke for being Korean; or b) same as above but this time cos not only is he Korean but also he's not a fluent speaker of English. Or are you implying that both your brother and yourself believe that those who lack fluent English skills are less skilled, less likely to do the job they are hired to do, thus less employable?

[mindmetoo]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Yo!Chingo]

I agree that someone in a highly techinical field who isn't completely fluent in English is acceptable, but the OP said that the guy won't even try to a answer question verbally. What kind of working relationship can you have with someone who won't talk to you? Personally that would make me very uncomfortable and like the OP very suspicious.

Try getting a job in most Korean firms and not speak...How far would that go?!? Not very far!!!