Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Flossie]

Seems like a strange topic I know. Sorry but can't log into the Saudi Arabian forum so am hoping someone here has had experience with Saudi Arabian culture.

Does anyone know if this situation is cultural or ability-related?

I have a married female Saudi Arabian student (in a class full of Koreans) who consistently answers every question indirectly. For example: If you make an appointment to meet someone (significant pause and repetition for understanding), and they are late (again, pause and repeat) how do you feel? (repeat) Answer: It depends.

Trying to get a more specific answer: If you make an appointment to meet me (pause, repeat) and I am late (pause, repeat) how do you feel? Answer: It depends. Maybe.
Question: Do you feel annoyed or angry? Answer: Yes. (pause) No. (pause) Maybe (pause) it depends.

I have asked her several questions (She is supposedly lower-intermediate but rapidly heading towards upper-beginner) and she always seems to answer indirectly with 'Maybe', 'It depends', 'I don't know.'

I am curious as to whether this is a cultural difference or a lack of comprehension.

I am a female teacher slightly older than her, by the way.

Any help much appreciated.

[sock]

Ask only open-ended questions. When she says it depends, ask what it depends on. Ask her to give an example--or give a very specific example yourself. Ask her about topics that might have more emotion attached, such as what she misses about her country/family/culture, special holiday traditions, happy memories from her childhood. Begin with very general, non-direct questions and see how she responds, then become more and more specific and direct in your questions--if her reaction dramatically changes, it might be a cultural thing. Or maybe she's frustrated with all of your indirect questions.

Don't let her get away with the easy answers, but don't scare her into the Humiliation Abyss of No Return, either. Require students to speak about themselves, either in small groups or in class. Try to find ways to help her feel comfortable enough to open up. Try to engage her in small talk.

Impossible for me to know if this is about her culture, her ability/lack of ability, her personality, her confidence/lack of confidence, a bad day, etc. So perhaps my response isn't helpful in the least. I have no idea what life is like for a married Saudi woman living in South Korea, but I would imagine it must be isolating, and perhaps prone to depression.

Anyway, if she doesn't want to answer, even when you've pushed her a bit, why is it an issue for you? I'm just curious because I tend to push my younger students, but adults have to provide their own motivation. I probably would have given up on her already.

[ChuckECheese]

Sounds like she need a good smack in the head.

When ever she says "It depends", ask her depends on what?

If that doesn't work, give her a couple of hypothetical situations, i.e. ...late on appointment A) because had a car accident B) because slept late.

If that doesn't work, don't allow her to use the words "maybe", "depends", and "I don't know". When ever she uses these words, fine her 100,000 won.

If that doesn't work, give her electric shock theraphy.

If that doesn't work, turn her over to the Department of Homeland Security because she's been trained by the terrorists not to answer any of your questions.

Good luck!

[Adventurer]

I have a young student who when I ask for an opinion she often replies with the word "Just" which means nothing to me, and she is Korean.
She probably does not feel very comfortable speaking in English at the moment. Find a way to break the ice. Work on her strengths.

[blaseblasphemener]

[rothkowitz]

A lot of Koreans take the same tack.Yes,No,I don't know,It depends etc etc..

Problem is that they'll often believe that just understanding the question is response enough.Koreans don't practice conversation in school,perhaps it's the same in the Middle East.

I've had students from Oman and UAE before.They didn't go out of their way to talk unless they were pretty confident.Sound like Korea?

Arab men and women studied separately so don't know about arab female students exactly.

Keep plugging away I guess but also perhaps try to do more task/situational based stuff so you're not just putting people on the spot for answers.

Incidentally,a useful trick can be to play music if they're doing information based activities as it forces them to speak up.

[Flossie]

I could have sworn I put this in the Job-Related Forum but apparently it's not job-related as it has been moved.

Thank you everyone for your ideas. Actually the class is a group of about 12 students, all Korean except for her. I tried open questions but got nothing but blank stares. When I prompted her to reply she just said 'It depends' or 'Maybe'. I've almost never asked her something in front of the class. Just once or twice so it doesn't look like I'm avoiding her. I think I have to do that because I do it for all the other students too so it would seem weird if she didn't get asked. But generally I just try and avoid direct questioning in front of others. The questions I mentioned before were asked after the others in her group of two or three had been asking her things to complete their task but she wouldn't respond to them either. They asked me to help because they didn't know what to do. Have to admit that after that class, I didn't know what to do either.

Really curious about the cultural differences. We did a closed questioning activity the other day where I put a famous person's name on their back and they had to ask closed questions to identify who they were. Had a bit of a dilemma because she didn't know David Beckham, President Bush, James Bond or even Mickey Mouse. This was after I had deleted all the Korean related names like BoA and Rain because she didn't know any of them either. (Despite living in Korea for a year already) Tough stuff.

I just was so looking forward to having some diversity in the classroom and wanted to use it as an opportunity to help the other students (and myself) learn a little more about the Middle East and Islam but no such luck.

Any ideas related to the cultural differences would be much appreciated.