Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Hierophant]

Hi there.

One of my university conversation students is planning a year-long working holiday/study trip in New Zealand and Australia starting in August. She's a smart enough student, but shy.

I commend her adventurousness, but a huge problem I can foresee is her glaring lack of English language confidence and ability. Apparently she didn't pay much attention to English during her school years, and it shows. She has a hard time answering basic questions like "What did you do today?" "How was work?" "What are your plans for the weekend?" I'm genuinely concerned about the difficulties she will face when travelling alone in English-speaking countries with no one to help her. How will she find accomodation, or a job, or a bank account, or even English lessons?

On top of the language barrier, it seems she knows next to nothing about the countries she's planning to live and work in. I think the culture shock will only compound her inability to communicate.

I don't want to discourage her, such adventurousness in the Korean students I've taught is rare and precious indeed. But, at the same time I really don't think she understands what she's getting herself into.

What do you think? Should I suggest she postpone her trip until she's more prepared? Or do you think the best way for her to learn would be to jump in the deep end and start swimming like hell?

Any input is appreciated.

[jvalmer]

Yes, Koreans can be really naive. My co-teachers are shocked when I told them that I've had my car broken into several times in Canada. Some seriously think richer countries are so safe that you can leave your purse somewhere outside and go to the restroom. If she really wants to go, try to get her to go with a friend for a year. That way she has some kind of support. Also, inform her about the many good things AND the bad things about the outside world.

[riley]

It's funny how well brave and foolish go together.

Seriously, how's her reading comprehension? That will help her overcome some of the problems. I had a friend who for her first 6 months in the U.S. wrote many of her questions to people.

Help her out by practicing some of the things she should know. Bogglesworld has some great stuff for that in the Survival English section. You can also do the activities with your class.

[happeningthang]

The naivetee would be my biggest concern. Australia's last serial killer was a 'backpacker' murderer, preying on travellers by offering his help. That's an extreme example of course, but if someone doesn't have any street sense, especially a young girl, there might be trouble ahead. Let her know that not everyone's going to be friendly, or looking out for her best interests.

Sydney's got a reasonably sized Korean community, so there's help there if she wants or needs to seek it out. If she has that help a job, house, bank accounts wouldn't be too much trouble.

[mercury]

ON a recent trip to the P.I I saw a story in the paper about a young 23 year old Korean girl. She had met a P.I guy, and the two became good friends. After a week he took her to the hospital where his mother worked because his mother could get her a great exchange rate ( dollars to pisos).
She gave this guy all of her money, he walked through some doors while she waited. She ended up waiting for hours! Finally, she found out she had been robbed.

[Rapacious Mr. Batstove]

Tell her to read the following articles and then ask her if she still wants to travel in New Zealand alone.

British tourist raped
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story.cfm?storyid=000B6329-5EB1-1608-8CA783027AF1010F

Japanese tourist beaten and robbed
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story.cfm?storyid=0006D463-2EB0-15B7-B5BC83027AF1010F

And these are just the recent ones...

[The Hierophant]

Thanks for the replies folks.

Yes, her naivete will be a huge problem, especially since she is planning on spending most of her time in New Zealand where there are no sizable Korean communities.

I will strongly suggest she travels with a friend, or even reconsiders the working holiday aspect and instead takes a guided tour (just so she can get a taste of what foreign countries are like, she's never left Korea).

I'll also check out survival English websites (cheers riley!)

[ChuckECheese]

If she's good looking K-girl, she won't have any problem getting hooked up with some nice kiwi guy who will take her in his wings to show her a trick or two.

She'll be ok....

[kat2]

I wouldn't worry about hte English nearly as much as the naive, trusting Korean girl thing. I had a Kfriend, who recently did something unbelievably stupid and I can't believe she made it back to Korea at all, much less in one piece. I"m not going to go into details here, but it was about as stupid as you can get. She just didn't understand that you can't trust everyone overseas, and you have to be extremely careful with who you meet. All of her foreign friends tried to talk sense into her, but she still wouldn't listen. If your student decides to go, you MUST talk to her about how to be safe and how to use your head while overseas. Koreans are so used to living in a very safe country, that they don't know how to look out for themselves overseas. Its really quite scary to think that they travel alone as much as they do.

[europe2seoul]

[MissSeoul]

I've traveled 37 states of America with my best friend, we drove SUV and most nights we stayed at Holiday Inn, but sometimes we stayed at KOA Camp Ground, we carried cell phone, computer, rice cooker...etc
The biggest our concern was if somehow the tires of SUV get flat on middle of road because we both didn't know how to replace flat tire
One of 37 states was Alaska and we went there driving through Canada.

By myself ??
No way, even if it's in America where I am living now.

You need to tell her " NEVER TRAVEL BY HERSELF " especially if that is in
oversea.

[The Great Toad]

Mmm I have traveled alone around the neighborhoods of Managua, Manila, Honk Kong, Chicago, LA, Seoul, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Taipei, and even Jeju-City and many more alone at night- though perhaps a time or two I was pestered by locals I never was wounded... Then again I am a Lord by the the Measure of my Tread and the bearing of my matchless Arms betrays innate martial powers that even the bravest of thugs shed from my path. Oh yeah yeah I forgot your talking of A Korean in NZ who also happens to be a lass.

Mmmm, well NZ people are very kinda- I say it be no problem at all, but she should avoid pubs where drunken louts get besotted puking. I think she will be great if she can find some way to contact some other Korean Ladies already there- I've no doubt they would want to assist her and would have no ulterior motives but to make a new friend they could show off their knowledge too. There has got to be some Internet page for Koreans in New Zealand similar to this ESL page... Further, I advise her to avoid NZ men as they all are mouton eating calloused hand sheep shearing farm boys who run about angrily with cricket bats whenever their teams loose.

[Junior]

[poet13]

I think it could be a very poor decision on her part.
The chances of something bad happening to her may be small, but all it takes is once. As much as I hate to say it, if she's a hottie, that may work against her too...
I think she should have a travel friend if she's going to be travelling as opposed to just camping in one city.

[riley]

I really didn't think about the naivete issue. It's an important point.

If the young woman is smart, able to plan well, think on her own, and willing to look for information, then she could be okay.
My sisters in law don't do #2 or 4 very well. They've frequently gotten into problems because of that.