Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Michelle]

Ok I'm an aussie..

But I am so sick of these accent comments from my students. Back home I have practically for all intensive purposes turned into an American or at least they ask me 'where is your accent from?.

I do not have a stong accent at all, but it is there. No Canadians have trouble understanding me.

I agree that the vocabulary differences are a pain but my students know about that and do extremely well communicating with me, as well as they would with an American I am sure, although there is no way to verify this.

Then they turn it around on me as if it is a problem to be 'fixed' in the classroom!!

The funniest part is the Koreans complain to the school about this the week before they turn around and go on a year long study trip to Australia!

I can just see them when they arrive patiently explaining to people why this sweet thing is a 'candy' not a 'lollie'.

Any thoughts?

[shantaram]

Where are they going? I had some students who went to Australia and spent their whole time there in Campbelltown, Sydney. Poor blighters. However I lost sympathy for them when I asked them if they tried Australian food (me having mouth-watering flashbacks) and received a chorus of disgruntled and disgusted noises, with comments that they ate Korean food most of the time, of course. It didn't occur to them that as an honorary Australian (Kiwi Aussie) I would find this the least bit offensive.

[SuperFly]

Most girls back home (in America) love Australian accents. Consider yourself lucky.

[Alan Partidge]

I know what you mean. I'm a Kiwi and a lot of us tend to mumble, so with that and the accent it can be hard for them. I just try not to mumble.

They need to realise that there are more accents out there than the various Nth American ones. The TOEIC test now has different accents in the listening section.

I refuse to put on an accent and I cringe when I hear others doing it.

The market here is geared more to Nth American accents and all the spelling seems to be the same.

The vocab thing is funny too. I have to change it when I talk to other teachers, let alone students.

I wouldn't worry too much about it all. You could try making your Aussie accent a little more neutral.

[blondebecky]

[butlerian]

[kimchi_pizza]

I have an easier time understanding Japanese and Korean than Brits and Aussies. Not a crack but just the truth for me. I had a British friend in Japan by the name of Chris, but I had the hardest time understanding him with his strong British accent. I met some Aussies with a strong accent and had a hard time understanding'em. "Excuse me but I gotta hit the 'loo."

Study and practice mid-west American accent. It's the "proper" pronunciation! I charge 30,000 an hour if ya need help.

[Alan Partidge]

That's sad kimchi_pizza.

I was watching an American TV show the other day and they had subtitles for a British guy on the show.

I also heard that Mad Max had to be dubbed in the US.

[kimchi_pizza]

[shantaram]

[IlIlNine]

[jlaskie]

i say if someone is paying you to do a job...you do it the way they want it to be done, regardless of your personal opinion on the matter.

if the koreans favor north american accents, so be it. if you're going to teach a standard form of the language...considering the population of native english speakers in the us and canada is around 234 million, and the native english speaking population is around 77 million in the uk and australia/nz combined...i think the choice is obvious.

take your money, suck it up, and give them what they want.

[Michelle]

Hey Kimchi Pizza!


Nice 'rort! If you don't know what that is maybe I can teach YOU!

I only change 100,000W an hour!

I expect your PM.


Michelle

[Alan Partidge]

Jlaskie, what an offensive idea.

If a school hires a non-Nth American they should now what they're in for.

Some people need to take their head out of their a*se.

When I said that it was sad that a previous poster couldn't understand Aussies and Brits, I did mean sad.

Yes the market here obviously favours Nth Am. speakers, but plenty of schools don't have a problem with other accents and believe that they're giving their students a better education by exposing them to those other accents.

[jlaskie]