Korean Job Discussion Forums

Homer · Guest

You have all seen them and met them. They are at your jobs, at the local expat watering holes, on the bus and subway.
They are the long term expats who after a few years in Korea still do not know any korean.

This makes me wonder how an individual staying in Korea for a few years can see not learning Korean as a good thing. I mean even basic Hangul.

I can understand a person who will only stay a year but for longer learning Korean seems to be a basic thing. I am not talking about becoming fluent here but just learning enough to be able to express oneself in simple terms and read a little.
A stay in any foreign country where you don't speak the lingo will be much easier and much more fulfilling if you bother to learn the language.
I know many on here learned it but I also know many who didn't and even my personal record holder: an american dude in his early 30's who has been here for 7 years and still can only use Kam-sa-ham-ni-da and anyong.
Can't read hangul worth a lick and complains about the fact he can't get along with Koreans.
He is an aberation of course, not a standard but I am wondering what you guys think about learning Korean as a necessary or just damn useful thing to do to make your stay here more pleasant.

matko · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: in a world of hurt!

I don't understand that either.

After a few years in any given country you just naturally pick up phrases from hearing the same thing over and over.

The reading part is just laziness and I am a victim of that. But, how can you not speak or understand a little after a few years?!?

Some people have a thick skull I guess.

bignate · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Location: Hell's Ditch

Yes, I agree with you both. I knew so many people, who just refused to even try to speak or learn it. And quite frankly it was usually the older guys. I mean they didn't even know how to order food, so they would eat at Mc Donalds or TGIF or Outback all the time. Then when ever they went anywhere it was only Itaewon.

I really don't understand this. I think that if a person it going to live in a society, they should atleast make the attempt to learn that language. And the first thing they should learn is how to read.

The Korean alphabet is pretty easy to learn, and once you have that it becomes so much easier and enjoyable to live there.

I agree with Homer as well that these are the people who usually have the hardest time adjusting to Korean society. One guy I knew, even said once when he was having a bad day "These people just don't know how to communicate!" I was like, "Yah, Ok." and I left to go have my daily Korean lesson.

FierceInvalid · Joined: 16 Mar 2003

Yeah I said a similar thing on the "Koreans who make you speak Korean" thread...if you're gonna be here for a while (more than a year) you really should make the attempt, even if it's just for your own benefit. Life is SO much easier in Korea after learning hangul. Even if you're just here for a year, hangul only takes a day to learn (the basics) and it will help your adjustment immensely.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

It is ridiculous, I agree. Wouldn't you feel embarrassed when telling a Korean that you have been here say for six years, but can't even have a basic conversation?

Guess these people must have a lot of hobbies keeping them busy.

Masta_Don · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul

I haven't met anyone who has been here longer than six months and can't read. And just about everyone I know speaks better than me and I can have the most rudimentary conversations. Do these people you talk about really exist or do they just seem that they most likely exist?

Alyallen · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:22 pm Post subject:

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

mj roach · Joined: 16 Mar 2003

It is entirely possible that some people live here long term

and enjoy their lives without learning the language.

Why make it a pre-condition?

lostandforgotten · Joined: 19 Sep 2006

mole · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Act III

I'd have gone nuts and pulled a runner had I not at least learned to read and write Hangul in the first coupla months.
I had a guide (young hottie!) for my first week because my hagwon wasn't even open yet.
Day 2 I made her start teaching me to read Korean. Thus began my Korean adventure.

By no means fluent, I understand much more than I can use. Most Koreans are impressed, or at least act so.
A few laugh at me for being there so long and not being fluent.

passport220 · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Location: Gyeongsangbuk-do province

Masta_Don · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul

Ginormousaurus · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

VirginIslander · Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: Busan

Its easy to explain.

He arrived his first year to pay off some bills. He said to himself "just one year, pay off that credit card bill and then its back to the real world. I won't ever come back to Korea so there is no point in learning the language."

A year went by and he went home like he originally planned. After a month of two of using his savings on pot and prostitutes, he decided to return to Korea.

He said to himself "OK, this is my last year. My bills are paid and I'll save a lot of cash. I cant use Korean back home so I wont learn it. There is not point. Its like learning Swahili."

That year he met a few good friends. After the end of their contracts, they traveled around South East Asia, had a great time but blew all their money.

He returned.