Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nzerinkorea]

Hey guys, to all non-north americans. I had an interview today and the director told me that he prefers if I taught American style english. I obvioulsy responded by saying that we are in a "global" world and Korea trades with many other english speaking nations...Anyway I know that Koreans have a craze with American culture etc but I think its not healthy just to focus on one dialect of the english language. In many respects if one learns a harder accent one would find the american style english real easy to understand. I was just wondering what people thought about this particular issue?

Also, why can I and most other non american people understand american but they have difficulty understanding my kiwi accent. Is it because of hollywood etc? I dont know. The thing is that generally most non american people can understand eachother well despite the differences with dialect etc.

In my eyes I think Korean students should learn various types of english thus would enhance their english abilities.

In addition, koreans usually want to learn american styled english but they come to New Zealand or Australia and non american countries to enhance their english abilities by the hundreds, what a double standard! Would their mum or dad not be upset that they would pick up a New Zealand accent?

To all fellow kiwis living here in Korea, have you struck this kind of ignorance from your boss and what did you say to them, when my boss told me this I said" mate, I am not an american".

Cheers
Marty

[HighTreason]

I am an American, so this won't be a problem for me. However, I sympathize with your plight. I think one reason might be that they don't want to confuse the kids with multiple dialiects when they're just trying to learn the language? Like you might not care much to be taught the Austrian dialect of German before you even know the German dialect of German that well. And since a lot of movies come from America, maybe they figure they already have a base in the American dialect so why change now? Just a thought.

As an American, I can pretty much understand most other English speakers. However, I would have to say that New Zealand produces people who are the most difficult to understand. England and Australia are easiest outside of America to understand. Then Scotland and Ireland are pretty understandable but present a little more difficulty. When I hear a person from New Zealand speak, it often sounds like they're mumbling (no enunciation) and maybe not even saying real words sometimes... It does take a bit of concentration to understand some New Zealanders. Just my take.

[friendofIgnatius J.]

I'm Canadian, and I'll admit that sometimes I don't understand what a Kiwi is saying. Partly accent, and partly slang. That being said,

As for the average level taught to Koreans, it doesn't matter what you kind of English you teach them because it is so basic. As long as you don't discuss why rugby is the best sport in the world and use all associated slang, your country and dialect won't matter.

[peppermint]

There really isn't a standard North American accent, despite what Hollywood would have you believe. From what I've seen, teachers from the southern US do well, probably because they speak so slowly.

There are textbooks( for adults anyway) that include a variety of accents on the audio tapes. Not sure how widely used they are though.

I agree with what you're saying, but hagwons are private businesses, and if the Korean masses want American English, then they'll have a hard time pushing any other form.

[jaganath69]

Just give em what they want, pocket the money, fly down to Thailand once a year, smoke some herb and bang some hookers. Save the rest, repeat and enjoy.

[IncognitoHFX]

I have a problem with saying "Zed" as "Zee" (the kids don't get "Zed"), and I spell things the Oxford dictionary way... but no one has called me out for it. Oxford spelling makes more sense to me so I'm drilling it into the kids. They only know the Webster's spelling.

[chasmmi]

I suppose its fine until one of the kids has the cheek to "correct" your English mistake.

[RJjr]

If they really want their children to understand what Americans are saying when their kids actually get to the United States, they might want to consider flying over some Hispanic Americans. I don't recall seeing a Hispanic the whole time I was in Seoul. Hispanics already make up a large percentage of the United States population, especially in urban areas where most Koreans coming to America will actually work and live. By the time the Korean kids become adults, the percentage of Hispanics will be much larger.

[I-am-me]

As an american, I would have told him "yo dog, kick it to the curb, homey dont be playin dat! 119 me at the crib beatch!!

[HighTreason]

[I-am-me]

[Lunar Groove Gardener]

Koreans laugh their heads off at the Jeju dialect of Korean that a Korean teacher speaks on the phone to her mother, and claim not to understand a word of it. Mexican Spanish in Catalonia can seem completely incomprehensible to the locals. In Liverpool I'm hard-pressed to catch every third word.

Usually the newsreaders of any culture have the most "middle of the road" accent. It's a rude way of asking for this "region free" dialect. Being clearly understood is a primary obstacle when learning new languages.

[jaderedux2]

[Wondering]

[jinks]

I'm a New Zealander teaching English in Korea, but my classroom accent is more British than Kiwi - or so I thought!
Now I am home in my darling Welling-town on holiday, I realise that after 3 years of teaching English on the peninsular I am starting to favour a lot of US usages. Now I find myself saying 'vacation', sKedule and 'mom', and I have become a little self-conscious about saying 'fortnight'. I still write in a BritEng style, but my speaking is more "international" these days; ie American, Canadian, British, Kiwi and Konglish.