Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cubanlord]

"Native speakers of English who take the test often find themselves with mediocre results, even in multiple choice questions. Ideally, a test for English proficiency should be simple and straightforward for a native speaker. Instead, such tests often focus on obscure rules of grammar and "proper" uses. For example, the use of "can" and "may" does have a formal rule, but native English speakers not only ignore the formal use on most occasions, they are never confused when another speaker switches the two."

-Wiki

I wonder...

[The_Eyeball_Kid]

[SeoulShakin]

Same with me, both in school and with my Grandmother.

"Can I go to the bathroom?"
"I don't know..... can you?"

"Can I go to the playground?"
"I'm sure you are able to, but I'm not going to allow you."


I thank them for it now, but at the time... what a pain!

[RACETRAITOR]

I think the main reason most English speakers don't do so well on English profficiency tests is because the questions look like this:

1. garrulous
a) aggressive
b) friendly
c) too talkative

2. demagogue
a) departure, emigration
b) worldly, as opposed to spiritual; existing for a time only
c) a leader who tries to stir the passions of people for his own purposes
d) prolonged duration of life

3. epaulet
a) efficient
b) appearance; costume
c) ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.)
d) expedient; prudent

No doubt your average Korean would be able to talk circles around us if the topic is the epaulets of garrulous demagogues, while for everything else they couldn't speak their way out of a paper bag.