Let's Learn Korean - Foreigners studying Korean

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In my elementary school class today I said 한국어는 외국일을 위한 한 언어가 안입니다. Korean is not for foreigners. They were so agreeing with me, they had no idea that I was a foreigner, their acceptance of this statement was 100% unconditional as true. Such blatant across-the-board conviction. I was floored. I know understand why I get compliments, and then the conversation stops. Nevertheless, despite these barriers, Korean is truly good for conversing with those who do not know English. If a Korean knows English, the foreigner will lose. However, in a case where the counterpart doesn’t speak English, appreciation is given in private when he/she is glad they can talk in a relaxed manner with the foreigner.

Posted by joesp on Friday Apr 13, 2007 in Korean around me Self-Reflection | |

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트랙백:

I generally agree with you here, but if you insist on speaking Korean provided your ability is equal to or greater than their English ability usually the foreigner can win. Recently I’ve had a number of experiences where the person I’m talking to obviously knows some English (i.e. they spit out some English where I’m struggling in Korean to help) but they continue to use only Korean. These were not people I know.

I’m going to edit your entry - not the content, but just change the category away from Korean writing since you wrote in English.

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호랑이 굴에들어가야 호랑이 새끼를 잡는다

Posted by 王音癡 on Friday Apr 13, 2007 at 09:47 PM
Thank you.

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ezcorean.com

Posted by joesp on Friday Apr 13, 2007 at 10:19 PM
나: 한국어가 외국인을 위한 한 언어가 안 입니다
가: 네, 그렇죠.
나: 그렇면 영어로 이얘기 쫌 합시다
가: 저는 영어를 못하는데요
나: 아, 그렇면 제가 계속한국말로 이얘기한는게 괜찮지요?
가: ^^^
가: 그게 좋아요. 영어공부가 오래만이 되니까 그렇게 하세요.
나: bartender이니까 mojito를 어떻게 만들어야 하는지를 아시죠?
........
대화가 시작할 때 외국인이 먼저 말을 끼고 한국사람이 외국인손님 앞에서 느끼는 불안을 없애져 버리는 대화예입니다. 처음에 한국문화를 흉내나는 것하기 대문에 서로 respect하게 됩니다. 그리고 한국사람이 영어하는 데가 약하는 것을 용서하는 좋은 예이라고 생각합니다.

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ezcorean.com

Posted by joesp on Sunday Apr 15, 2007 at 11:37 AM
Yes, depending on the person, some have more openness to talking to a foreigner in Korean generally. However, the odds are against us, and not usually without good reason. Among my friends, they really need English—for survival on their job. I always speak English with them. I’m a nice guy, not a shy guy, it’s a conscious value appraisal that English is more important than Korean for worldwide communication.

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ezcorean.com

Posted by joesp on Monday Apr 16, 2007 at 07:57 PM