Adding "A" at the end of Korean names.

[wtoddm]

I think it's worth all posters to read what The Korean has to say: http://askakorean.blogspot.com/2007/11/korean-language-lessons-particle-i.html

This is absolutely one of the greatest blogs about Korea I've found on the internet. And ironically, this post is one of the first three that I read!

Be forewarned, there's GRAMMAR involved! 

[sinkler]

Adding "A" ate the end of korean names can be used  when you call the person who is younger than you.

[peasgoodnonsuch]

I would like to bring up a point that has not yet been raised, regardless of the various transmutations of '아' '야' or '이'.

The age level which you teach makes a big difference about whether terms of endearment and affection are appropriate. I can understand in an Elementary setting how this would be ok or even standard. However, once kids reach middle school and high school they should be and expect to be treated with more respect. I know some of the Korean teachers will still use the more intimate name form on students they have a close relationship with on a one-to-one speaking level. But, they don't very often do it in class and certainly not if they're just calling role.

Another thing to remember is that we're foreigners and even if we speak the language we aren't expected to speak the "culture of the language" if you get what I mean. It could be a bit shocking or even uncomfortable for the foreign teacher to begin speaking in the intimate nuances of the mother tongue. Especially if the foreign teacher doesn't speak Korean otherwise!

Just because we're aware of cultural language doesn't make it appropriate for us to use it. Not that it's taboo, it's just awkward. It goes the same way in English. When I studied in N. Ireland I could answer the question "What's the craic?" but I felt super weird trying to say it back to someone. I feel like cultural phrases have to come out of you after long immersion and organically...but that may just be my own pet theory.

[Squire]

My Korean friend told me it's just a way of getting someone's attention. I used it on a middle school girl once and she acted like I'd just given her man won, and asked me to say it again 

I would like to bring up a point that has not yet been raised, regardless of the various transmutations of '아' '야' or '이'.

The age level which you teach makes a big difference about whether terms of endearment and affection are appropriate. I can understand in an Elementary setting how this would be ok or even standard. However, once kids reach middle school and high school they should be and expect to be treated with more respect. I know some of the Korean teachers will still use the more intimate name form on students they have a close relationship with on a one-to-one speaking level. But, they don't very often do it in class and certainly not if they're just calling role.

Another thing to remember is that we're foreigners and even if we speak the language we aren't expected to speak the "culture of the language" if you get what I mean. It could be a bit shocking or even uncomfortable for the foreign teacher to begin speaking in the intimate nuances of the mother tongue. Especially if the foreign teacher doesn't speak Korean otherwise!

Just because we're aware of cultural language doesn't make it appropriate for us to use it. Not that it's taboo, it's just awkward. It goes the same way in English. When I studied in N. Ireland I could answer the question "What's the craic?" but I felt super weird trying to say it back to someone. I feel like cultural phrases have to come out of you after long immersion and organically...but that may just be my own pet theory.

I always thought 'What's the crack?' (sic) was a Geordie thing because my dad always says it. Lots of people in Newcastle do, actually. It was a revelation to me that it is actually spelled craic and is an Irish expression

[ktaektae]

 I think you don't need to put Ya at the end of the name.  It depends on the situation. For example, If the student make a big noise or  trouble, you should  say ya more loudly for the student to get caution.

 I propose that you just speak English all the time in your country style. That's why foreign teachers are in Korea.

[cuttymother]

You are a foreign teacher.  I think you should be better "Bo-rim"

Students learn everying like intonation, pronunciation,... from you.

 

[caerdroia]

I'm pretty sure that adding a/ya to the end of someone's name is vocative: you are trying to get someone's attention, calling out to them. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocative_case for (possibly less!!) clarification.

[tessa]

Adding A (or some variation of that depending on the last character of the name) sounds affectionate. For native Korean speakers, I think not doing so could sound awkward or stern. For native English teachers, however, I think it is better to call them by their name only, since this is how it would be done in English speaking countries.

[dogbaby]

Adding "ah" at the end can be an affectionate term of calling someone, too. Not always, but it is more affectionate then calling someone without it.
i.e. Bomin-ah vs Yah! Bomin!
both are used to call Bomin, but if you use the first one, it's calling Bomin in a nicer way than the latter.

[MissKo]

Most of my students have name tag. I'd call them by their English names if they have an English name written on it. For those who have written Korean romanization, I will call them by their Korean name (which always amuses my students  ) Anyway, I call my students normally (without the -ah or -ya). But I usually add -ah or -ya behind their names when I want to stop a disruptive action.

For example, if a student is rocking in his/her chair or talking to another student while I am playing a video clip, I will say "Bomin-ah" to catch his/her attention, and then say "please be quiet". Actually, in one of my 5th grade classes, a student kept saying "bad morning" after I greeted the class w/ good morning, I'd called his name "Min Gu-ah, good morning", and then he complied 

[Darkeru]

Disclaimer: I suck at Korean and know very little about it.  This post is not intended to be useful in any way.

I've a very close Korean friend who was teaching me Korean. I asked about addressing people and they said to call them <Their name>-a because we were good friends.

Right after I did it, they suddenly got embarrassed and told me if I do that it makes me sound like a playboy. 

[recordingtime]

I wouldn't necessarily do this with students in class, but I do it with my younger cousins. As some people pointed out you either say 아 or 이 depending on their name. Sometimes it sounds ok to use either one, depending on preference. For example, my cousin's name is 동신 and saying 동신이/동신아 is ok...but I prefer saying 동신이.

[hwana]

For example, my cousin's name is 동신 and saying 동신이/동신아 is ok...but I prefer saying 동신이.

Are they interchangeable?

I always though that "name+아" was for getting someone's attention, or when talking to them:

동신아, 이리 와, 빨리!
Donshin-a, get over here!

While "name + 이" was used when talking about that person:

동신이가 선생님한테 혼났대요
I heard that Donshin-i was told off by his teacher

To me it sounds wrong to use 동신이 to get his attention, but I might be mistaken..?