Teaching > Adult Lessons
How to deal with foreigners
capebretonbarbarian:
My co teacher asked me for some advice on how to deal with foreigners to use in a workshop. She handed me something a foreigner who worked at my school back in 2004 wrote and asked me to add to it. Would anyone like to share any ideas, keeping in mind that Koreans can be sensitive, as can we, when giving criticisms.
Some the previous teacher mentioned were-
-Don't comment on personal appearances. You look tired, fat. What is that on you face? etc.. Even when you think you're being kind, what is acceptable in your country maybe different than the foreigners. Example- mentioned was telling a girl she has sex appeal today. Probably not a good idea.
-Try to use, you should, as opposed to do this or that.
-Don't use OK.
-Say please. Could you open the door, please. Not- Open the door.
Some of mine
1. We don't like to be given assignments at the last minute. We are busy and it can be difficult to meet a last minute deadline. Please give us as much notice as possible.
This is number one on my list as my co teacher gave it to me at 3:30 and asked to have it by 5 on the same day. Meanwhile, I was preparing a lesson.
2. Don't expect a foreigner to like a Korean foods. Many do not like fish, some are vegetarians and some will not even like kimchi.
I have many, but I know everybody's experience here can be different. So, any suggestions you have for Korean's dealing with foreigners would be great.
Thanks
AlexMokpo:
1.
I would like to change one of the ones your co-teacher had already:
"you should blah blah" instead of "do blah blah"
Personally, i HATE it when I'm told I SHOULD do something, and I actually made a whole lesson around the difference between SHOULD and MUST (choice, no choice. respectively) because it is the same word in Korean.
Rather, I tell my co-teacher to word an order as a question.
Eg: give me the papers
--> could you give me the papers, please?
And I explain that even though it's a question, we understand it as an order. It just sounds more polite.
2.
Yes, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALYWAYS SAY PLEASE
my co-teacher actually came to me the other day and DID say "give me the papers". Even though I knew he didn't mean to me mean, all the bells in my system went off as "whoa...don't take that tone with me, mr."
So I was equally rude (because I lack finesse...) and dangled the papers saying "PLEASE give me the papers".
What was frustrating was that he said "yes"
so I repeated myself again. "PLEEAAASE Give me the papers"
He looked perplexed and scared.
Finally I had to explain that I wanted him to say please.
He then divulged that he had pondered over this in his office before coming to see me (as you know, all conversations with your co-teacher have been pre-prepared, thought out, and memorized before hand) and debated over whether or not to say please.
In the end, he decided he did not need to because I was younger than he. So I had to explain that you say please all the time in English, regardless of age difference.
(whoa, I'm getting as wordy and roundabout as smee in my replies :P)
3.
Foreigners don't eat the same thing every day for every meal, soo....
a) Asking "what do you eat for breakfast/dinner" is an awkward question requiring more time for an answer than you're expecting
b) Please understand that sometimes we don't want plain white tasteless rice for lunch (on your behalf, V. I eat it all the time, but I understand completely)
Virginia:
This is a really interesting idea.
I'd add
1) Do not stare at me.
2) It is inappropriate to touch a woman's hair, breasts, waist, or bum in public, regardless of the gender of the toucher.
3) There are things that are acceptable in Korea that are considered to be shockingly impolite in Canada: pushing, cutting in line, spitting on the sidewalk (or the classroom floor, Alex), chewing with your mouth open, and yelling into your cell phone.
4) Westerners are generally more open with their emotions - we are not ashamed to cry in public, or show that we are upset or angry, or laugh if we think something is funny.
I wonder what myriad of things I do on a daily basis that are as offensive to my Korean co-workers?
capebretonbarbarian:
Hey,
Alex I think it was, I did mention the could you ----? to my co teacher. It is also the way I like to be asked to do something. I like the other ideas so keep them coming. It would be nice to get a lot of suggestions and they could be compiled into a list that I could try to give to the main office with a suggestion to distribute it to all the schools with native English teachers.
If that doesn't work it could be made available here and if anyone wanted to, you know if it "accidentally" came up in conversation, they could provide it to their school.
Somebody mentioned that it would be interesting if we could get some responses from Korean co teachers or friends to what we foreigners sometimes do that Koreans find offensive. I will mention it to a couple of teachers who I think may give honest responses and who have had experience working with several foreigners. I'll post what I found out.
They discussed my suggestions at the school meeting and according to a few teachers I talked to about it, they liked the ideas. The list is in my school library for teachers and students to read. My relationship has been pretty solid at the school, I like it there and believe they like me. But some people seem to be extra kind to me after the meeting. (Might ware of in a week or so) I think seeing these things on paper made them take a minute to think about how things can be difficult for us living in Korea and they felt some sympathy but that just could be the meds for my broken toe kicking in.
Samuel:
How to deal with foreigners:
1) Make sure all the Korean English teachers introduce themselves at the beginning of the year. Perhaps go out to eat some Western food together, or at least ask Mr.Waygookin what Korean food he wants to eat.
2) Try to make the foreigner feel welcome by Smiling in the morning, or saying hello either in English or Korean.
3) Don't let Mr.Waygookin sit in the cafeteria eating alone. Perhaps some English teacher can sit beside him. If all teachers go out to eat, it would be nice if an English teacher sat near him so that he doesn't have to stare at the wall or read his book at the table.
4) If some Korean teacher lives in the same building, arrange for that Korean teacher to drive Mr.Waygooking to school if the distance is unwalkable/bikeable.
5) At the beginning of the year, ask Mr. Waygookin if he anticipates the need of help in certain areas. Does he want to find an English speaking doctor? Does he need a Korean to find the bus route to school? Does he want help in finding out a way to learn Korean?
Does he need someone to go shopping with him? Does he need help in shopping at a Korean website? Mr.Waygookin's happiness depends a great deal on the effort of his school to help him adjust to life in Korea.
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