Why we need to not just teach English, but teach western culture in Korea

[elzoog]

If we stick to talking about kimchee and K-Pop, basically we are enabling the behavior described in this post.

http://queenforayear.blogspot.com/2006/08/discrimination-of-foreigners-in-korea.html

[GEK]

Foreigners in all countries face obstacles and have difficulties that do not exist in their native countries.

As such, western culture is not obstacle free for the non-westerner. 

Obstacles and road blocks are just a part of living in a different culture.  When foreign adults have problems in the west, they usually take their problems up with other adults.

Teaching kids in Korea about western culture will not help future non-Koreans get a cell phone. 

Addressing these complaints now to the adults who have the power to make it easier to get a cell phone, establish a bank account, or play Starcraft at the PC room will help you and those who follow. 
_________________________________________________________________________________________

Regarding that blog's complaints about foreigners not being able to get a Korean style cell phone plan even though they have an ARC card, a visa, and a job:

Credit.  In your own western country, you can NOT walk into a cell phone store without credit and walk out with a 2 year cell phone contract and a phone, UNLESS you put down a lot of money.

In Korea, you can get an iPhone through KTF, but, unless you have credit, or if your Korean credit is bad, you have to pay for the phone and put a deposit on the plan;  same in the US and Canadia.

If I go to the UK tomorrow, as a US citizen, can I sign up for a phone plan and get the same deal that a UK citizen with perfect credit gets?  no no no..... 

common sense stuff...  it's not anti-foreigner... it's pro-"I want to make sure they can pay for their phone."

With credit, you can sign up for a 2 year phone plan and get an iPhone or a Galaxy S.  You pay about 50K/month for your service and 8-9K for the phone. 

If your visa is for one year only, why would you even expect to get this same plan?  Please.  Tell me....
 

[Brian]

That's nearly five years old.  And while there are certainly loads of examples of discrimination against foreigners here---cellphones, banking, and foreign investment, for three---the classroom may not be the most appropriate forum for such a debate. 

Adult hagwon are different story, but you'll want to tread lightly when it comes to airing complaints about Korea.

[GEK]

Adult hagwon are different story, but you'll want to tread lightly when it comes to airing complaints about Korea.

I would never bring this up in a classroom; even an adult classroom.  It's too... petty.

If you have complaints about banking, take it up with the bank... etc and so on.

[Arsalan]

I think the most politically correct, or least emotionally disturbing manner of bringing matters of this nature in a classroom would be to bring a historical or narrative model of cultural traditions and beliefs.  You could be creative and express comparisons as would Joseph Campbell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Campbell) or  Allan Watts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Watts#On_spiritual_and_social_identity):

Excerpt:
Watts felt that absolute morality had nothing to do with the fundamental realization of one’s deep spiritual identity. He advocated social rather than personal ethics. In his writings, Watts was increasingly concerned with ethics applied to relations between humanity and the natural environment and between governments and citizens. He wrote out of an appreciation of a racially and culturally diverse social landscape.
He often said that he wished to act as a bridge between the ancient and the modern, between East and West, and between culture and nature.

Although, it might go over some of their heads unless it's an adult class.

[confusedsafferinkorea]

As has been stated, any foreigner in any country faces some sort of discrimination. I have been here for more than 2 years now and I guess in a sense I have become used to it here. I must say that the general population I deal with are very open to foreigners and don't discriminate, but it is in the business and political realms that the real discrimination occurs.

I will give you two examples.

As stated, I have been here more than two years and the other day I wanted to open an extra bank account. All went smoothly till it actually came to giving me the actual debit card (not credit card). The kind lady who was assisting me was about to hand me my card when a co-worker tapped her on the shoulder and suddenly she refused to give me the card.

I asked her what the problem is and she said well, if you were Korean you could have it now, but you are a foreigner so you must wait 7 days before getting the card.  I asked the reason for that (since it is only a debit card with my money in the account) and her reply was, 'no reason, just you are a foreigner'  This kind of discrimination is totally inexcusable.

The second case involves my now wife when she was still my fiance. She is a filipino and while we were engaged she tried on four occasions to come here to visit me on a tourist visa.  She was denied that right on all four occasions. When asked why her visa was refused (and she more than complied with the requirements), she was told, 'no reason, the answer is just, no'

I flew to Manila and made an appointment with the Korean Consul and explained to him that the reason for the last application she was making to come here was merely so she could fly with me from Seoul to my home country in order for us to marry. He then undertook to grant her the visa on her application again. She then applied again and the visa was refused again. I called him and asked why he had refused her visa after his promise and he said he was not convinced of her sincerity. That petty little man cost me an extra 1 million won in airfare and hotel accommodation since I had to fly to Manila to fetch my fiance and then fly home and back after we were married. Again, such discrimination is inexcusable.

[Eros]

I'm definately one of the persons who for the first time in their lives has experienced discrimination. It really upsets me. I find the worst part to be when the member of staff laughs as he says he can't serve you because 'you are not Korean.' The worst was where I wanted to buy a camera and had the cash to pay for it there and then. No contracts etc. I was told that they couldn't sell me it because I'm not Korean.

People who have said that this sort of thing goes on in the countries where we are from might be right. But that's not to say that it is right. This sort of thing should not be happening anywhere.

Footnote: I appreciate our Visa status and so not granting contracts to us that outlive our visa's is completely understandable but that is not what I talk of above when I say I have been discriminated against.

[raskal]

It's true that we are sometimes discriminated against - but don't you often get special treatment because you are a foreigner?

Sometimes I have gotten free entry into events, lots of meals paid for and also free entry into clubs because I am a foreigner.

There are a lot of bonuses sometimes.

[shelleydee]

I live a little outside of Toronto (that boasts to the world how diverse it is).  Now I love Toronto, I love where I come from.  I am also of Indian descent.  I'm not sure of everyone's background here, but those that say they've never experienced such racism in  their home countries or anywhere else may not have come from a minority background.

I have been turned away from clubs in Toronto and in my hometown Mississauga when a group (and I'm talking about 6 people: 3 girls, 3 boys) of us brown people (I say brown because they're not just from India) have been turned away from clubs.  At least Koreans have the decency to say that its because we're foreigners.  I've heard every excuse in the book from bouncers back home- "you're not dressed properly", "his shirt is untucked", "he's not wearing the proper shoes"... basically anything you can find wrong with someone they did.  They really had no problems letting the girls in, but it was always a problem with the guys- and they did dress up pretty well.  And then the worst part is, a group of white people would go through with no hassles and not wearing the "proper" attire.

It happens everywhere.  Just sometimes you don't notice it, but if you ask any kind of minority group they'll tell you they've encountered some sort of racism back home. 

The only thing I can do, instead of feeling repressed is to meet Koreans and try to open their eyes to the outside world

[creeper1]

The second case involves my now wife when she was still my fiance. She is a filipino and while we were engaged she tried on four occasions to come here to visit me on a tourist visa.  She was denied that right on all four occasions. When asked why her visa was refused (and she more than complied with the requirements), she was told, 'no reason, the answer is just, no'

You do realise that Filipinos and other nationalities can't just waltz into our home countries too right??  ::) Are you going to call this discrimination too? Countries have a right to control the number of people entering their borders.

As for the blog and the other complaints on this thread they are just soooo petty. Really if this is an issue for you the only advice I can give you is to get on the next plane home.  :)

[hankmcmasters]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TravisCountyDistricts.png
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Texas_redistricting

i actually have more rights now that i'm in korea.  because now that i have money i can afford to move to a place that doesnt take away my representation in congress.

as far as the phone business and two year contracts, i dont see why they couldnt offer a one year plan that is just more expensive.  instead, i bought my phone outright.  i'm sure phone companies arent stupid, they know i have the money to do it.

[L Waygook]

So I had a discrimination situation recently. I was trying to get digital cable because they stopped broadcasting CNN through my current set up. I was so excited and ready to pay the money to get a box and several extra English channels. I got a call from a co teacher saying that because I am a foreigner I am not allowed to get the new plan. I was told that there is an online component included where you can order movies and things. I guess in the past foreigners would order movies, leave the country and not pay. Why is it that a few bad apples have to ruin it for the rest of us? I even told them I would pay cash for the whole year and I would never access the online part. They said Im sorry but that is not an option. Oh well! I guess I can get news from he internet. I guess we all just need to understand that while we are here in Korea, we are not citizens and we must deal with what they allow us to do and don't allow us to do. Things just are not the same as they were at home. After 6 months of being here I am able to accept these things better than I did when I first came. Good luck to everyone and just remember live in the moment and make the best of your situation.

[mackattack]

I live a little outside of Toronto (that boasts to the world how diverse it is).  Now I love Toronto, I love where I come from.  I am also of Indian descent.  I'm not sure of everyone's background here, but those that say they've never experienced such racism in  their home countries or anywhere else may not have come from a minority background.

....It happens everywhere.  Just sometimes you don't notice it, but if you ask any kind of minority group they'll tell you they've encountered some sort of racism back home. 

The only thing I can do, instead of feeling repressed is to meet Koreans and try to open their eyes to the outside world

I strongly agree with shelleydee.  The racism non-Korean foreigners encounter is similar to what people face back home, except for one prominent difference:  whiteness/the white look is the ideal (or at least some aspects of being white - the look, etc).  Being white is still a privilege, even i Korea - someone mentioned that foreigners get discounts or benefits.

I'm not saying that encountering racism is the most endearing experience, but it's worth considering how some people's experiences in your home country might be different from your own, even if they aren't immigrants, i.e. if they're the wrong color, etc. Take the experience with you and learn from it, maybe even empathize with other people.

As for westernizing the kids... are you also going to tell them that if they visit these "western" countries, they may be teased for their accent, eye shape, and other "Asian" physique? 

[SpaceRook]

I've found the pros of being a foreigner outweigh the cons by about 50 to 1.

The other day, some women started talking to me in a restaurant.  Within about 5 minutes, she offered me a job tutoring her kids (I politely declined).

My first weekend in Korea, I was on the train alone.  Some Korean guy started talking to me.  An hour later, I was attending my first Korean wedding.

Months ago, I was eating dinner in a restaurant.  A young couple started talking to me.  We've become good friends, and I spent SolNal with their family.

Kids are friendly and say "Hi" to me on the street.  In fact, if I ever hear the word "Hi", I know it is for me.   

When there is a communication breakdown with a Korean, it is the Korean that acts embarrassed.  No one has ever shouted at me to "Learn Korean or get out of the country".  (I am studying Korean, though). 

...and those are just some of the things that strangers have done for me.  If I list what my friends have done, it would practically be endless.

Yes, there have been problems.  Such is life.  How can I expect Koreans to rise above the faults that are so prevalent in my own country?  Have you worked with Asians/foreigners in the US?  Do you know how thin a thread they are dangling by with VISA's and employment requirements and language?  They can't just get a quick temporary job at a hagwon if they find themselves in a pinch.     

PS: I thought this thread was going to be about the importance of teaching Western Culture in class, which I believe is a valid approach.  Language reflects culture, which anyone who has spent 5 minutes studying Korean can tell you. 

[snailbait]

well said Spacerock.

[el_bando]

the connection between referring to kimchee or k-pop in the classroom and systematic business level service discrimination is dubious at best, not to mention entirely inscrutable.

a white canadian woman not being able to get a cell-phone or register for an e-mail account? oh please. those problems are so 'first world' they're probably on the menu at mcdonalds.

it is shockingly naïve to expect to be treated the same way in another country, let alone in a way that is commensurate with your concept of decency.

your job is to teach these students communicative competency in english. contrary to the indignant attitude toward korean culture carried by some westerners, your job in fact has nothing to do with making korea more comfortable for yourself or for other foreigners.

it is such a blatant display of typical western imperial attitude to demand to be tolerated without displaying reciprocity or willingness to adapt in kind.

why does it seem like all the foreigners who complain on the internet at the first sign of trouble are incapable of entering a dialogue about socio-cultural disparity without imposing their native value judgments?

in this case i say, let he who is without blame cast the first stone. let's let the teacher whose home country has no issues with discrimination against foreigners show us the way to exist in harmony. since that applies to none of us, let's just admit that our cultures aren't perfect either; that people in our home countries experience these same kinds of problems.

it's time that these message board (the 21st century equivalent of arm chair) dwelling self-styled 'ideologico-political warriors' admit that they are not combating global injustice by suggesting that we stop talking about kim chee in the classroom. it's time for them to admit that they have been perfectly comfortable turning a blind eye toward the shortcomings of their own countries in this regard, and that they are only complaining now because it is less comfortable to be on the flipside of nationalist subjugation. it is time that they stop pretending that they know better.

As for westernizing the kids... are you also going to tell them that if they visit these "western" countries, they may be teased for their accent, eye shape, and other "Asian" physique? 

mackattack is dead on here. cultural discrimination is by no means a uniquely korean phenomenon. is is de rigueur for foreigners in any country. would the students gain anything by being "taught" a different but equally imperfect system? it is really the teacher who was everything to gain by westernizing the students. it is conceited, manipulative, and destructive to demand that an entire country quickly adapt it's culture to accommodate oneself.

if you want to actually become a political activist and learn enough korean to contact government representatives, or if you think you could get your coworkers and their friends and families involved in a petition, or even if you wanted to support lobbyist groups for international businesses that campaign for better treatment of their immigrant labor populations then by all means please do so! there are a multitude of acceptable avenues for making these political statements and attempting to use democracy to your advantage. the classroom is not one of them.

[jdniii]

I have had the same experiences as Spacerock and would agree with them, but that's because I'm white and tall.  The experience has to be totally different if you aren't white and what Koreans think is handsome/beautiful. 

[metro]

''Kids are friendly and say "Hi" to me on the street.  In fact, if I ever hear the word "Hi", I know it is for me.''

Brilliant   

[Eros]

In addition to the typical discrimination, I also find myself to be positively discriminated against which I don't like either. I.e people want to befriend you solely because you're a native speaker. It's not so much 'I am interested in getting to know you as a friend' as much as 'I want to speak English with you.' At times I just feel like a piece of meat.

[Paul]

I agree with the title, but not so much from a discrimination point of view because I feel that verges on a politicising standpoint (yeah, its a sore but important point but a far more important requirement is time, y'know) and there are bigger fish to fry:

Language is our job yet language and culture I feel are inseparable, and this is not a rogue viewpoint. Why else are there societies devoted to preserving dying languages? By stripping language of its host culture then meaning is lost within the words. In the case of English, naturally, the original host country is the UK (oh how we forget that!) but modern English is a global language and has thus adopted something of a diplomatic global culture: openness and critical thinking. Or arguably the illusion of, but let's not get political now! A Western mindset yes, but not necessarily a baseball-loving coffee-sipping Western pop-culture (waaaaaaiit, hang on a sec...). So strictly from a linguistic standpoint, by stripping away the culture, you rob the student of any chance of attaining the understanding required for language fluency.

From a strictly practical perspective, even if you're just teaching kids how to declare their undying love for cats, the end goal from the government's perspective is business English. Primarily for doing business with the West. Cultural understanding will help there.

Finally, on the personal level, Korea still pushes a mono-pop-culture on its people. Part of that is cultural (you mentioned kimchi), part is strictly business (you mentioned the K-pop monopoly). Rather that taking a negative POV on this, I'd rather look at it positively. Not to "teach" an alternative but simply to introduce it, expose the students to something they may like, broaden their horizons, introduce them to some weird culinary or musical ideas, expand their minds. As a foreigner we are in an oft unique position to introduce alternatives, so why not? However, if a student still rejects anything non-Korean after that then that's personal preference, end of story, but the key difference is that they were offered choice.

The mobile phone problem in the linked blog is not the company's fault but rather fallout from government policy to keep non-nationals bouncing around 1-year visas. Can't blame LG or SK for that one, although I wish they'd let you pop down credit card details as a failsafe instead like Softbank in Japan.