Speaking English in Korean Culture
 
 - By Richard E. Lucchesi -

Though many might disagree, I believe that the biggest obstacle for Koreans to fluently learn English is their reluctance to fully grasp and accept western culture. Learning to speak any language as a second language is no small order, and requires years of dedicated study and considerable exposure to the language. Studying abroad is a big plus, but not necessary, as several European friends I'm acquainted with speak English fluently and have never lived in an English speaking country. A desire for true second language acquisition is, as well, a key factor.

A Korean growing up in Korea, contrary to those living in Europe, has a nearly overwhelming task to speak English naturally and fluently. For starters, Korean grammar is poles apart from that of English. This grammar challenge facing Koreans to learn English, however, is not an impossible endeavor, and many believe they can triumph over it with years of dedicated study.

There is, however, another important factor that Koreans deal with when learning English: the Korean state of mind. A Korean's mentality when speaking with other Koreans exists in stark contrast to that of English speakers, and figures to be even more distinct than the grammar comparisons. How interaction amongst Koreans occurs depends on a variety of factors, including exact age, and there are a range of Korean verb conjugations to demonstrate this. This age detail is largely missing from Western culture, as are the assortment of formal and varied verb forms.

Of course, all this is not to say that learning English for Koreans is an insurmountable task. Success stories are everywhere, even as the phrase ``I can't speak English well'' rings almost daily in my ear. Working at a Korean university, I can exclaim from first hand experience that new students, making their annual arrival to university, seem to have rising English levels. What's troubling for me is not their level of English, but their level of cultural awareness and thinking that is involved in communicating fluently.

In other words, more and more, Korean students have the grammar down, even to the point where they can ask questions in class about grammar using perfect grammar, and understand my answer perfectly. It's the cultural understanding that seems to be widely lacking in their education. Since public school English teachers have the difficult chore of preparing students for entrance exams, test preparation seemingly takes precedent over culturally enriched, student-centered language learning.

Not all middle and high school English teachers are Korean, however, and the growing number of foreign teachers in Korean public schools is becoming a trend. Therefore, whether qualified or not, these foreign English teachers are conducting a different kind of English lesson, vastly unlike a test preparation class, as a foreign English teacher would have no idea how to prepare students for such a test anyways. With such dissimilar language lessons being conducted, this seems like a step in the right direction for public schools, regardless of class size.

During my attendance recently to the North/South Korean World Cup qualifying soccer match in Seoul, I had the opportunity to chat in English with a young man seated next to me. Right away, he notified me that he enjoyed learning and speaking English. I inquired more, and he informed me that he was an 18 year old (Korean age), first grade public high school student. For his age, and having never lived abroad, his English speaking level was impressive. He spoke freely and easily, as if he'd been learning English for years.

Our dialogue, for the most part, was strictly positive. We spoke about sports, Korean soccer players, and about how he learned English. He gave me the impression that he was happy to converse with me, and did quite a noteworthy job keeping up his end of the conversation. I asked him about his English teacher, and with a wide grin, he commented that she was very good. I queried more, and eventually learned she was a young lady from the U.S.

Other than a small break in the dialogue when I asked him his feelings about Korean high school teachers, a question he seemed to politely ignore, the exchange seemed mutually fulfilling. He didn't show any hesitancy to converse with a 33 year old, something some of my current university students are still struggling with. His conversational behavior with me was comfortable and relaxed, a behavior I wish upon ALL people of this country aspiring to be fluent in English, regardless of the age with whom they are speaking.

With consistent exposure and patience, the last cosmic barrier of English language learning for Koreans can be conquered. Can the traditional Korean mentality coexist with the Western thinking necessary to accomplish Korea's ultimate language goal of bilingualism? I believe it can.

The writer is an English professor at Kyung Hee University in Suwon, and can be reached at richardlucchesi@gmail.com
 
[[코리아타임즈 2009-04-16]]