2010년 9월 7일 화요일

How diverse Korea is?!

Today, I'd like to talk about a Diversity of S.Korea.

Majority people in S.Korea are Koreans.
They use Korean as their first language.

However, there are also many people who speak English, Chinese, Vietnamese,  or Japanese as their first languages. Really? Yes!





English Teachers in S. Korea

Many of people who speak English are English teachers.
After they finish their B.A. , English native speakers often decide to go to some of Asian countries to teach English. In Korea, being a teacher as a native speaker is pretty fun thing to do. Why? Because they can get much more benefits from being English teachers than just being first stepped employees.

For example, you can get a free flight ticket (round-trip! whenever you come and go back). Also, whenever you don't have any class for several days, you can trip to other provinces in Korea or you can visit other countries (maybe China and Japan will be the easiest countries to visit during a short break). Not only this, teachers get a free house while they stay in S.Korea as English teachers. Insurance can be covered too!

Major point is : You get quite decent amount of money!

Free flight ticket + Free house + Having a chance to trip to another place + Money

Isn't it quite lovely to be a teacher in Korea?


However, sometimes, it is really stressful job... Why?
Because many of English institutions push students so hard upon the parents' asks.
Students cannot finish their homework often... I heard that English teachers are required to give tremendous amount of homework to do.... 0-0 As a Canadian or American who has been educated in North America, giving tremendous amount of homework to students is totally unimaginable thing to do!!!!





Asians in S. Korea

Many Asians who currently live in Korea are from lower class in their home countries.
About 2-3 years ago, once the Chinese currency was not that high,
many Chinese people came to Korea in order to earn money.

Today, many people are from Pakistan, Bangladeshi and so on...
Usually, many of them are reported as illegal residents in S. Korea.
The Korean government has tried to find out who are illegal residents for several years.
Because it is not only the matter of staying in Korea as illegal residents, but also it can be a matter of 'Human rights.' Many of illegal residents have threatened by their employers.
Some of employers do not want to give them money or want to give them at least amount of money as much as possible, they often abuse it.


Also, since many of Korean men cannot get marriage because of over populated (men),
they try to find brides from other Asian countries. Moreover, there are many number of men who cannot get marriage because they live in farmlands. There are many Match companies in S.Korea. They arrange the marriage between Korean men and Asian women (not Korean women, I will talk about the match-company btw K.men and K.women later). Ususally,
Korean men pay lots of money to the match company and they go to other countries in order to pick wives. Brides from foreign country are kind of forced to get marriage because they need a "MONEY" in order to support their own family. The number of foreign wives has been increased. Still S.Korea is a men-circled society. According to Confucianism or Korea's traditional culture, so, in many cases, once Korean women marry to Korean men, it becomes a marry to "HUSBAND's FAMILY" not a husband. This kind of phenomenon can be often appeared in the countryside of S.Korea. Anyhow, let me come back to the marriage of Asian women and Korean men. Many of men try to be nice to their wives. Also, there are many programs which are for foreign wives in order to make their lives a lot easier in foreign country. But sometimes, unexpected accidents are going on. About two months ago, one foreign wife was killed by her husband in Korea. Her husband was very violent person and had some psychological disorders. It is absolutely against the "HUMAN RIGHTS".    

I think this kind of happenings has been also occurred in many of Western countries.
It is really sad. How are we gonna figure out?? 






Foreign Students in S. Korea

Many of Korean universities try to gather foreign students from abroad in order to make their universities becoming more diverse. I think it is quite good opportunity to have as foreigners. Because it is a good chance to learn about another country's culture. The Program fees are quite cheap to afford. Most of courses for foreigners are provided in English, so once you feel comfortable at using English, there is no problem. Many of foreign students are encouraged to participate at Korean Language programs. There are many Korean students who are willing to help. Usually, you live in a dormitory with Korean students or you may live with your host family. Actually, I cannot guarantee the quality of classes which are held in English in Korea. Even though majority number of professors have received M.A. or Doctoral degrees in English speaking countries, you know, since they have lived in non-English speaking country, S. Korea, it is hard to keep up their English skills. Also...the quality of general classes?? I cannot guarantee that either.. I cannot say "100% of profs. are good." nor "100% of profs. are bad.". It really depends on your luck. So, try to be picky about choosing where you are going to study at in Korea :)




Others in S. Korea


Since the number of foreign companies has increased, there are many foreigners who work for their own companies in Korea for several years. Many tourists visit S. Korea every year.





This is the site of VISIT KOREA

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

You can check general information about S. Korea :)

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