Monday, July 6, 2009
The ridiculous catchphrases, the rude "yep" answers, the haircut . . . is this a comedy show or middle school?
Christ Almighty, if you've never taught middle school students in Korea, this clip from "골드미스가 간다" replicates nicely how irritating it can get sometimes. In this segment some adjummas have visited an English Village and a comedienne is trying to get through the immigration counter. Needless to say she fails and gets escorted out by some black guys. If anybody needs a bamboo sword across the back it's her.
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I've often thought that one of the (many) obsticles toward English gaining traction in Korea is its constant portrayal in the media (especially comedy shows and advertisements) as nothinig other than silly sounds made by silly people.
The clip Brian shows here is just one of many examples. Who knows, someone may even write a blog post/newspaper article about it. I'd love to, but just don't have the time (or the press' ear).
Anyone remember (can link to) the ad from a few months ago in which a group of Korean business people were herded into a room for an English class. They sat there for a few momments looking at eachother and their dictionaries uncomfortably, before the boss (a woman in this case) says, with a HEAVY Korean accent, "Finish".
Makes me want to cut my ears off with a cheese grater.
Poor guy.
I agree, Walter, and have thought the same thing for a long time.
The diplomatic answer is that English is such an important, high-stakes subject that people should be encouraged to have fun with it. However, I object to the portrayal of native speakers and NSETs as clowns, buffoons, and---I like how you put it---silly sounds made by silly people.
An interesting question is, then, how do you deal with students---hell, even coworkers---who speak in catchphrases and in ridiculous English. I mean, we've all had students, and sometimes even whole classes, who choose to say nothing other than refrains of pop songs or catchphrases heard on the latest comedy show. Or who answer every question with "ok" or "yaaap." I've told coworkers that rendering English so ridiculous is damaging to how they interpret the language, but they said students are just having fun. Some people actively try to change it, while others just brush it off and chalk it up to just the way Koreans do things. I personally can't stand it, and try to get students to not act like complete buffoons around native speakers, but it's a tough, uphill battle. Yeah, I know it was a "comedy" show, but I don't tolerate people talking to me like that, and I don't like when people use me as nothing more than a source of amusement.
Maybe I will, Walter, try and write some ideas up for a local paper. It's worth exploring, though each Korean I've talked to hasn't thought it a big deal to render English so ridiculous. See the "English Cafe" category for more.
The guy is trying so hard to keep it real, but the buffoon is just there for a goof.
I know it's fake, and she's on a comedy show, but seriously, trying that at a real immigration desk would get her on the next plane home.
The "Are you crazy?" line just made me laugh :p
I thought it was pretty funny.
Hmmm. I can't get it to play without downloading something?
Hmm, when I played it at home it worked fine, but this morning in school I had to install something. I tried to take it and put it on youtube, but it wouldn't let me.
Anyway, there are episodes of celebrity Golden Bell challenges on Youtube that have basically the same thing.
It's just Microsoft Silverlight. Their alternative to Flash.
let me know if this gets on youtube. Cant watch it here
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