The importance of fluency

Let me take a moment to discuss fluency.  Before coming to Korea I knew that Koreans studied English for many years in school and that they had been doing this for many years now.  This led me to believe that many people in Korea speak English.

I was wrong.

In my school, the students' fluency levels range from only knowing basic phrases all the way to being able to have full and complete conversations.  Of the teachers, most can say simple things like "good morning" and "hello" and they greet me and smile.  Some teachers can speak a little more and they talk to me but the most fluent teachers are the English teachers, naturally.  Although, not every English teacher's English is really all that great.  Or rather, just Mr. Ugh's English is not that great.  And this sometimes poses a problem for me.

One day while working at my computer Mr. Ugh came up to me and said, "Taleen, the students are going on a field trip next week."  (I knew this.  The kids went on a 3 day field trip to various places and had lots of fun.)  I told Mr. Ugh that I was aware and then he said, "You will go with them."

Ummm...what?!

I had only been at the school for three weeks at this point and was not ready to embark on a three day overnight field trip with high school students.  That is crazy talk.  And at the time I was already having difficulties with my co-teacher and his views on my schedule so I did not want to get caught in yet another situation I was uncomfortable with.  While here in Korea, I try my best to be flexible and adapt to new situations.  But I also don't want to be taken advantage of, either.  So this was my dilemma.  Do I graciously go on the field trip, certain to have a miserable time and in gross violation of my contract?  Or do I refuse and risk upsetting and alienating my new employers, people that I have to rely on for simple tasks like buying a lamp and going to the bank?

I decided on the third option which was to just sit terrified while people spoke Korean around me.

Mr. Ugh and the vice-principal discussed the matter in front of me and I did not understand anything.  But eventually the vice-principal stopped, looked at my face, the pointed and started laughing.  Apparently I looked hilarious while scared senseless.

I finally got the situation worked out that because Mr. Ugh's English is so poor, he did not mean I will go on the field trip, he meant that I had the option of going on the field trip.  And I opted not to.  Even though it was very nice of them to offer.  I just was not ready for that level of Korean interaction.