Westerners fluent in Asian languages (Specific Languages) Language Learning Forum

Westerners fluent in Asian languages
Tags: Language Importance \| Asian Languages \| Reasons for study
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Language Learning Forum : Specific Languages

57 messages over 8 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next >>

lithium
Newbie
China
Joined 5348 days ago
2 posts - 3 votes

Message 49 of 57

04 April 2010 at 4:56pm | IP Logged

What about this guy?

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTYxMTQ0NTY4.html

23min..

This is a very popular TV programme in mainland ("非诚勿扰").^.^
1 person has voted this message useful

Raincrowlee
Tetraglot
Senior Member
United States
Joined 6702 days ago
621 posts - 808 votes

Speaks: English*, Mandarin, Korean, French
Studies: Indonesian, Japanese

Message 50 of 57

05 April 2010 at 12:08am | IP Logged

Dixon wrote:

ChristopherB wrote:

Not surprisingly, with the whole "China boom" there is a noticeable surge in the number of people studying Mandarin. Japanese is also a very popular (East-)Asian language, and I have heard that quite a few Westerners are able to speak these languages fluently. Obviously the ratio of Westerners fluent in such languages is overwhelmingly drowned out by the number of Asians who speak English to a high degree, but I am curious to know: how common is it for a person of non-Asian decent, ie. a Brit or an American or a Russian or a Mexican to learn and eventually speak languages like Vietnamese or Korean to a near-native level? Have you ever met such a person? I'm aware there are numerous videos of people speaking impeccable Mandarin, for instance, but what about lesser-known Asian languages?

There are plenty of Brits and Americans, probably numbering in the millions, who are bilingually fluent in an Asian language and English. Typically, they were immersed in the Asian language at home, and exposed to English outside of the home.

Maybe, instead of "Westerners" you mean "white people" and instead of "Brits, Americans, ..." you mean "White Brits, White or black Americans" etc. I would say, who cares?

Reading is essential.

Edited by Raincrowlee on 05 April 2010 at 12:09am
3 persons have voted this message useful

Americano
Senior Member
Korea, South
Joined 6846 days ago
101 posts - 120 votes

Speaks: English*
Studies: Spanish, Korean

Message 51 of 57

05 April 2010 at 5:02pm | IP Logged

I'll chime in here as I am currently living in Seoul (only 6 weeks now). Last weekend I was in Hongdae, and I came across a foreigner (a white dude) who had near-native Korean skills. I knew this as the Korean girl I was with told me his Korean was quite amazing. I also have a friend who studies Korean, and he is able to hold intermediate conversations after 5 months. Honestly, most foreigners you meet haven't studied the language a lot, and so they can usually read Hangul and they know some basic stuff, but you don't find many who are fluent.
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Americano
Senior Member
Korea, South
Joined 6846 days ago
101 posts - 120 votes

Speaks: English*
Studies: Spanish, Korean

Message 52 of 57

05 April 2010 at 5:09pm | IP Logged

.

Edited by Americano on 08 April 2010 at 12:03pm
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andee
Tetraglot
Senior Member
Japan
Joined 7077 days ago
681 posts - 724 votes

3 sounds
Speaks: English*, German, Korean, French

Message 53 of 57

08 April 2010 at 9:38am | IP Logged

ericspinelli wrote:

ChristopherB wrote:

I'm still curious about the popularity of Vietnamese and Korean specifically. If I were to spend a week in a popular Vietnamese or Korean city (say, Hanoi, Saigon or Seoul), would I likely hear many foreigners speaking the language well?

Americans, the largest non-East Asian demographic in Seoul, make up a mere 0.1% of the population (Korean Times 2009). You're not likely to see westerners in Seoul, let alone fluent ones.

In short, no... you won't overhear any foreigners speaking Korean.

I've only met a few westerners that speak Korean past perhaps ordering food. I've seen a few videos of native-level speakers that are great with all the nuance of a native. Most of the people I've met that speak Korean relatively well have been students in Korea. The ESL teachers (generally speaking) do not care about Korea or Korean things. There's a pretty large proportion of them that can't even read hangeul , which takes a grand total of about 2 hours to learn.

Really rare example... I know someone that lived in Seoul for 7 years and could not order food in a restaurant which is basically "the food name" + one verb. Amazing huh?!

As for seeing westerners... Yes, you will see them, but most likely in Itaewon or Yongsan.... the real ex-pat areas. Or tourist areas like Insa-dong, Myeongdong, etc. In the northern areas like Nowon, no real chance.
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andee
Tetraglot
Senior Member
Japan
Joined 7077 days ago
681 posts - 724 votes

3 sounds
Speaks: English*, German, Korean, French

Message 54 of 57

08 April 2010 at 9:46am | IP Logged

Americano wrote:

I have a friend doing private tutoring jobs making about $50 US an hour. He does 3 hours a week, and makes about $2700/month. He's saving a ton. Seoul is a blast too.

I'll be a party-pooper and say... that's pretty much illegal unless you're F-2, F-4, F-5 ;)
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Americano
Senior Member
Korea, South
Joined 6846 days ago
101 posts - 120 votes

Speaks: English*
Studies: Spanish, Korean

Message 55 of 57

08 April 2010 at 12:05pm | IP Logged

andee wrote:

Americano wrote:

I have a friend doing private tutoring jobs making about $50 US an hour. He does 3 hours a week, and makes about $2700/month. He's saving a ton. Seoul is a blast too.

I'll be a party-pooper and say... that's pretty much illegal unless you're F-2, F-4, F-5 ;)

I didn't argue the legality of it, as I know it is illegal. Though, it is a reality and a way some teachers choose to save a lot of extra cash. It's up to each person to decide if it is worth the risk of being caught and punished.
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Captain Haddock
Diglot
Senior Member
Japan
kanjicabinet.tumblr.
Joined 6768 days ago
2282 posts - 2814 votes

Speaks: English*, Japanese
Studies: French, Korean, Ancient Greek

Message 56 of 57

08 April 2010 at 2:03pm | IP Logged

I know some people who got deported for tutoring in Korea without the right visas and educational prerequisites.

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