Comments on: English Education: Cheonggyecheon, Part 2?

By: littlebrownasian

littlebrownasian — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:35:45 +0000

#27,

The answers are:

1. Cost (you pay half in India for what it will cost in the Philippines…at least some time ago, which isn’t the case today)

2. Political stability

3. Labor supply

The tide is changing, though. As for Korea, with LMB at the helm, I can only see a brighter future for this country.

…that is, as long as he doesn’t screw up or learn to kiss ass.

By: littlebrownasian

littlebrownasian — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:30:32 +0000

I actually find Hangul very interesting. I learned it quickly on my own even before I first set foot in Korea. It’s like learning logic: the rules are simple but the combination is intriguing.

Sigh! How I wish my Hangul speaking ability is at least half my ability to read and write it…

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:50:29 +0000

#27 - IBM Daksh operates in Manila as well.

By: jonnyh

jonnyh — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:06:44 +0000

The pronunciation of hangul letter names demonstrates the difference in pronunciation of consonants if they come before or after a vowel. Some of the distinctions can be hard for non-natives (like me) to hear, but there is a difference in how they are pronounced depending on whether they are the initial or final sound in a syllable. There are also more changes when the consonants are between syllables, but that’s even more interesting. Zzzzz….

By: English Education Policy? Contentious? | The Marmot's Hole

English Education Policy? Contentious? | The Marmot's Hole — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:56:43 +0000

[...] OK, but when you push English education reform as a “Second Cheonggyecheon,” with (albeit backtracked) talk of even English immersion programs, wouldn’t you [...]

By: gbevers

gbevers — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:33:20 +0000

Cactus,

They are written that way to show that the consonant can come both before the vowel in the syllable and after it.

By: CactusMcHarris

CactusMcHarris — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:10:22 +0000

Dear Gerry,

I remember a long time ago reading about how the shape of the Hangul letters were based on the shape of the throat/tongue when the letters are pronounced, but I don’t know the answer to your question. I’ll bite - why are the letters’ names like that? And why are they always beginning with and ending with the same consanant?

Thanks

By: gbevers

gbevers — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:58:59 +0000

Korean is not a “scientific language,” but people argue that the “Korean alphabet” (Hangeul) is scientific.

By the way, I wonder how many people know why the letters of the Korean alphabet are written as two syllables instead of just one? For example, does anyone know why ㄱ is called 기역 instead of just 기?

By: SomeguyinKorea

SomeguyinKorea — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:23:26 +0000

“There are so many English words that are a part of the (south) Korean language as we all well know, but many Koreans don’t have a clue.”

Just remember that sentence next time you’re sipping coca-cola and munching potato chips while sitting on your sofa in your pajamas with your feet resting on the ottoman.

By: McGenghis

McGenghis — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:22:35 +0000

Learning a foreign language is difficult enough, especially one that employs an entirely different alphabet. What really boggles my mind is the foisting of the IPA upon hapless kindergarteners who probably think that there is one set of ABCs and then another that is on drugs.