Teaching English in Korea - ESL blog

This sounds like just the type of roleplay I could use with my students here in China. Unfortunately, the local leaders blocks certain websites and eslgo seems to be one of them. Could you tell us more about how your roleplay works? Thanks!

That's interesting Joe. In the past I was featured on a Chinese radio show and had lots of people from China on the message boards and things. Anyway here we go:

Korean:
You are a Korean language teacher who lived in the Philippines for two years and then moved to Japan where you lived for 5 years. You have just returned to the Philippines for a new teaching position and an old Filipino friend meets you at the airport. After you greet your friend (you bowed and then shook hands), your friend seems to get angry.

You are not sure why your friend is angry, but you need to find out. Follow the cultural conflict resolution process.

Filipino:
You are picking your Korean friend up at the airport. You used to be great friends but you haven't seen him in 5 years so you expect a warm welcome. However, your friend arrives all you get is a cold bow and a quick handshake. You were expecting an embrace and then a little chat with your friend¡¯s arm around your shoulders.

Find out why your friend is acting so coldly. It may be a cultural conflict but then again, it may not be; your friend did live in the Philippines for 2 years. Try the cultural conflict resolution process.

And here is the process I use:

1. Both people explain what they find unusual about the other's behavior.
2. Each person realizes the other's cultural perceptions.
3. Each person learns how the problem would be handled in the other's culture.
4. Together, the two people develop conflict solutions.

Good luck!

Intercultural relationships are common sense to everyone except Americans. Koreans have been doing business and making friends with people all over the world...from the Arab countries where we get oil for technology and other goods that we produce from the oil...to other Asian countries, Americas, Europe, Africa...

That's why we don't have any enemies...they're all mutually beneficial and respectful relationships.

The underlying key concept. If you understand this with every cell in your body...then every race, every country, will respect you and can become friends with you.

Respect. Respect the other as your equal. Aretha Franklin...R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Respect.

From respect for the other...comes everything else.

If you guys are so intent on this intercultural bullshit...why are the Americans the most hated people in the world. You guys don't have a single "real" friend. Maybe the British...but you talk behind their back because of the Tax on Tea for cryin' out loud.

Respect.

Respect.

Learn it. Live it. Become it. And the world will be your friend.