You’re learning Korean. You have learned some great conversational phrases and now you want to practice what you learned. So you go to a predominately Korean area in your city. You go to a grocery store or a restaurant and try practicing your Korean in person with a Korean speaker and then… they laugh at you or ignore your attempt and respond in English. Huh?
That’s not how you saw this playing out in your head.
Who’s wrong here? Well, nobody to be honest. There are a couple things missing that should be done first.
- Establish that the person you are attempting to speak with in Korean actually speaks Korean.
- Make sure it’s okay with them before you start speaking in Korean to them.
Often times we forget that when people are working or going about their daily routines, any type of distraction can catch people off guard. So unless your Korean is super fluent you will 100% catch them off guard and they respond in whatever way they usually do when they’re caught off guard. For some people, like me, when something catches me off guard I laugh about it and then deflect. Others may ignore and some may get outright enraged. (This person probably hates surprises and is also more than likely having a bad day.) However, this can be avoided by just making contact in the native language of your country and then asking first before proceeding.
What you will find out as you continue learning and interacting with people is that, people are more than happy to help or listen or allow you to practice. Many times, I hear people say that it’s nice to hear someone taking the time to learn your language when they don’t have to. Especially when it’s not a dominant language of the country. But please keep in mind, nobody is obligated to do this. They may not feel comfortable offering assistance. Especially since, you know, you’re kind of a stranger to them. Doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong or that they’re being mean to you, it just means that you should check to make sure it’s okay with the people you meet first before proceeding.
So what can you do if you want to practice in person?
If you go to a store or a restaurant and see an employee or if it’s your waiter/waitress, ask two questions first:
- Do you speak Korean?
- Is it alright if I practice my Korean with you?
Remember, this is their place of work and there’s a number of things that they have to do while they are at work. Also keep in mind that the store or restaurant could be short staffed and this person is overwhelmed. In addition to that, you don’t know the hours this person has worked or could be working and they may even be about to clock out of work so don’t just assume they brushed you off for no reason. You are probably not the first person that day, or even that week, to have attempted to speak Korean to them but you could be the first person to actually ask first. You shouldn’t assume that just because it’s a predominately Korean establishment that everyone working or visiting is Korean.
Unless you are actually in Korea, in which case, I’m sure they would prefer that you did speak Korean.
Is it okay to talk to strangers? That’s up to your discretion I can’t answer this for you. The only thing I will say is still ask the first two questions before doing so. But, if you are out in public and overhear a conversation in Korean and choose to use this method, please remember that this is still a public space and the people you meet are still strangers. Unless they came with you or you know them and recognized them, they are still strangers so for your own safety, use good judgment.
The best way to practice?
- Get a tutor or Be a tutor
- There are numerous resources online if you have the extra cash and would like to practice with a structured plan. You can sign up for a professional tutor to help you practice your Korean.
- On the flipside, if you know basic conversational Korean, this could be a great opportunity for you. Of course the focus here is being a tutor in your native language but sometimes before or after lessons, you may build a relationship with your student that allows you to speak in Korean even if it’s only briefly.
- Join a club
- There may be a place in your area that actually has different clubs, like a book club, etc. that you can join that is Korean speaking focused. Here you can meet native Korean speakers or people learning to speak Korean who are open to practicing with you.
- Classes
- There are places in your city that may offer free nighttime classes for adult language learners. And if you can’t take the classes, you may still be able to join for other activities and events they host. This is a great opportunity to meet other language learners as well as those who speak fluently.
- Community centers
- In some cities, community centers will often host events or festivals for different cultures. This is a great opportunity to meet people who speak Korean and also a great opportunity to practice Korean especially if the festival or event is centered around the Korean culture.
- Employment
- This is an option for a more advanced intermediate learner. There are some temporary jobs or even permanent jobs that are focused primarily on Korean speaking and if you speak Korean fluently enough, you may qualify for this position. This could be an interpreter, teacher, etc. Just make sure that if it is an emergency services position you really do understand and speak Korean well. You don’t want to unintentionally cause undue stress or harm to someone due to a language barrier.
Okay, so I hope these tips were helpful! Please practice! But also, please be courteous of others when doing so.
Twenty Third Station 
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