People don't like to be used for improving your personal skills. If you want a foreign friend to get to know them, there are plenty of places. If not, get a tutor.
I think there's a cultural difference in the definition of 'friend' going on here. For example, I'm often told to bring a Korean speaking friend to handle language issues.
I consider that as an imposition in my friends, based on my cultural background, so I don't do that.
OP I'm trying to explain the reaction your post is getting. ^^
If you want to improve your English, get a tutor or go to a conversation class. If you want to be part of an international social group, get a group hobby (hiking, dance, Toastmasters, etc.) that runs in English. Keep in mind, like other comments have said, most people aren't interested in being your token "foreign friend" who just gets used for English practice. If you have a shared hobby, it's easier to meet people you actually want to get to know and hang out with. There are groups like SeoulShare that do various activities, if you don't have a specific hobby in mind.
Use English to search for groups, not Korean (i.e. "Seoul latin dance class" or "Seoul hiking meet up" not "외국인 있는 등산 모임").
Go to Thursday Party one of the few places where foreigners don't have a problem getting in. Talk with some people they will be happy to chat. Normally, Korean people don’t talk much with foreigners. I’m in Korea, and the most common sentence I hear is” I don’t speak English”
If that's your goal, you need to approach it as a language exchange situation (someone who speaks English and wants to improve Korean who you can share with).
If you're not friends though, there won't be a lot to talk about so not sure the conversation would only be awkward.
It's funny because when we're learning Korean, it's recommended to meet new Korean friends to practice Korean, but when it's reversed & people are approached by a Korean wanting to speaking English, they get offended. Anyway, most strangers will feel upset if you ask to practice English. You should probably try different language learning apps or meetups that have Korean/English practice.
Why people are so salty in the comments? I made so many nice friends just on the fact they learned English, and I learned their language. Download the app Hello Talk. It’s literally for this purpose and it’s free
Because it really sucks to be used and thrown away after your friend gets their toeic score multiple times over the course of 5 years :,) when you've been here for a while, it gets pretty 맵다 ㅎㅎ
They realllyyy do do that. I've had this problem over 10 times. I'll never forget going to a language exchange for a whole year, meeting the same people twice a week, thinking we were all good friends until the Christmas party where we had our English session and drank some wine. At the end they said they were tired and would go home. It was a lie. They All went out (20 people) to have fun more and only told the two foreigners there they were going home. They posted on Instagram and when the language exchange stopped or they got their scores they stopped talking to me but continued to hang out together.
It's really odd. I was good enough at korean then and now I'm completely Fluent, so I have genuine friends. But I have not once met a genuine friend with someone trying to speak English to me. I think they only see us at a tool at that point but see us as human if we speak Korean tbh
sorry to hear this but me and my friends have been helping each other ,they taught me Korean and i taught them english, and now we can talk and switch up both languages. maybe.
I dont mean to be rude but the fact this has happened over 10 times to you, maybe its not them but your the problem. 1 time, yeah maybe, but 10!! maybe stop talking about k-pop and dramas and they wont feel the need to run away from you. all being said, im glad you finally got a real friend
I don't talk about kdramas and kpop lol and I have plenty of friends now, this was my experience when I used English and switched immediately after I stopped. I have talked to 5 other foreigners who I think are truly lovely people and I've heard the exact same issue. I don't know how Fluent you are but once I became Fluent things changed for me. I wasn't trying to be rude, just to be blunt about something many good people have been hurt by. Can say the same for you though, the vitriol is unnecessary
ignore all the negative comments, I am English and in Seoul. if you would like to meet for a hour and grab a coffee to improve your english skill i am more than happy to help, just drop me a message. you do not o me anything back and can also introduce you to english friends. congratulations to you for wanting to improve
I want a mechanic friend to fix my car for free. Where can I meet mechanics?
I am loving that one of these posts finally gets treated the way it should.
한국어 유창하게 못하는 저는 한국인 친구를 만나고 싶습니다. 한국어로 대화하면서 제 한국어 실력을 형상시키면 좋을 것 같습니다. 이런 이기적인 이유로 이용할 수 있는 한국인 친구를 어떻게 구할 수 있는지 알려주세요. 님의 한국인 친구들을 어떻게 접근할 수 있을까요?
People don't like to be used for improving your personal skills. If you want a foreign friend to get to know them, there are plenty of places. If not, get a tutor.
I think there's a cultural difference in the definition of 'friend' going on here. For example, I'm often told to bring a Korean speaking friend to handle language issues. I consider that as an imposition in my friends, based on my cultural background, so I don't do that. OP I'm trying to explain the reaction your post is getting. ^^
That's a one-off occasion. OP is looking for a full-time tutor for free.
It's not one off when I consistently get that request. And yes, OP, needs to think about what they are bringing to the friendship.
If you want to improve your English, get a tutor or go to a conversation class. If you want to be part of an international social group, get a group hobby (hiking, dance, Toastmasters, etc.) that runs in English. Keep in mind, like other comments have said, most people aren't interested in being your token "foreign friend" who just gets used for English practice. If you have a shared hobby, it's easier to meet people you actually want to get to know and hang out with. There are groups like SeoulShare that do various activities, if you don't have a specific hobby in mind. Use English to search for groups, not Korean (i.e. "Seoul latin dance class" or "Seoul hiking meet up" not "외국인 있는 등산 모임").
오는 게 있으면 가는 게 있다. Look for language exchange meetings.
Go to Thursday Party one of the few places where foreigners don't have a problem getting in. Talk with some people they will be happy to chat. Normally, Korean people don’t talk much with foreigners. I’m in Korea, and the most common sentence I hear is” I don’t speak English”
tbh you can use gpt for the purpose of improving your English. it’s really decent and that’s how I’ve been practicing mine till now
If that's your goal, you need to approach it as a language exchange situation (someone who speaks English and wants to improve Korean who you can share with). If you're not friends though, there won't be a lot to talk about so not sure the conversation would only be awkward.
It's funny because when we're learning Korean, it's recommended to meet new Korean friends to practice Korean, but when it's reversed & people are approached by a Korean wanting to speaking English, they get offended. Anyway, most strangers will feel upset if you ask to practice English. You should probably try different language learning apps or meetups that have Korean/English practice.
just download hellotalk, you'll find a lot of foreigners already in Korea willing to meet up
go to bars that are showing football, especially with the euros going on right now youll meet lots english speakers,
How'd you feel if a foreigner tried to befriend you only to find out later that they were using you to improve their korean? Get a tutor
I will be traveling to seoul Aug 7-Aug11th and will also be happy to meet for coffee and help with language! I’m from NYC :)
So much hate lol
Why people are so salty in the comments? I made so many nice friends just on the fact they learned English, and I learned their language. Download the app Hello Talk. It’s literally for this purpose and it’s free
Because it really sucks to be used and thrown away after your friend gets their toeic score multiple times over the course of 5 years :,) when you've been here for a while, it gets pretty 맵다 ㅎㅎ
This. I dread meeting the type of person who shows up to some group or social event for no other reason than “나 + 외국인 = 영어 실력 상승 = 돈“
please practise your korean more, maybe its you who needs to do the language swap with this guy
Nope. 나 헨쿠거 노머 찰 헤!
your joking right,, lmao
천허 넝템 어니어! 나 엄정 찰 헤!
People actually do that? I always thought having english conversations had its limits when it comes to improving language skills
They realllyyy do do that. I've had this problem over 10 times. I'll never forget going to a language exchange for a whole year, meeting the same people twice a week, thinking we were all good friends until the Christmas party where we had our English session and drank some wine. At the end they said they were tired and would go home. It was a lie. They All went out (20 people) to have fun more and only told the two foreigners there they were going home. They posted on Instagram and when the language exchange stopped or they got their scores they stopped talking to me but continued to hang out together. It's really odd. I was good enough at korean then and now I'm completely Fluent, so I have genuine friends. But I have not once met a genuine friend with someone trying to speak English to me. I think they only see us at a tool at that point but see us as human if we speak Korean tbh
sorry to hear this but me and my friends have been helping each other ,they taught me Korean and i taught them english, and now we can talk and switch up both languages. maybe. I dont mean to be rude but the fact this has happened over 10 times to you, maybe its not them but your the problem. 1 time, yeah maybe, but 10!! maybe stop talking about k-pop and dramas and they wont feel the need to run away from you. all being said, im glad you finally got a real friend
I don't talk about kdramas and kpop lol and I have plenty of friends now, this was my experience when I used English and switched immediately after I stopped. I have talked to 5 other foreigners who I think are truly lovely people and I've heard the exact same issue. I don't know how Fluent you are but once I became Fluent things changed for me. I wasn't trying to be rude, just to be blunt about something many good people have been hurt by. Can say the same for you though, the vitriol is unnecessary
Yup people do that very often and it seems like what OP is trying here
ignore all the negative comments, I am English and in Seoul. if you would like to meet for a hour and grab a coffee to improve your english skill i am more than happy to help, just drop me a message. you do not o me anything back and can also introduce you to english friends. congratulations to you for wanting to improve