Reference Guide for ESL Teachers: Common Grammar Errors in Korean students learning English

p Korean English as Second Language Learners

A Guide for ESL Teachers

Introduction

Although many guides have been produced the help teacher has better assist Spanish speaking ESL students there are not many resources available for teachers teaching Korean and other Asian students . There are some substantial differences in how Korean people and English people speak , and write including , use of articles , pronoun use and speaking in the second person . This guide is set up to help you , as a teacher understand the types of mistakes your Korean ESL students will

make while learning English

Articles

Articles are words such as a , an , and , the , that are used before nouns beginning with vowels . Definite and indefinite articles are not used in the Korean Language

In English we would say

Example : We need a dictionary here

In Korean this would be phrased

Example : Dictionary we here need

Gender Specific Pronouns-

Gender specific pronouns refer to the use of words that specify gender in regards to specific people , places , or things . Koreans do not use gender specific pronouns and as with many Asian cultures naming is based more on the personality of the child than the gender . So you will not here such thing such as doe and stag , men 's and ladies room etc

In English we would say

Example : I am going to the ladies room

In Korean they would say

Example : I am going to bathroom

C : Use of honorifics

Honorifics are words such as Mr . Mrs , Doctor , Lawyer , and President We use these in a somewhat limited basis since English is a much less formal language even in a Superior /Subordinate relationship . For example , many people call their boss by their first name . In Korea Honorifics are combined with nouns and verbs to how whether a relationship is formal (Teachers , Government officials , or informal (parents , siblings , husband /wife

For instance in English we would say

Example : Wendy I am going out for lunch (to boss

In Korean they would say

Example : Summers , Wendy , Executive Director , and Mrs . I am going to store

Honorifics are generally stated Last Name , First Name , Stem title (teacher , doctor etc ) affixial title (Miss , Ms

Levels of Speech

In English we only two levels of speech , formal and informal , Formal is used in teacher /student , lawyer /client , and other formal relationships where one person is the superior and the other a subordinate . Informal speech is used between parents /children , friends , and close family . In Korean there are four levels of speech

Polite /Formal Government officials , doctors , lawyers , anyone with that you are seen as subordinate to

Informal /Daily co-workers , customer service people

Plain friends , peer group

Intimate This level of speech is restricted to close family members

In English for instance we would use Formal Language in this type of Situation

Example : Mr . President may I present Miss Marilyn Monroe

In Korean Formal Speech would sound this way

Example : Kennedy , John , President , Mr , I present Monroe , Marilyn Actress , Miss Informal Speech would sound like this...