Yes, I'm an ESL teacher and yes I'm only supposed to speak to my kids in English. But let's face it, sometimes English doesn't get you anywhere. Most of my children are 5-7 years old and have had no prior exposure to English. In a lot of my lessons, I am able to use only English and association to effectively teach them. But when it comes to discipline, reprimands, and explaining directions, sometimes English will only get you a blank look. And even if you yourself don't use these Korean phrases, you may hear your Korean co-workers use them. Not only that, but the children can't express themselves in English. So what language does a 6 year old resort to when he wants to tell you something? Korean. I thought it might be helpful to new teachers starting out in Korea to share the Korean I've picked up that has been extremely useful while teaching.
As a note...many of these phrases are in the informal language. As a teacher talking to children, you don't have to worry about being overly formal. If you're going to use them with adults in a non-teaching setting, I'd recommend changing them to the formal language first.
Basics
안녕하세요 (anyeonghaseyo) - hello
안녕 (anyeong) - hi
안녕하십니까 (anyeong hashimnikka) - A more polite way of saying hello. Often used between co-workers and definitely to your superiors.
안녕히 가세요 (anyeonghee kaseyo) - goodbye
수고하셨습니다 (suguashyasumnida) - can be used in various contexts. At the end of the day, co-workers often say it as a form of goodbye. It means essentially, "good work, rest well".
Classroom Control
하지마 (hajima) - It literally translates to "don't do it". Can be used in the classroom to say "stop it" or "don't do that".
앉아 (anja) - sit down
조용히해 (choyeongi hae) - be quiet
이야기하지마 (iyagi hajima) - don't talk, no talking
저기에 놓어세요 (chogi-eh noheoseyo) - put it over there
일어나 (ileona) - get up/stand up
여기 와 (yeogi wa) - come here
나와 (na wa) - get out...very useful for children who like to play under the tables.
만지지마 (manjijima) - don't touch (it)
들어세요 (deuleoseyo) - listen
앞에 보세요 (ap-pey poseyo) - face front
Giving Directions
찾아 (chaja) - look for/find it...for giving directions on a word search
잘라 (challa) - cut it
*Don't get chaja and challa mixed up. I'm sure my kids still think I'm crazy from when I gave them a word search and told them to cut it up. I couldn't figure out whey they kept cutting up their papers and I kept running around saying "no, NO, CHALLAYO!" Upon which they understandably kept cutting their papers to bits.
붙여 (putchyeo) - stick it/glue it...for stickers or pasting
스세요 (suseyo) - write please
적어 (cheogeo) - write (I've found this word to be more common in my experience)
읽으세요 (ilgeuseyo) - read please
따라하세요 (darahaseyo) - literally translates to "repeat please". Used to mean "repeat after me".
다시 하세요 (tashi haseyo) - do it again
따라오세요 (dara oseyo) - follow me please
색칠 하세요 (saekchil haseyo) - color it
From the Kids
어떻게 헤요? (Eodeoke heyo?) - How do I do it?
무슨 말이에요? (museun malieyo?) - What do you mean?/What does that mean?
못해요 (moteyo) - I can't do it.
할 수 있어요 (hal su isseoyo) - I can do it.
할게요 (halkeyo) - I'll do it.
모르겠어요 (moleugeseoyo) - I don't know/I don't understand.
몰라요 (mollayo) - I don't know
알아요 (alayo) - I know
알겠어요 (algeseoyo) - translates to "I know". Used in the context of "I got it/I understand".
다 했어요 (ta haesseoyo) - I did it all/I'm done.
해주세요 (hae chuseyo) - Do it for me please.
싫어요 (shileoyo) - literally translates to "I hate it". Kids respond with this if they don't want to do something you tell them.
쉬 마려워요 (shwi maleoweoyo) - I've been assured that this is the proper spelling by my Korean co-worker but google translate still doesn't seem to like it. I think it literally means something along the lines of "I have to pee". The kids use it to ask if they can use the restroom.
아파요 (apayo) - it hurts
해요? (heyo) - literally translates to "Do I do it?" In context, it's used to ask if they can start working on an assignment that has been passed out and/or if they should do it now.
Useful Vocabulary
수업 (su-eop) - class
수업 시간 (su-eop shigan) - class time
영어 수업 (yeongeo su-eop) - English class
선생님 (seonsaengnim) - teacher
영어 선생님 (yeongeo seongsaengnim) - English teacher
샘 (sem) - short form meaning teacher, often used between co-teachers to address each other
교실 (kyoshil) - classroom
책상 (chaeksang) - desk
책 (chaek) - book
연필 (yeonpil) - pencil
연필 깎기 (yeonpil kakki) - pencil sharpener
ballpen - this is how they refer to pens
namepen - permanent marker
signpen- coloring markers
색연필 (saekyeonpil) - colored pencil
사무실 (samushil) - office
풀 (pul) - glue
가위 (kawi) - scissors
지우개 (chiugae) - eraser
스티커 (sutika) - sticker
These are words and phrases that I use every single day working in Korea and knowing them upon starting would have made my job much easier. It is my hope that this brief language guide will help new teachers settle more smoothly into their new jobs. Happy language learning!
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