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作者名称 国旗国籍

Simply Kathy vip

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2020.06.28 07:44

Dear English language learners,

I can see how excited you are

about learning English. I watch your postings on HelloTalk and other places. The ways you try to understand and grow with each new word or lesson. That is wonderful to see, as you enjoy both the English language and the culture.
But, I have a favor I want to ask of you. And this I feel is important for you to remember. Please do not change your culture to fit into the Western society. There will be pressure all around for you to do that. Saying that the Western ways and thoughts are better. That is not true, I find each new culture I learn about is special. And i do not want it lost to the selfishness I see in the West.
So learn English not to change into more Western in thoughts and actions. But so that you can than show me and the other English speakers how beautiful your culture is. And why we need to understand the world beyond our English speaking ways more. As anyone that as only lived in English speaking countries have had the smallest of views of how beautiful other cultures are.

Sincerely ,
A native English speaker
57 27

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Comments

  • 감자 2020.06.28 07:49

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    요약 in korean: 사대주의 그만

  • JinsupKim 2020.06.28 07:50

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    Wonderful advice 😊

  • JooyoungChoiジュヨン 2020.06.28 07:56

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    Can I ask you something to understand this issue? Could you tell some examples? Because what’s western idea and what’s not is very vague to me

  • Godai 2020.06.28 07:56

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    Your text encourages me !

  • Simply Kathy 2020.06.28 08:01

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    @JooyoungChoiジュヨン how the younger Westernised generations treat the older generations is a great example. I am older but they do not respect me by saying things like "ok, boomer". Please even if you dont agree with the older generation still honor them.

  • Gordon海峰看世界 2020.06.28 08:03

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    大智慧阿

  • JooyoungChoiジュヨン 2020.06.28 08:05

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    @Simply Kathy I am sorry to question you but what you saying is implying respecting older generations is only oriental value, Westerners usually don’t do. I don’t think that’s your point. I wish there’s better way to encourage respecting each other...

  • Simply Kathy 2020.06.28 08:07

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    @JooyoungChoiジュヨン It is not only an Asian value but I have seen also in Hispanic cultures as well as middle eastern cultures which show respect to their elders.

  • Scolar 2020.06.28 08:08

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    Thanks for your advice, but 'No worries ' I at least don't think that Western culture and English are superior to ours. I feel like the people who try to learn English probably wanna communicate with more foreigners from other countries and understand and share each other's cultures. That's all~ anywho~ I wanna appreciate your thought ~ Being different is not the matter that it is better or worse,I feel like this~

  • Dya 2020.06.28 08:15

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    This posting is kind of one of my most interesting ones here amid encournterings of my last few periods.

  • Bana 2020.06.28 08:20

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    I agree with you Thank u

  • 김동휘 2020.06.28 08:28

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    I read it all ! Sometimes i think in a korean way and then i translate it into korean and speak it out in english I know sometimes it would sound funny but i think its fine ㅎㅎ yeah because i can speak other languages i mean english in two ways like english mindset and in a korean way !

  • A.H 2020.06.28 08:31

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    Lol, your comment makes me laugh. Learning a new language means that you are on a journey to learn the culture absorbed in it. Language doen't exist by itself. It contains life style, mindset, values and everythng of the langauge users. People just naturally learn the culture and mindset learning the language. You know what I mean?. For example, Due to the global K-wave, tons of people from all over the world have been visiting Korea and learning Korean. They naturally absorb our culture just with learning our language itself and communicating with us. Take an example of what you said, the respect culture for elderly people. most of westerners living in Korea respect older people here like we Korean do.

  • A.H 2020.06.28 08:31

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    Do you think those western people would think " Oh Korean's thoughts are always better" ?. No way mate. It's a natural process of learning language. Thats our culture, that'a our thing that the language has. they just naturallt absorb it and fulfil it just by learning language.

  • Monica 2020.06.28 09:08

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    I agree with you. But people get changed a little bit as long as they learn any new culture and thoughts.

  • Asya Türk 2020.06.28 10:02

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    For example,people's are have English names...it seems ridiculous to use english names unless I get citizenship...

  • Simply Kathy 2020.06.28 13:28

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    @A.H Naturally learning parts of a culture when learning language is one thing. What I am talking about is what I know about how English is taught in the schools of the US. Which is to assimilate the person, immigrant into the American society. To put it bluntly I do not want someone to lose who they are culturally when they learn a language. With the "K wave" yes people are learning about Korea and Korean culture. But most of those same people retain the identity they have had as well. As an linguist I know language, culture and a society of that language are all intertwined. But also as a linguist I know languages are also disappearing as well. Like what is seen with the Native American tribes such as the Navajo's or Cherokee tribes.

  • Simply Kathy 2020.06.28 13:29

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    @A.H To learn a language does not nor should not mean dumping centuries old customs because the dominate language culture views them as hedonistic or old fashioned. English and the Western culture is an aggressive one at this time in history. Any and all non-native speakers should do all they can to retain their mother tongues and native cultures or they will be at high risk of being lost.

  • Simply Kathy 2020.06.28 13:31

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    @Asya Türk actually I would rather have you keep your native name

  • Simply Kathy 2020.06.28 13:33

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    @Monica changing a little bit is different than intentionally creating environments which people must change or else be labeled old fashioned or discriminatory by the dominant culture.

  • A.H 2020.06.28 13:51

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    @Simply Kathy If you are talking about students born and get taught in the U.S. They are the U.S citizen. You do not need to worry about them to lose their heritage or culture. What they learn in the U.S is their culture and their heritage. If you are talking about people learning English when they are adult, like you said they retain their identity like westerners learning Korean. Think about it . They respect older people like Koreans do in Korea. But, That doesn't necessarily mean that they lose thier identity. As a Korean, I would say that we are much more highly educated than most of westerners

  • A.H 2020.06.28 13:51

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    Statistically about 99% of students in Korea graduate from high school and about 78% students complete a Bachelor's degree which is much more highly than westerners that shows respectively 60% and 23%. We kinda think that majority of westerners aren't educated. Like if you see how you westerners with pademic.. What I am saying is thst I think you are overestimating the power of English and jusf being arrogant.

  • A.H 2020.06.28 13:57

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    @Simply Kathy Don't worry too much about it Mate. Don't go too far. Chinese has their own language, Spanish has thier own language, Japanese has their own languagr, French has thier own language and Korean has our own language. they wouldnt lose their own identity because of English mate.

  • Asya Türk 2020.06.28 14:55

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    @Simply Kathy I think I couldn't express myself ...https://www.koreanturk.com/pegasus-market-3-bolum-izle.html 46. minute

  • Simply Kathy 2020.06.28 15:48

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    @A.H Ok I dont think you get the point. And on the idea of westerners being under educated actually I agree with you 100%. Maybe I was not explaining myself right. 🤔 Anywho, I hope you have a great day and thanks for the conversation.

  • Simply Kathy 2020.06.28 15:51

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    @A.H The papers I which I was thinking of where about immigrants born outside of the United states and being taught English. These are scholarly resources that I had read for my final paper for my bachelor's degree.

  • Inzali Saung 2020.08.01 15:16

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    I do not want to change my culture but I do want to change my speaking style to become like a native speaker although my aim is hard to reach.

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