Student Q and A | Eating Kimchi and Nodding Politely
Some time ago I had to give my students a speaking test. It consisted of me asking them a series of questions to test there fluency in English. These are some of the questions - and some of the more interesting answers I received:
QUESTION: Who is your favorite music artist? Why do you like them?
Answer: You know Hip-Hop? I like Nas because… he is very famous.
Answer: I like Lonely Island because they have very sexual content songs like “dick in a box,” “Jizz my pants” and whatever.
Answer: I like Girls Generation because they so cute. Ahh… [he adjusted himself in his seat and smiled] Yes, they are so cute.
Answer: My favorite artist is Kanye West, because his voice is very charming.
Answer: My favorite musician is Corinne Bailey Rae, because her voice is very beautiful [he seemed quite sincere and a bit emotional so I smiled a little at this].
QUESTION: What school subject are you interested in? Why are you interested in it?
Answer: I like science because teacher is girl.
Answer: I like English because I like Alex teacher [he looked me in the eyes and smiled at his blatant attempt to stroke my ego]
QUESTION: What country, besides Korea, would you be most interested in traveling to, and why?
Answer: No. I don’t want to travel. I like Korea.
QUESTION: Besides English what other languages would you be interested in learning, and why?
Answer: Chinese, because it is funny.
QUESTION: Are there any people you admire? Why do you admire them?
Answer: I admire Michael Jackson because he has beautiful voice and he is dancing Queen.
---Me: Queen?
---Answer: uh, uh, uh King! Dance King! I spell: d-a-n-c-e!...
Answer: I admire Alex teacher because he is very smart, wonderful, and nice.
QUESTION: What do you think would make this school better?
Answer: I would change the teachers. There is so much… uh… [he mimicked violently beating someone with a stick]. There is so much touch.
Answer: I would make this school co-educational. We need girls.
Answer: I think we should have the girlfriends. I don’t like the girlfriends, but the girl students are very diligent. They… [he mimicked reading a book] When boy see the girlfriends they will be challenged.
QUESTION: What Korean food do you like the most, and why?
Answer: Kimchi, because it is spicy and I like spicy foods.
Answer: Sun do bu, because it is spicy and delicious.
Answer: Bi Bim Bap, because it is spicy and tasty.
Answer: Kimchi Gigae, because it is spicy and good.
Answer: Tteokbokki, because it is spicy and spicy foods is very good to me.
Answer: I like the Steak.
QUESTION: What is your favorite Korean holiday, and why?
Answer: Lunar new year. Because I get the money.