It's something that I call the English zone of probability…and in simple terms, this is what it means. One of the novelties that I've written about is that when you're on the subway, bus, or walking, when people speak, yell, or mumble Korean all around you, you learn to block it out really quickly, and ignore what's not pertinent to you. The opposite effect is that when you hear English, you usually turn around, and wonder who it is that's speaking; its somewhat of a natural instinct, especially when they're asking questions – for all I know, they're talking to me.
This is where the English zone of probability comes in. For some reason, and I've only noticed this recently, when people see me, while walking, or waiting behind me for a stoplight, or on the bus or subway, they just start practicing their English, as if I'm on their conscience, and making them feel guilty for not practicing more. This was very noticeable when my middle school first graders went to Everland for the day. My students didn't know how to recognize me, because I wasn’t wearing my professional dress, and I couldn't recognize them, because they weren't wearing their uniforms….(you'd think it was the opposite – the uniforms strikingly make it easier for me to tell them apart; each student wears their uniform differently – if that doesn't make sense, its hard to explain). As I was walking around taking pictures, the students (their were more than ten schools from my area who were all at Everland) all reverted to speaking English around me. It was weird, mainly because it happened quite frequently.
I'm sure that I'm not the only person who this happens to – and maybe I'm just weird that I'm noticing this now, when it could have been happening to me earlier. One of the things that I'm noticing is the increasing of English speakers in Korea – their rapid English immersion seems to be paying dividends, because it seems everywhere I'm going, even in Bundang, theirs more English speakers…This is only going to get more and more prevalent too.
Well, I'm done working…for today.
Take care all, and God bless
Me