Korean Traditions and Customs

08
U N I T

Vocabulary

In this unit you will study: 1. Fill in the blanks with the correct expressions.
describing common Korean traditions and customs
further uses of present perfect
funeral hanbok pass away Hwan-gap
ancestors 100-day party reception

1. A party after a marriage ceremony is called a .

2. A Korean party to honor someone on their 60th birthday is called (a) .

3. A ceremony for someone who has died is called a .

4. A Korean party for a three-month-old baby is called a .

Starter Have You Ever…?
5. Traditional Korean clothing is called a .
1. Ask and answer the questions below with a partner. 6. A more polite word for ‘die’ is .

7. Older family members who have passed away are your .

Have you ever worn a hanbok ?

Have you ever made kimchi ? 2. Match the correct foods with the expressions.

Have you ever eaten ‘boshintang’ ?

What’s Galbitang ?
It’s beef rib soup .

2. Look at the questions below and see if you can explain them in English. 1. Samgyetang • • ⓐ marinated, barbecued beef
2. Bibimbap • • ⓑ rice wine
1. Why do Koreans touch their elbow, forearm or hand (with the opposite hand), when giving
something to someone they respect? 3. Makgeolli • • ⓒ seasoned/spiced ribs
4. Boshintang • • ⓓ rice mixed with vegetables
2. Why do most movers in Korea like a phone number that ends with 2424?
5. Bulgogi • • ⓔ dog stew
3. Why do a lot of older buildings not have a 4th floor?
6. Galbi • • ⓕ chicken stew

66 Speaking for Everyday Life 2 UNIT 08 Korean Traditions and Customs 67

Conversation 1 You’ve Worn a Hanbok Before, Right? Pair Work Ask the Questions

Make questions for the verb clauses below. Follow the example. Practice the present perfect tense. When you
Listen and practice with a partner.
are finished, ask your partner the questions. Write down their answers.
Susan: Hey, Mi-hyun. You’ve ➊worn a hanbok before, right?
Example: have a dog A: Do you have a dog now?
Mi-hyun: Yeah, I’ve done that a few times. Why?
Susan: I have to ➋wear one for my grandfather’s… uh, what B: Yes, I have a dog.
do you call that ceremony Koreans have ➌for their
ancestors…? A: How long have you had it?
Mi-hyun: You mean ➍‘Jesa’? B: I’ve had it since I was in high school.
Susan: Right, that’s it. I’ve never ➎worn one and I don’t
know ➏how to tie everything.
A: Have you ever had a dog ?
Mi-hyun: No problem, I can help you with that.
B: No, I’ve never had a dog.

Situation 1 Situation 2
➊ bowed to your parents and grandparents ➊ been to a baby’s birthday party
➋ bow for my grandparents ➋ go to my niece’s
➌ during Lunar New Year’s ➌ on a baby’s first birthday

➍ ‘Sebae’, the New Year’s bow ➍ ‘Dol’

➎ done that ➎ been to one

1. study another language besides English
➏ how deep to bow and which hand goes on top ➏ what gifts I’m supposed to bring

Q:
A:

Grammar Points Present Perfect

2. play a musical instrument
1. In Unit 1, we used present perfect to talk about past experiences. We can also use it to express the
repetition of an activity: Q:
A:
I’ve worn a hanbok at least twice this year.
I’ve flown on an airplane many times. 3. exercise regularly
I’ve called my girlfriend every day for the last two weeks! Q:
A:

2. We can also use for or since with present perfect to describe when a certain activity that continues to the
present began.
4. your choice
Q:
You’ve known Jung-soo for two years. for + a duration of time
We’ve been studying English since middle school. since + a previous time A:

*NOTE: It’s common to contract ‘have’ with the subject when ‘have’ is used as an auxiliary verb.
DO NOT contract ‘have’ when it is the main verb! I’ve new shoes. (X) → I have new shoes.

68 Speaking for Everyday Life 2 UNIT 08 Korean Traditions and Customs 69

 Conversation 2 I Have a Korean Question! Class Activity In Korea We...

1. In the box below, write down yes or no depending on whether the idea fits that culture. Some ideas may fit
Listen and practice with a partner.
both cultures.
Robert: Hey Joon-hui, I have a Korean question.1
Joon-hui: Sure! What is it? English-speaking
Do You Think...? Korea
Countries
Robert: I n class I’ve learned the Korean word for ‘yes’ is ‘nae’,
but none of my Korean friends use it.
1. It is polite to use two hands to accept or offer
Joon-hui: Since they are your friends they probably use the
something to someone older than you.
short form2, ‘eung’ instead of the full word, ‘nae’.
Robert: Right, that’s it! I guess it’s like when we say 2. It is acceptable to sleep with a fan on in a
‘uh-huh’ instead of ‘yes’ in English. closed room.
Joon-hui: Exactly! Most languages have quick ways of 3. Women shouldn’t smoke in front of men older
saying common words. than them.

1 I’ve
4. When saying goodbye to a boss or someone
got a Korean question for you.
* NOTE: Low-high form verbs and expressions are common in Korean, much less so in English.
I have a question about/on Korean. older than you, a bow is polite.
2 reduced form | low form
5. It is generally common to call someone older than
you (including your boss) by their first name.
6. It is rude or strange to ask someone their age.
Practice What Does that Sound Mean? 7. A wedding, and the reception following, are
1. Below are some common English expressions and their meanings. After your teacher demonstrates the important occasions that last for hours – often
pronunciation, match the expressions and meanings.
late into the night.
8. Too much time in air-conditioning can make
1. Ouch! (Ow!) • • ⓐ no you sick.
2. Hmm • • ⓑ yes
9. A funeral can last several days.
3. Mmm • • ⓒ tastes good
10. Pickles and/or corn are not commonly eaten
4. uh-huh • • ⓓ pain with a pizza.
5. huh-uh • • ⓔ thinking 11. It is strange to ask someone if they are married.
6. Oops! • • ⓕ What?
7. Huh? • • ⓖ small mistake or accident

2. When you finish, check your answers with your teacher. Did any of these surprise you? Which ones? Where
2. Now choose the correct expression. 1. (Mmm... / Hmm...), you can really cook well! do you think these cultural differences come from? Can you or your teacher think of any other interesting
2. (Huh-uh / Huh)? I didn’t hear you. differences?

3. (Ouch / Oops), I spilled some milk.

4. (Ouch / Oops), that’s sharp. Be careful!

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Listening Activity Writing Activity How Do You Spell That?
1. Spelling Korean words in English is often difficult and confusing (‘Korea’? or ‘Corea’?, ‘Busan’, or
1. Listen and check true or false. ‘Pusan’?, ‘Park’ or ‘Bak’?). We’ll practice writing some important words below.

1. Ho-jin wants to go to a video-bang. True False

2. At first, Eric doesn’t know what a PC-bang is. True False Your name:

3. A PC-bang is kind of like an Internet café. True False ↳ Now ask your teacher to pronounce it, and check for any accidental English meaning.

Your city and/or province:

2. Listen to the rest of the conversation and fill in the blanks.
Your school:
Ho-jin: T
 hat’s because ‘bang’ just means ‘ ’. A ‘no-rae-bang’ is a
with friends, a ‘jjim-jil-bang’ is a place to A famous Korean company or product:
and with friends, and a ‘video-bang’ is a
a video. A famous Korean singer or group:
Eric:  ell, I guess that makes sense. Now let’s go to that you
W
mentioned.

Ho-jin: G
 reat, there’s a new game I wanted to . We can try and play
each other.

Eric: Perfect. I’ll be happy to beat you at any game you choose!

2. Write the new spelling next to the old spelling of the common words below.

Old Spelling New Spelling Old Spelling New Spelling

1. Pusan → 4. Kwangju →
Konglish! Konglish!
2. Taegu → 5. Inchon →
Change the Konglish expressions to English ones.
3. Taejon → 6. Cheju →
1. They like singing rooms. → They like .

2. Can I have your sign? → Can I have your ?

3. Her husband is a good cooker. → Her husband is a good .

4. The dentist took out my love teeth. → The dentist took out my teeth.

5. Tell us a funny episode. → Tell us a funny .

Wrap-it-up Questions
Get into groups of four. Turn to ‘Wrap-it-up Questions’ in the back. Students should ONLY look at their own
questions.

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