Why are Koreans (Excluding Korean Americans) so horrible at English?

As a Korean-American I feel like a large majority of Koreans (primarily the teens and young adults) are horrible at English, especially grammar. Out of all the Asian groups, Koreans seem to be the worst because almost every fob Korean I've encountered with make absolutely no sense when they are speaking English, which always puts me in a awkward situation, but at the same time, I find it funny as hell. When I have encountered with kids of other ethnic groups who aren't native English speakers - Chinese, Mexican, Greek, or whatever, nearly all spoke with an eloquent tone  (although they had a horrible accent), their grammar was still on point and are hundred times better than how the Koreans speak English. Why is that? I'm still Korean so I kind of feel embarrassed myself. Instead of "How are you doing today" Koreans would say something like "How do you do today" or "How did you do today" something along those awkward lines. Or instead of "I will call you tomorrow and let you know", they will say something like "I will call you at tomorrow and I will tell you it" Terrible. Those who have gotten out of ESL still tend to have awful grammar skills, and the funny thing is - Everyone makes the same, common mistakes, which can be learned and mastered in a very short period. Do you think it is because Koreans always tend to hang out with their own group of Koreans, not willing to break through the language barrier? Because if that's true, it's no wonder that their English skills never improve. What are your opinions?

It's not that bad.

Whenever I play online games on SEA servers, even though their primary language is english, it still doesn't make any sense.

Maybe they don't use it enough in their every day life? Only thing I can think of. I know a family originally from Peru and they came here when one of the youngest girls was coming into college I think. Anyways, they still have a strong accent from their home country but their English is fine in speaking in every day life. I haven't personally talked to the grandparents in the family but from what I understand from my other family members who have they have a little trouble sometime... I just assume they just use English in their every day life with work, school whatever. They have a daughter who is a little kid who was born here and she speaks both fluently. So maybe it depends on how much exposure they have to English. 

Trollish ID. Check.

Not so subtle singling out of ___ ethnic group.  Check.

Purported membership of said ethnic group to deflect criticism. Check.

Perpetuation of racial stereotype.  Check.

*slow clap*

I am not sure if it is true or not that Koreans are worse than other races when it comes to non-native English speakers, but I do not notice that most of them are rather weak when it comes to grammar. I have my fair share of experience with Koreans straight from Korea and it seems to me that either the students do not really prioritize their studies when it comes to the language, OR their education system does not really focus on the little things like grammar. I have friends who have improved a lot once they came here to study, but then I also have friends who still makes grammatical errors quite often despite staying here for almost a year. However, do keep in mind that even native speakers have issues when it comes to grammar. When I edit papers my friends write, I usually find at least one or two grammatical errors and these papers are written by people who were raised up here, or have lived here for over 5 years. I am not sure which schools you attended, but from what I remember, teachers rarely focused on teaching proper grammar to the students here (or at least at the schools I went to). I probably learned some in elementary school, but in high school? Teachers did not even teach us, despite the fact that I recall memories of teachers telling us to use the same grammar in papers and whatnot.

In other words, if students living in countries where English is the native language have issues when it comes to grammar, it is no surprise that students from non-native English speaking countries have even more problem trying to get it right.

It's not that bad.

Whenever I play online games on SEA servers, even though their primary language is english, it still doesn't make any sense.

How would you know someone's race in Online Games?

How would you know someone's race in Online Games?

You ask them and hope they will be honest.

No different from going up to a stranger and going "what race you be brah?"

You ask them and hope they will be honest.

No different from going up to a stranger and going "what race you be brah?"

That is such a random question to ask...

How the heck do you manage to suddenly ask someone their race. Do you go "Hey brah, before I party with you, what race are you? 

You can't really judge the majority of the Koreans based on what you encounter so far and say plain out loud that 'they are horrible at English'.

For them to speak another language is one thing, however, what you should consider is how they process their thoughts as well.

So for example, English being James(just a name to make it easier) second language, grammar isn't going to be top notch. Why? Well James thinks in his language, translating to English will surely can't be perfect and there is possible flaws. Take Google translator as an example, sometimes it doesn't make sense.

So to your question, it depends on the individuals.

mmm....your username o-o....

I find Koreans who are learning English always seem to have a good grasp of it. Like, the ones I've spoke to, they'll have a good idea of nuance and colloquialisms. I don't know if that's just the select few I've met, but I've always been impressed.

Or instead of "I will call you tomorrow and let you know", they will say something like "I will call you at tomorrow and I will tell you it" Terrible.

Ahahaha. I've heard other Asian ethnic groups speak like this. Especially Chinese. But I think you answered your own question. Unless these Asians are always surrounded by native English speakers, then their English will never progress. That's why they say when learning a new language it helps to surround yourself with people that speak that language. The Koreans that you've met, though they live in America probably hang with and associate with other Koreans and speak Korean with them. Their English will probably never evolve past what they already know.

The "How do you do" part is something I've heard in a cassette tape (back in the days) from an English class somewhere in South Asia...

It went something like "Hi JooooOOOOHN?" - "Hi SaraaaAAAAH?" - "How do you do today JoooOOOOOHN?" - "I'm doing great! Thank you and you SaraaaAAAAH?" - "Great! Thank you!"

So that was wrong? Damn...

At least it's clean English... I would understand what they meant...

The sad thing is that in America, those who went to school still came out like:

"Yo yo wassup dawg" - "Yo nuttin' much homie, just chillin'" - "Aight aight pass me sum of yo goodies bruh"

^Lol yes and add to that different accents and slangs depending on your area and such. The tape thing reminds me of a documentary of North Koreans learning English. Only thing I wonder about is how someone would do in a conversation where there's a wide range of discussions and such. Not by the book learning. I agree with who said the best way to learn is to surround yourself around others. A Spanish prof I once had encouraged that. It reminds me of CL of 2ne1 who when she was first in Korea she didn't know any Korean. But after living there for a good while and being involved in the group I remember in season one of 2ne1 tv she said Korean is now what she comfortably speaks in her every day life and she apparently knows French, Japanese and English (along with Korean). I dunno if her knowing other languages had anything to do with it though. 

Well.. I have a chinese friend from Hong Kong that moved to Canada in Gr. 7, and even though it's been about 4 years, her grammar is still atrocious O_O.... on the other hand, some of my other immigrant friends picked up the language really fast.

I think anyone can learn English, it just depends on their skillset and how willing they are to learn, improve and practice ^^

^ I agree.

How successful you are in something only depends on how hard you work on it

well you have to understand that they are probably translating in their head from their language to English. You have to at least give them credit for being able to make the sentences. From my experience in Chinese I know that when you are translating from Chinese to English directly, then it wouldn't make much sense. It has to do with the sentence structure and the way the words are arranged in their language. Even when you use google translate to translate to a different language, it doesn't make sense, right?

It's their second language. My Korean isn't amazing because I lived in UK and their English isn't good because they grew up in Korea.

A lot of fobs move to Vancouver ie: RICHMOND.

At my school, a lot of them can't even speak english even though they've been here for years.

And they're all from china.. they have accents and their grammar is pretty bad imo.. 

One of my best friends is korean, moved here to Canada when she was in grade 6, learned to speak fluent english in 2 years, but now she moved back to Korea and attends an international school.

it depends how hard you work 

Well I being Korean and talks english gooden, parden me!

Hey at least I understand you perfectly... But your username is not long enough...

Maybe you're stereotyping?