Callie AndersonEnglish teacher & creator, Callie쌤 at Influ Learning

I NEVER say this in the US 🇺🇸🙅‍♀️ But I say it in Korea 🇰🇷🤫 #영어 #영어공부 #영어회화 #english #미국영어

22 Apr 2024 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:57

In this short YouTube monologue, the presenter (A) reflects on the word “foreigner,” explaining its literal meaning—someone who does not belong to a particular place or group—and noting its negative connotations as a stranger or outsider. She contrasts how the term is commonly used in Korea, where it is heard frequently and often accepted, with its usage in the United States, where the presenter advises avoiding it because of America’s cultural diversity and the term’s potentially unfriendly tone. Drawing from her own experience as a foreigner living in Korea, she shares that she now uses the word herself but was initially surprised when others called her a foreigner. To encourage more respectful conversation, she suggests polite alternatives for asking about a person’s origin, such as “Were you born and raised in [city]?” The video’s purpose is to raise awareness of linguistic sensitivity across cultures and to provide practical phrasing for more inclusive dialogue.

Chapters

I have never used this word in the US, but I hear it constantly in Korea. Foreigner. Let's look at what that word actually means. A person not belonging to a particular place or group. A stranger. An outsider. So as you can see, it doesn't really sound the nicest. And the US is so diverse that it's impossible to tell who's actually American and who's not. I know it's a bit different here in Korea, which is why I think people get away with using this word. And to be honest, I use it here now too. I call myself a foreigner, but when I first came here, I was a little bit surprised when somebody referred to me as a foreigner. So in the US, I really recommend avoiding using this word. If you're curious about where somebody is from, here's how I would do it. Were you born and raised in the city that you're in? Were you born and raised in New York? Were you born and raised in Miami? Were you born and raised in LA?