But though Sun might, possibly, have had English lessons at some point (daddy's idea of a statement of status), Jin was obviously from a poor family. So the chances of him having had language instruction when he was young are slim.

Jin was obviously from a poor family. So the chances of him having had language instruction when he was young are slim.

Except for the crappy English classes that he got every year in school.

This conversation reminds me that my first German teacher was a native Korean Speaker (Herr Chung). The resulting accent caused some raised eyebrows when I tried to speak to actual Germans.

Except for the crappy English classes that he got every year in school.

Is it clear that these classes have been in place long enough for a 37 year old to have had them?

However, I think if TPTB want Jin to have learnt no English, he learnt no English. It's their call.

But wouldn't Jin be too old to have had English in school? I got the impression that in-school English classes were fairly new.

However, I think if TPTB want Jin to have learnt no English, he learnt no English. It's their call.

I worry that ita has fallen under the thrall of TPTB. Or the Pretty. Who will be our Champion?

This is how people get through an episode of Alias without laughing derisively at the plot, right?

At the end, did anyone else get a vibe of Sun walking into the ocean and not coming back out?

It felt like a freedom vibe to me. Then again that doesn't preclude her not coming back out, just a different kind of freedom.

I am without knowledge of how likely or unlikely an educated Korean of Jin and Sun's age would know English. I'll buy what the writers present. The isolation of Jin tore me up. The lack of communication between the couples reminded me of a daytime soap, but with better acting and scenery.

My childhood was spent with Italian and Polish speaking grandparents in many friends homes. I picked up many phrases, long since forgotten, and never had any doubt what they were saying when yelling at us. In recent years I am surrounded by Spanish speaking people and have absorbed a few things. Language is fairly easy for me though.

There is a point though. The article you quoted that learning English has been focused on in recent years. How recent is recent? I find it perfectly feasible for a 30-something from a fishing villiage to have not been part of that program, unless someone can track down some dates on when mandatory English lessons became part of the school curiculum and how widespread it was in relation to when Jin would have been in school.

I find it perfectly feasible for a 30-something from a fishing villiage to have not been part of that program, unless someone can track down some dates on when mandatory English lessons became part of the school curiculum and how widespread it was in relation to when Jin would have been in school.

That's pretty much my point. I don't feel it's even a wank. It's just a thing.

The roomie needs training. When I got home, she nonchalantly said "TV Guide said [Big ass spoiler here]." It's enough to knock me off my wagon and get my butt over to Spoilers.

Also, TV Guide shouldn't list things that spoilery.

I don't feel it's even a wank. It's just a thing.

This needs to be on a t-shirt. That I will then wear, and point to when such things come up.