Why do Koreans mispronounce the word 'an'?

Everyone from my students to my wife does this. They pronounce 'an' as 'on' (as in turn ON the TV). When I ask them to say the word 'on', they say  'or-n'. My class looked at me like I was a heretic today, when I insisted that the way they've been saying 'an' is actually the correct pronunciation for 'on' (as in turn on the TV), and the way they say 'on' is straight-up BS. One kid defiantly challenged me to check the pronunciation online. So I opened the first google entry I could find and clicked the little speaker icon:

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/an

Now the whole class thinks I'm a fraud (how dare I challenge their beloved KETs in the first place).

Rant over. :)

The Korean language doesn't have the drop-jaw long 'a' sound.

Students learn to say "apple" correctly, then revert to sounds closer to Korean.

My way out when there is a difference is to point out that on pronunciation is more British and the other is more American.
Also the pronounciation that I use can depend on the words before and after it.  Much like 'the' can be pronounces 'thee' or 'thuh'.  I use both.

But you are correct - some pronunciations that are used here can sound strange to me too.  However I know my Korean also sounds weird to them.  I say a word and they correct it - but it sounds just the same to me.  Sounds that have not been encountered before age 7 (I think that is the age I read somewhere many years ago) cannot be heard by us - our brain translates them into something approximate that we can 'hear'.

I think that is why my Korean pronunciation is not so good.  I have been dictating some Korean sentences and usually come out at around 70% accuracy!  I did get 100% for one sentence a couple of days ago. 

Do Brits really pronounce 'an' as 'on'? I want to be 'on' astronaut?  I've been living a lie for 37 years

Do Brits really pronounce 'an' as 'on'? I want to be 'on' astronaut?  I've been living a lie for 37 years

I think they pronounce it more like "un" than "on".  That's pretty common. I don't correct students for pronouncing it that way. 

I don't know why I find this so unsettling. Like if I can't rely on the pronunciation of a simple two letter word I've been using/hearing my whole life, then what can I rely on really?

Guess I owe my students and their Korean teachers 'on' apology. Jesus. I'll never get used to that.

I don't know why I find this so unsettling. Like if I can't rely on the pronunciation of a simple two letter word I've been using/hearing my whole life, then what can I rely on really?

Guess I owe my students and their Korean teachers 'on' apology. Jesus. I'll never get used to that.

It uses the schwa sound when it's pronounced that way.  If you don't know about the schwa sound it's worth a quick read or YouTube watch.  It's the most common sound in English but I was teaching for a couple of years before I ever heard about the schwa sound. 

I think they pronounce it more like "un" than "on".  That's pretty common. I don't correct students for pronouncing it that way. 

Yeah, this is the one for me as well...un rather than an. I do correct though, more for uniformity's sake and to reduce confusion with the younger learners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJUtMEJdvqM

jeremy clarkson can teach your kids the correct pronunciation. 

That was pretty funny. Have to be a piss-take, wouldn't it?

haha  yeah thats just him messing around.

Because in Korean, it sounds like ahn.  안.

Probably for the same reason as many Americans pronounce God as Gud, desk as dask, right as rate and bed as bad.   

...and Aussies say 'fish and chips' as feesh and cheeps. While kiwis say fush and chups. 

...and Aussies say 'fish and chips' as feesh and cheeps. While kiwis say fush and chups. 

Can't trust the kiwis' pronunciation 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6c4Nupnup0

...and Aussies say 'fish and chips' as feesh and cheeps. While kiwis say fush and chups. 

"Australia sux, New Zealand's heaven"

Graffito or soccer score?

Probably for the same reason as many Americans pronounce God as Gud, desk as dask, right as rate and bed as bad.   

I can't get over the ones who say "pants" like "pay-unts".

"Australia sux, New Zealand's heaven"

Graffito or soccer score?

Soccer score! 

I can't get over the ones who say "pants" like "pay-unts".

Lol...Forrest Gump.

Can't trust the kiwis' pronunciation 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6c4Nupnup0

Ahhh...that's so funny. Classic D.L