This is the true story of a young man who, upon college graduation, left his Pittsburgh home to become an English teacher in Seoul, South Korea. In a city of over 11 million he couldn't read or understand a word of the language, and he didn't know a single soul. American English is a fascinating, honest, and often humorous account of how one man chose to navigate Korean society. His journey includes visiting the tense Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the border of the two Koreas; teaching English with no prior experience; drinking and eating Korean-style, trying to observe proper etiquette; relationships with Korean women and friendships with students; eating live octopus, dog stew and other exotic cuisine; suffering tear-gas and the aftermath of a student riot in Central Seoul; learning Korean; and exploring the seamy side of Seoul's nightlife. American English is both a memoir and an intimate portrait of the real Seoul.