Farewell and Final Thoughts

I thought our class just was begun a few days ago, but it's already time to say goodbye.
Time flies so FAST!!!

It's a good experience to meet you and take a great class.
Blogs also mean to me a lot because I really wrote it very hard.
I think it's first time to write in English so much.
So it gives me courage to write something in English.

and I want to say "Thanks a lot!" to all of you.
Next time, I hope we could see each other in other classes.
Enjoy your extra vacation!

Sleep and Dreams

I think dream represents a sort of thoughts and memories.
I don't believe that dream will come true in real life.
It just came from our past memories and thoughts.
We should think about the dream why we dream it, because past is definitely connected to our present life.
If we didn't exist the past, we can't imagine how we live at present.
Dreams sometimes give us a special or unexpected idea that can't happen in our lives.
We shouldn't cling to dream too much, but we need to think about it once.

Gestures

Can you think of any gestures that may be unique of different in korea?

I think greeting gesture in korea is different from the other countries.
Before an open-door policy, we generally used to bow each other.
but after that, we used to shake hands with foreigners because of business.
Now, shaking hands is also generalized to the whole country.
Shaking hands is mostly used by business or formal place.
Bow is used to greet older people than one's own self.
When someone greet with younger person or friends, we usually wave our hand.
If you wave your hand to older people, it's very rude behavior in korea.
We should act our age as proper manners.

To a stranger or formal greeting or to older people

In business or formal place

To friends or informal greeting

A Short Story

What do you think are the most important things needed to have a happy life?
How can people truely achieve happiness in their lives?

I think that the most important thing in life is "health".
We can't live happily without it no matter how we have lots of money.
But, we can't ignore the money completely to live happily.
Do you know that Korea is the highest of suicide rate in the world?
You can see that below.

You usually know that Korea is the successful nation of rapid economic growth in the world.
It's true, but Quality of life in Korea isn't as high as economic growth.
The money isn't necessarily proportional to the happiness index.
We can't buy the happiness with money.
To live a happy life, it depends on "our thinking".

The photo below is about "happiness ranking in the 143 nations".

Superstitions

I don't believe in superstitions because it can't be explained in any scientific ways.
but sometimes I don't any behavior which can cause bad luck.
If I break the superstitious rules, it gives me feel like happening bad things.
When I need something desperately, I became to believe in superstitious things.
For example, When I had a severe cold, I hope to cure my disease by doing superstitions.

Foot-and-mouth disease

Foot-and-mouth disease is spreading in south korea these days.
Why is it possible to spread rapidly?

First of all, Preventive measures against epidemics is insufficient.
When it happened, we should have prevented it on a nationwide scale immediately.
In additon, Some cities only prevent their areas from foot-and-mouth disease.

Secondly, All people should actively participate in prevention of epidemics.
Because it can be expanded in the air, It needs all people's participation to be terminated.
For example, Some selfish people don't accept a disinfection because of inconvenience.

Eyeless Sight

Why do you think these individuals are able to do these things without vision?

My first theory is that they might have a potential ability like eyeless sight.
If they are born with no eyes, they will need more information where they are.
Losing their sense makes them concentrate on the other sense supersensibly.
It's hard for normal person to appear potential abilities because they don't need to have these abilities.
but, If normal person lost any sense, he might need these abilities.
So, I think it's easier for the handicapped to get supersensible ability than normal person.

Secondly, they may inherit another ability as gene mutation.
It's uncommon to have a gene muation, but we shouldn't ignore it.

"Heroes" is my favorite drama these days. It gives me inspire to think about it.
I really love to watch it. I recommend you to see it. It's very exciting and interesting!!

Mastering a New Language

I think I am much closer to visual learner than any other learners.
When I study English in high school, I usually read or listen an English book.
Most students study TOEIC for gaining more good score, but This test is all for reading & listening skills.
It's not good for foreigners to improve speaking & writing skills.
It's improtant to study all kinds of English skill at the same time such as reading, listening, writing, speaking.
Most students in korea can read English very well, but they can't speak well.
Why they can't speak as well as reading ?
School education leans too much towards reading & listening skills.
To be good at English skills equally, we should use a lot of different ways like visually, orally, physically things.
I haven't used another method like physical things yet.
but, I am sure that if I try to study in all ways, I could improve English skills.

Personal Space

Koreans require less personal space than American.
Why is that?

After the Korean War was over, we didn't have anything to eat.
Korean sentiment is that we should share our food even though it is small in quantity.
Koreans have strong affection which is called "Jeong".
Korea women usually talked to close neighbors about their a little bit private complains.
Neighbors listen to her story, agree enthusiastically.
It's ordinary to share emotions by talking about their happy or sad story.
If someone is in a difficult circumstance, we are willing to help them

But, In american, People think it's personal thing to talk about their story, family, girlfriend and so on.
Because of this, Americans couldn't get close each other.

A Tale of the Unexpected

Toe-dang Park (토당공원)

This picture was taken by me at "토당" park around my house.
It's very bright, sunny, warm spring day.
I feel like going out picnic.
The ground is filled with green, fresh grass.
There is a brown-gazebo which is standing behind the grass.
On the right side of it,  there are two empty benches and one streetlamp which is turned off.
There are dense forest of streetlamp-high green trees.
It's too calm, stillness and I can't hear anything.
It smell fresh air. I feel relaxed, comfortable.

Concerning About My Major

My major is computer science & engineering as you know.
Suddenly, one day, My friend who work with me in language center asked me about changing his major.
then, I also became to think about it.

Is it suitable for me?
Can I success in this field?
what do I really want to do?

I stoped thinking and went to the library for obtaining information.
I also searched the internet and tried to ask anyone who can help me for a advice.
Finally, After considering about my aptitude, I realized computer science & engineering fits on me.

I found I didn't have a plan for the future until now.
I will set up the long-term goal not to lose my own direction.

School Days - Korean Education System

Positive feature
I think self-study is the best in korean education system.
In high school, students stay at school until late everyday night for self-study.
Self-study is the better way than teacher keep teaching knowledge.

Negative feature
Korea education system is that almost teacher just explain something with no thought of student.
Even though many students didn't understand something, they just gloss over it.
Because there is no communication between teacher and student, it makes class so boring.

Suggested Improvement
To be more interactive between teachers and students, we must give them time to ask questions.
Since we are just kids, we didn't ask questions.
So, it became natural that we don't ask something.
If we give a interactive environment in an early age, The class will be lively and funny.

A Person you Admire or Respect - 세종대왕

Sei-jong-dae-wang (세종대왕)

- Historical Figure -

Sei-jong made accomplished many achievements. He invented "hangul" known as scientific language.

He also invented many scientific machine such as rain gauge, sundial. He extended territory by "ab-rok river" and "do-man river".

He had kind personality. He appointed personnel to position according to their ability regardless of party affiliation.

He invented "hangul" for the public to learn a language easily. He abolished the death penalty to raise slave's status.

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My Introduction

Hi~ Nice to meet you! Let me introduce myself.
My name is Kim young jin.
I major in computer science & engineering.
I interested in computer games like Starcraft 2 because of its grapic is fantastic and exciting.
My future plan is to get a job that I really want to do.
but, I don't know what my aptitude is. So I wonder if I change my major or not.
I couldn't study English hard in the second semester, because I didn't have enough time.
So, I will study English hard at this time.
I hope I could improve my English skills in this class.