Final Reflections

1.                Do you feel like your writing has improved this semester? Why or why not? In what ways has it improved? In what ways do you want to continue improving your writing?

Yes, I think my writing sill had improved a lot because I have to write summary or essay once a week while I am taking this course.

2.                Do you feel like your reading comprehension skills have improved this semester? Why or why not? In what ways have they improved? In what ways do you want to continue improving your reading skills?

I am not sure about that. I think that’s because we focus on writing more than reading and we did not talk about reading skills and I just do not like reading….. :( That’s my weakest part in English.

3.                In what other areas do you think you have improved during the semester (grammar, speaking, vocabulary, confidence, etc.)? In what areas do you still need to continue improving? What will you do in order to improve in those areas?
 Speaking because I had no opportunity to talk about academical subject before. However, in this class we have a conversation about scientific or social issues so, it was helpful.   

4.                Was this the first time you kept a blog? Did you enjoy blogging? Was blogging a helpful way to practice writing? Did you enjoy reading your classmates' blogs? Do you think you will continue blogging in the future?

 Yes, it was my first time. It was really helpful way to practice my writing because as I wrote before to improve writing I think we should write many times whatever we write.

5.                What did you learn this semester? What do you want to learn in future semesters?

I learn writing skills a lot like topic sentences and thesis statement. I want to learn high level writing.

6.                What were some of the best and/or worst aspects of this course? Would you recommend this course to others? Why or why not?

The best part is wring skills. A worst aspect is short of time.

7.                Please share any other thoughts about the semester.

Thank you Kyle. I can learn many writing skills by this class.

Essay#2

Tae Gyeong Jeon

Prof. Kyle Brebner

IERW (03)

12 December 2015 

We should Stop the Government’s New Plan

On Saturday, November 14, 2015, there was a war between Koreans. It happened because of the government’s new plan that the government will publish and control history textbooks used in schools. The government asserted that Korean’s history textbooks have liberal bias, and to make objective history education for students, the government has to rewrite history textbooks without bias. Their view may sound reasonable on the surface; however there are two negative effects of their idea because students need to learn various perspectives of history and textbooks can be affected by the government’s political side.

First of all, it is essential to learn various viewpoints for student to improve their thought and creativity. If students study only one history textbook that is printed by the government, it is easy to be a one sided or short sided person. By exploring and studying different standpoints, they can expand their knowledge. Also, history is not math or science so there can be another point of view to interpret historical events. According to Edward Hallett Carr, author of What is History, “History consists of a corpus ascertained facts. The facts are available to the historian in documents, inscriptions and so on, like fish in the fishmonger's slab. The historian collects them, takes them home, and cooks and serves them in whatever style appeals to him.” Also, the Gangwon Provincial Office of Education stated that we have diverse viewpoints to translate historical events, so to deepen and broaden our perspectives we should learn from various history textbooks. So, we should admit others to make diverse history textbooks to protect different point of view.

Also, the government should not change the history textbooks because they can make a biased history textbook. Now, the president of South Korea is Park Geun-hye who was in the Saenuri party, a typical conservative party in Korea. She is the daughter of Park Chung-hee, who led Korea form 1961 and was assassinated on October 26, 1979. There are different opinions of Park Chung-hee. Conservatives have stated that Korea fast development was possible because of him. However, liberals maintained that he became a president illegally by staging a coup. Also, he confirmed autocracy and it delayed democracy in Korea. Both views need to be protected and respected. However, if the textbook is published by the government, then the other side will be ignored. As a result, Korean history books will be controlled by the political power. Park Geun-hye, the Korean president, says that May 16 coup was revolution and the purpose of this revolution was to save Korea from chaos. As we can see from her interview she has strong preference about Park Chung-hee. Thus, if only the government has authority to publish the history textbook, it will be prejudiced by conservative parties. Also, our history can be manipulated by the political side

Finally, the government should not change the rule because their new plan will reduce the students who want to choose history in Suneung which is a type of standardized test by South Korean universities. In Korea, students can choose subjects that they want to take in Suneung. Among the subjects, there are two history subjects. One history subject is Korean national history and the other is Korean modern history. Only few students usually take Korean national history because it is difficult and too old story. On the other hand, many students choose Korean modern history. This is because it is popular subject and fun. However, the government is going to combine those two subjects. If then, student will avoid taking that subject. It can cause serious problem because Korean student only focus on studying subjects which they are going to take in Suneung. Thus, new Korean history book will be ignored and only few students will make effort to know about our history. So, the government should not make one history textbook which will combine Korean national history and modern history.

As a result, textbooks must be published by diverse publishers because students can get opportunities to learn different views. Also, it is too dangerous to control history textbook by the government because they can use this law for their political purpose. In addition, if the government change the history textbook, only few student will study history subject. What can be done to stop this new government plan? If we cannot stop this new plan that gives power to government to publish the history textbook our next generation will learn prejudiced history. When they learn same history from one textbook, there will be no development in our history because nobody will think differently.

We Need One More Official Language.

It is essential to speak second language in today’s global economy. Among languages, English is the most common and powerful language. However, many Koreans are not good at speaking English and they are afraid of talking with foreigners. So, we should add English as an official language. This is because we can save money to spend for private English education and English is important and, save time.

If we have English as an additional official language, we can save money that we spend to study English and take English test like TOEIC or TOEFL. Korean parents usually use $300 a month to give their children an advantage in the exam. After they pass the exam, people go to an English conversation school to learn and practice how to speak English fluently and naturally. Also, taking English test like TOEFL cost $180 for one time. Most of Koreans who prepare TOEIC test to get a job or prove their English, take TOEIC test more than one times. Some of them take that test once a month to get their goal score. So if we add English as an official language, our citizen can reduce money stress from spending English education fee.

While, using two different languages officially can be time consuming, in the future Korean can save time to spend study English. When I was high school student, I spend 5hours to read English article and memorize vocabulary. It is not only my story. Most of my friend who is going to go to a university spends a lot of time to English education. When we are in university, we should make an effort to memorize vocabulary which is time-consuming. Even thought using two languages in official announcement can be inconvenient and inefficient, Korean can spend less time to study English.

 English is important language in the global lifestyle so we should have English as an official language. Even though there are many applications that help translation for non English speakers, ability to speak English is essential. When we travel around, global language is English. We cannot use a translation application whenever we need to use English. Also, if we can speak English, we can get a better job. Most of companies on the abroad want a person who can speak English well. So, adding English as an additional official language is not optional anymore.

Thus, we have to add English as an official language because it will save our citizens’ money and time and, English is essential language in global life.  In the future, our next generation will speak two languages even when they are in elementary school.

Robotic surgery

You do not need to stay at hospital for long time after having surgery. When we get surgery even that surgery was simple, we usually spend long time in the hospital for recovery. However, people are so busy nowadays some people should go back to work; some housewife should take care of their children. From now on, we can just start our life as soon as possible after having surgery. This is because of Robotic surgery. Robot makes it possible for doctor to see 3-D images of patient body and small cuts to insert the instruments.

Robotic surgery can reduce recovery time because doctor can see surgery area easily. Robotic surgery produces 3-D images to doctors so they can make precise movement. In the past, there are many surgery area that surgeon cannot see so, it was hard to use instrument fast and precisely. However robotic surgery lets the surgeon move in a more comfortable ways. As result doctor can finish the surgery fast thus, patient can recover well than before.

Also,robotic surgery can shorten recovery time because it can be performed by smaller cuts than open surgery. In open surgery, to use instrument without Robotic arms doctor should cut more than with robotic arm. However, this robotic arm technology allows surgeon to cut smaller part of patient’s skin because surgeon use tiny instruments to perfume surgery.

We can recover fast by using robotic surgery because it makes smaller cuts than open surgery and doctor can check patient surgery area easily through 3-D images. Even though robotic surgery has positive effects, don’t you have ever though it is not efficient just because it is robot. It is time to change your mind, in near future robot will be your doctor. 

#1 Essay

What If We Stop Taking Suneung?

             Korea is well known about education and students study hours. There is one reason why students have to study hard. The reason is Suneung. Korean students are forced to spend a lot of time preparing for Suneung which is college scholastic ability test in Korea. As a result, many problems have been discovered. First of all, students are stressed out and some of them even committed suicide because of Suneung score. Second, their ideas or thoughts are ignored. Finally, it coasts a lot of money to go to private schools to prepare Suneung. So, if we stop taking Suneung, there are tree positive effects. Student will get less stress and allow creativity to students, and parent can save money.

             First, if the Korean government removes Suneung, students can have more leisure time. When I was in high school, I studied for 15hours a day. I had no time to play game or watch TV because I had to study Suneung to attend elite universities. However, if students do not need to take Suneung, they can participate in fun after-school programs or visit to numerous-themed festivals. Having those activities are essential because according the KNUE professor, he stated that in his article. “An exposure to leisure activities in middle school days especially seems to step up the sociability development of students and have a crucial impact on their growth into well-rounded people.” So, students can grow as a social person with less stress and various experiences.

             Second, students can be creative if the Korean government decides to stop taking Suneung. Suneung has only multiple questions and the answer is already fixed. Thus, there is no opportunity to show student’s ideas. In addition, students are forced to say one correct answer to teacher, even many school’s teachers do not ask student’s thoughts. This is because that is useless for Suneung. As a result, many students do not try to think about subject themselves and become a passive student. If the Korean government gets rid of Suneung, students can think differently. According to education society’s president Byeongsen Gwak, Suneung blocks students to do diverse activities and hinder their creativity. So, when students are free from taking Suneung, they can improve their creativity.

             Finally, parents can save money if Suneung is removed. Most Korean students go to private schools or have tutors to study Suneung. According to Edaily article, 68.6 percent of parent said in the survey that the financial burden of educating their children is hard to manage. Also, the average cost of private education is $530 a month. Thus, if there is no Suneung anymore, parents can save their spending money.

             In summary, there are positive results if we decide to stop taking Suneung. First, students can have more free time. Second, they can be creative. Third, parents can save money. So, if you have taken Suneung already you, will know how it is stressful. To stop taking Suneung what can we do? How can we stop this disaster from Suneung?

What should We Do for Sustainable Future?

People have been short sighted for long time. We seems like we have forgotten that we have limited resources. As a result, we are going to in danger in near future. We do not have enough water, oil, trees and so on which is essential to our life. What should we do to deal with this problem? We have to use more renewable energy resources. Also, the government needs to promote people to work in green employment.

Using renewable energy resources is beneficial because it is eco-environmental and we do not worry about exhaustions. Oil production which is our main energy resources makes CO2. It has created a lot of environmental problem such as global warming. Also, coal, wood, and fossil fuel are limited resources. The article from energy policy stated that coal will be available up to 2112 and others resources will be extinct after 2042. So, it is times to start improve renewable energy systems and use that more than past.

Also, we need to encourage workers to get a job in a green employment. About 2.3million workers are in the renewable-energy industry. However, to improve renewable energy skill and makes it popular resources the number of green employment is not enough now. As I already wrote we are in short supply of resources which we have used in the industry such as oil. In my country, it is not easy to see solar power system in the top of the roof even they installed that because of inefficiency some of them stopped using that. For the improvement of renewable energy resources it is times to support and promote green employment.

As a result, we, who have not been conscious about sustainability, should start to use renewable energy and work in the renewable-energy industry. In addition, there is a benefit we can get from using renewable energy and support green employment. Those are new areas which is not perfect which means that industry needs more people to work together. As a result, we can create a lot of new job opportunities for people who are struggling to have a job.We cannot hesitate anymore. We should do something for your next generation. What you are going to do?

The important role of the location in the secret.

The secret

In some movies, the location means nothing but in other movie like the secret the location is everything. Everything started from an old school building and there was a piano. So, the movie cannot start without special piano in school. An old school building is a very important element in the movie the secret because male and female main characters met each other there.

           At first time, female main characters, Gwei lun-mei, started time travel accidentally. She was an outcast in her school because she was an asthmatic patient. One day she went to the old building which will be demolished in graduation day. While she was looking around there, she found out a special piano score. Magical rule was written in on a piano sheet. ‘If you play this piano sheet you will go to the future’. Gwei lun-mei played that song and in the future Jay Chou heard her piano song. After this time, Gwei lun-mei kept doing time travel in that old building and they fell in love. If this location was not existed, they cannot start their relationship.

           Also, Jay Chou went back to the past in the old school building. He was waiting her for long time but he could not see her. So, he went to her house and he knew everything about her secret. That day was graduation day so workers were demolishing that old building. So, he ran to the building and played piano in fast version. Finally, he went to the past and even he could not come back to his daily life.

          A movie the secret cannot be developed without the old school building. This is because Joy Chou was able to meet his fiancé there. If you were Joy Chou, can you give up everything for your girlfriend?