Reflections

Honestly, taking this class, I had had some difficulty in many essays and readings. Moreover, I had felt that all students (except me) were very good at English, and that depressed me a lot. As time goes on, however, I got used to this class and homeworks. Especially writing essays had distressed me so much at first, but, continuing that, writing essays became easier. It does not cause a headache anymore. The class helped me to be accustomed write in English. I have improved in writing as much as I wrote. And through this class, I became able to find thesis statements and topics in articles.

Essay 2

Arin Jang

Prof. Kyle Brebner

IERW (03)

26 November 2015

 

A nation that forgets its past has no future

 

            On November 14th, there was a huge demonstration in Gwanghwamun Plaza in central Seoul. A lot of people and policemen pushed and attacked each other, which caused heavy casualties. Why did the people get so mad? That is because the South Korean government has recently announced plans to publish new history textbooks issued by the government in middle and high schools, ignoring public opinion. So, recently in South Korea, there are strong arguments, both for and against the government-published textbooks. The government should not publish these textbooks, considering the right to interpret the history freely, concerns about being distorted, needlessness of using government-issued textbooks – because Korea is neither dictatorship nor developing country – , and public sentiment.

            First of all, interpreting historical events must be free and depend on each student, not uniformly through only one textbooks. Each student has the right to be taught various aspects of historical facts. No one has the right to deprive them of this right. The people who agree on unified textbooks claim that middle and high school students were being confused about different descriptions of different textbooks, so only a single history textbook is needed to solve this problem. However, this confusion can raise more discussions, which are helpful to revise wrong description like glossing over Japan’s wartime atrocities. Then, the more discussions that are raised, the better history textbooks can become.

             The next reason why unified history textbook are opposed comes from a concern that government-issued textbooks would be distorted textbooks, which would contain left-leaning contexts, and used to indoctrinate a particular ideology. Governmen-issued textbooks should not be used as means to promote the government. While supporters may insist it is impossible to distort history in the information society like today, we can know it is enough possible according to the past elementary textbooks government published. These textbook included distorted contexts that Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905 was concluded successfully, exported rice to Japan, and suppression of resistance army to Japan. Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905 was a national tragedy, so it should not be depicted successfully. Korea‘s rice was plundered by Japan, not exported, and resistance army to Japan was a proud army, not a target to be suppressed. After knowing these facts, how can we agree on government-issued textbooks?

            Moreover, government-issued textbooks are used only in dictatorships and developing countries that do not have the economic capacity to publish private textbooks. In fact, while government-issued textbooks are used in North Korea and Bangladesh, authorized textbooks, issued by a lot of private publishers and just approved by the government, are used in the USA, the UK and France. Is South Korea a dictatorship or developing country like North Korea and Bangladesh? No, the Republic of Korea has developed a vigorous democracy and also made economic development greatly. Then, why do we need one government-issued textbook? Even the UN has opposed government-issued textbooks. The UN advised Vietnam to abolish government designated textbooks and change it to authorized textbooks, and Vietnam accepted that advice.

The most important problem about this issue is that this unilateral decision by the government is going against public sentiment. Professors do not want to write that textbook, teachers do not want to teach that textbook, and students do not want to learn from that textbook. They are evem passionately demonstrating against the government’s decision. In the democratic state, it has to be impossible to implement a policy that the public oppose fiercely.

             For these reasons, I don’t agree with one government-issued history textbook! Do you still agree on making this textbook absolutely? Whether you did not know about this issue or agreed on it before, now, you can understand why people disagreed and came out to join the demonstration opposing the government-issued history textbooks. Anyway, regardless of these pros and cons, the government has already began to carry forward the scheme. So, people might think these arguments are no use anymore. By expressing opposing opinions consistently, however, we can preclude the government from abusing political authority. We must keep being concerned about this issue, government-published history textbook, for education of our future generation. If there were not any action, in the future, everyone would have the same historical interpretations, be left-leaning and believe the distorted history is a real Korean history.

 

Should there be one world language that everyone speaks?

Should there be one world language that everyone speaks?

    

 

     There should be various languages in the world, not only one language. Someone says that various languages make people learn more than one language, which requires lots of time and expense. So, they could think that if we spoke one world language, it would become much easier and more comfortable to communicate with everyone, wherever he or she comes from. However, language is not just a way to communicate each other. It has much more value than that.

 

     First reason is that language is a cultural and historical heritage. Languages reflect own history and culture background of countries. So, unifying languages to one, abolishing languages, is like destroying the statue of liberty in U.S. or Gyeongbokgung Palace in Korea. Then, if we diminish all of languages but one and speak only one language, what culture and history is left..?

 

     Second, language is a characteristic of each country. One language might restrict development of culture variety. What is it different with colonizing all of the countries by one language? One language will simplify the world. It seems like there is just one country on the earth.

 

     Lastly, interpreter is well being as developed as we do not need to learn more languages. If someone insists only one world language because of difficulty of learning more languages, it is a unnecessary worrying. We do not need to learn other languages requisitely.

 

     The one world language is a destructive idea and does not be needed. Our country’s own culture and history are really precious and our characteristic is also. Moreover, with a interpreter, difficulty and worrying of learning another language would disappear.

Innovation in the whole life: 3D Printer

Innovation in the whole life: 3D Printer 
 

   Imagine that you can make reproductions of everything through a printer, so you don't need to go out for buying something and can just make it, like foods, furnitures, pills, and even houses. It sounds like possible only in SF movie. But in reality, 3D printer was invented, which can copy not only papers but also everything three-dimensional. It is a really exciting and significant invention, because it can provide us goods which fit us perfectly and treat patients by making specific body parts.
 
   3D printer is one of the best surprising inventions we've ever seen because we can make our own production by 3D printer. Untill now, we had no choice but to buy goods which was designed and made by companies even though it was not to our taste. However, with 3D printer, we don't need to buy unsatisfactory goods anymore. And we can make our own products that fit our use and taste. Is there no snacks that suit your taste in any supermarket? Or it it bothering to cook dinner or go out for buying something? Then, just design and make your own with 3D Printer. It will make you more convenient than any other inventions.

   Another significant advantage of 3D printer is that it helps doctors operate on patients more easily by providing prosthesis and a model of organs. Using 3D printer, it is possible to make a prosthetic arm which fits each parients perfectly at a low cost. Also, doctors can rehearse on printed organs before real surgery so that failure rate decreases. And when we suffer throes, we can make own pills which is optimized on a sepecific pain without going pharmacy. I think it is the best medical appliance in terms of replacing body parts, safety of surgery and easy access to getting pills.

   3D printer gives us great convenience and helps medicine field in various ways. 3D printer is playing an important role already in a lot of field such as the production of automobiles, designing clothing and electronic components. Although it cannot be commercialized to the general public yet, it is being developed more and more now. (Acually, it is commercialized enough, but the price is too high yet) According to experts and doctors, many types of printer will be commercialized more and also generalized by lowering the price within 5-10 years.

Essay

Arin Jang

Prof. Kyle Brebner

IERW (03)

6 October 2015

The Kiss

             A couple in the painting is embracing, a woman is kneeling down and a man is kissing her on a flower garden seemed as a cliff. Overall, it is covered by gold. You will easily find out what I describe. It is The Kiss, made by Gustav Klimt. It is the best art I’ve ever seen. I will introduce the painting’s background, and then describe, interpret and evaluate it on my view.

             I want to introduce the background story of the painting at first. Gustav Klimt, an Austrian symbolist painter, is known as a best painter for expressing woman historically. And there was a sincerely beloved woman for him, Emilie Floege,. The Kiss. He described his fear and precariousness that stemmed from being abandoned by Emilie by drawing the couple kissing on the edge of a dangerous cliff in the canvas. And he proposed to her with the painting, and she accepted it. Since then, they had been together for 27 years with not physical relationship but platonic love before Klimt died.

             The background where couple is kissing is covered by gold. Traditionally and generally, gold symbolizes wealth. I think in this painting the gold means sexual pleasure the couple feels. I guess Klimt might use the gold color to describe that sexual pleasure is as worthwhile as happiness from the wealth. They are on the flower garden cliff. The flower garden means happiness when they were together, and I think the cliff can be interpreted by two ways. The first is anxiety. That is from worries that my lover might leave me like that Emilie left Klimt. The second meaning I think is a thrill from kissing. It seems that the pleasure from kissing is as thrilling as standing on the edge of the cliff. I have not met Klimt, but I think he would paint The Kiss with this intention I guess. Then, there is no clue where they are and when. From this point, I feel like they are renouncing the world and there is no one but them in the world. No clue about the place and time makes us focus on only their love without any distracting thoughts. Another point we should focus on when seeing this painting is the difference of the man and the woman. The man is wearing on clothes filled by black and gray rectangles, grasping the woman’s face. I feel rectangular shape means toughness of men, and the colors double that feeling. Grasping the woman’s face also strongly portrays his masculinity. On the other hand, there are circles and curves of various colors on the woman’s clothes. It feels like flowers. The circles and curves of various warm colors give me a soft sense relatively. I feel obeisance of woman from kneeling down. Judging from this expressions Klimt did, I cannot help thinking he had a stereotype of gender like most people in his period.

             I felt uncomfortable about the expression of woman and man, seeing The Kiss at first. Because, by the colors like gray/black and pink/red and the shape such as rectangles and circles, the woman is depicted very passively and obediently, and, contrastively, the man very actively and authoritatively. I hate this prejudice, especially about the gender. But considering the male-dominated society Klimt lived, it is possible for me to understand why he had this thought. I like the background of gold color and the flower garden, as they express ecstasy from kiss very properly. Especially, I think the flower garden and the cliff is the best expression of kissing one’s lover. Even though I don’t know exactly about what Klimt’s intention was, it is the best way of showing happiness, ecstasy and thrill simultaneously, I think.

All factors of the painting, including colors, backgrounds and shapes, express the feelings we have when we are with a beloved person and kiss. So when I see The Kiss, I get an impression that I want to kiss my lover like them and feel emotions that it seems to be on the cliff with my lover. That’s why I love this painting best. It lets me have romantic feelings. Therefore, I recommend you to appreciate The Kiss in detail, then you will be able to find meanings you didn't know until now and feel like falling in love as I did.

(Sources of information : NAVER knowledge encyclopedia, NAVER news)

For Sustainable Future

For Sustainable Future


   Most of us are not aware of water shortage. Because when we want water, we just go water purifier or sink and get it. Very easy. But realistically, there are no countries that have enough water now. According to UNESCO, if  the tendency of water consumption lasts for over 20 years, 180 millon of people will live in region where water runs dry. We have save water to save people in the future. So, I recommend some ways we can practice easily in daily life: turning off the tap and doing laundry at once(not seperately)

   Very first step we can practice is turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, rubbing your hands or face with soap. It is a very easy way, as you know. But most of you do not practice with thoughts that it is trivial. Actually, I often see many people wash their hands with the tap turning on in toilet. And then, putting water in a basin or a cup is also good habits. There is enormous amount of gap between turing on the tap and using water in a basin. Just don't wash your teeth, hands, or face through running water and use a basin and a cup.

   And another way to save water is doing laundry at once. Some people run a washing machine every time they have something to be laundered. However, it is a bad habit which can promote water shortage. Whether the amount of laundries is few or many, water consumption is same. So, do not laundry frequently and do that after dirty laundries are gathered enough. Only when you do laundry, you might just as well be lazy to overcome shortage of water .

   By turning off the tap(and using water in a basin) and doing enough gathered laundries, we can help the people who may suffer from water shortage in the future. These ways can save not only the people in the future but also the ecosystem including many fishes. Moreover, these habits help us pay the water charge less. And they are also really easy way to practice water-saving in everyday life. Why don't you practice these habits in your daily for eusuring the sustainable future and household expenses?

Monte Carlo

The story which is the place is important

  Views of Le Moulin de la Galette, scenes in Montmartre and the Seine, ocean views and dinners from a luxury cruise... I’m sure every woman has dreamed about that at least for once. Aren't they a perfect fantasy of all women? The movie 'Monte Carlo', set in Paris and Monte Carlo, can satisfy these women's fantasy. Considering beautiful views of these cities, Paris and Monte Carlo are a very important element of this movie. In this movie, that cities help charaters fall in love.
  In this movie, all events start from a travel to Paris. Grace and her friend, Emma planned the trip together, but Grace's stepfather suggested going with a stepsister, Maggie. Grace and Maggie disliked that, but unfortunately Emma and Grace accompanied Maggie. Meanwhile, Maggie fell in love with Riley at the Eiffel Tower. However, they seperated without sharing phone number because of busy plans ofpackage tour. Meanwhile, Maggie fell in love with Riley at the Eiffel Tower. However, they seperated without sharing phone number because of busy plans ofpackage tour. And because of the terrible package tour, they couldn't enjoy the essence of Paris properly. They even missed a package bus and went to a luxury hotel for taking shelter from the rain. By chanec, Cordelia, a British heritor, looks just like Grace, so the hotel manager mistook Grace for Cordelia. They wanted to take rest and lied. And next day, they went to Monte Carlo in according to Cordelia's schedule.
  In Monte Carlo, Grace met Teo who is with pretending that she was Cordelia and fell in love with him. Missing the package tour, they enjoyed pretending they were Cordelia and her friends and receiving preferential treatment. So they continued pretending even in Monte Carlo. Teo had never seen Cordelia, so he didn't know she is not Cordelia. They had a good time with beautiful fireworks in Monte Carlo. And Maggie met by chance Riley again in Monte Carlo. Meanwhile Emma's boyfriend, Owen, went to Monte Carlo for her. In conclusion, Cordelia realized that Grace pretened to be Cordelia, so Grace, Emma, Maggie were in an awkward situation. However, all of them had happy endings.
  Paris and Monte Carlo are the romantic cities which have beautiful views letting people fall in love. In reality, Emma, Maggie and Grace found their lover in these cities, aren't they? Unless they didn't go to there, is it possible to fall in love with Riley and Teo? I guess it would not be possible. I think the lovely and romantic moods only these cities have help them fall in love.

Geotourism in Yeongdeok-gun

Geotourism in Yeongdeok-gun

  "Geo-tourism" is based on the principles of sustainable development and environmentally friendly forms of tourism.It helps maintain and promote the unique character and aesthetics of landscape and its geological heritage, its natural wealth, quality of people´s life, and local culture. 
  Here, in Yeongdeok-gun in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, we can find it out. Yeongdeok-gun has a lot of tourism attractions, Yeongdeok Blue Road and ecological park, and local foods like snow crab, sweetfish and pine mushroom. Based on these things, Yeongdeok-gun is becoming one of the best example of geotourism.
  We cas easily see what ways geotourism change this destination. First of all, many geographical features and specialities in here made a great contribution to successful geotourism in Yeongdeok-gun. Yeongdeok-gun has natural tourist attractions mingled with a beautiful coastline, sea, river and mountain including Palgaksan Mountain, Okgye Valley, etc. Utilizing these place, Yeongdeok Blue Road and ecological park are built. And there are also various food festivals utilizing many local specialities like snow crab and sweetfish. These things devoted itself to promoting Yeongdeok-gun and also vitalizing economic activity here.
  Second, geotourism revitalized a forest fire area in Yeongdeok-gun. In 1997, there was a very huge forest fire in Yeongdeok-eup Changpo-ri. Since then, a national project has planted a lot of vegetation and established a theme garden, accommodations and amenities to revive this place. And finally this place that had been a burned area is successfully changed to a famous tourist attraction.
  Third, local cultural heritages that were being forgotten start to be rediscoverd by various businesses supporting historical culture resource. Various culture programs including Boksakkot festival, Yeongdeok art festival and museums are being progressed to bring historical heritages back to life. If it were not for geotourism, even the residents in Yeongdeok-gun could forget these invaluable heritages such as Sindolseok Jang-gun and Bang-hak-jung.
  On the other hand, the more famous, the more crowded, so transportation to here became very uncomfortable. But government has a plan to complete establishing KTX road and station to resolve this problem. As you can see above, geotourism has influenced and developed Yeongdeok-gun by varied ways.

'The Ape in the Office' Summary

Unit 1, Lesson A: "The Ape in the Office"

  This article is about similarities between humans and primates. Richard Conniff, a specialist in animal behavior, found some similarities in terms of cooperation&conflict, the value of networking, the importance of hierarchies and the limits of aggression.

  First, both primates and humans are essentially social creatures. They live cooperatively and normally not oppositively. Because that attitude leads to surviving and succeeding for both of them. Second, they also try to create tight relationship with their friends for the various purposes. Third, they made hierarchies themselves naturally and effectively. Their rank considerably influences their behavior to other in higher of lower rank. At last, both humans and primates come into conflict sometimes to assert themselves or gain status. Conniff, however, said conflict and aggression make humans or primates isolated. 

  It was very interesting that chimpanzee and I have very many similarities in various aspects. And I reconfirmed cooperation is the best way to succeed and survive in society. 

Hi

Hi, nice to meet you, everyone!
My name is Arin Jang. I major in political science and diplomacy. I like traveling wherever. I want to go to many countries and experience various cultures. That's why I want to improve my English. Honestly, I feel frightened a little when I choose this lecture. Because I don't have confidence in my English and it seems like everyone in this class has a good command of English. Though, I really look forward improving my language skill with this lecture.
See you in the next class~