Essay #4: A Reflection on "Minjok"

     I must first say that it is a shame that I have not spent time thinking about the true meaning of minjok prior to this assignment. Even when I was thinking about which high school to apply to, and made the choice KMLA, I never gave a second thought to what the term "Minjok" in Korean "Minjok" Leadership Academy. In fact, many people think they know what minjok is, but when asked, they can only answer in fragmented sentences or a few phrases.

     There is no fixed definition of the term 'minjok'. It includes many different aspects of Korea and a complex history. Not knowing where to start with in my reflection of the concept, I decided to begin from my opinion, since I myself is a member of the Korean society who holds ideas about minjok. When I think of minjok, what first comes into my mind is pride of being Korean, and a unified society under the concept 'minjok'. This is similar to interpreting 'minjok' as a form of nationalism. In fact, the english word nation is often translated as 'minjok' in Korean. A part of the concept minjok does indeed include unifying ourselves with Korean identity.

Nationalism

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines nationalism as "loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially : a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups." Simply put, it is the practice of having pride in one's nation.
Nationalism is often used in situations when provoking or conducing a nation to work as a unified single body. Nations with members of similar bloodlines and cultural origins easily aggregate, whereas multicultural nations face difficulty doing so. One example that illustrates such difference would be how Greece is dealing with the economic crisis of 2010; countries in eastern Europe are composed of people from diverse cultural origins. With little unity and less loyalty for the nation, the citizens are not willing to sacrifice their rights and benefits for the sake of the nation. Consequently, the situation remains unresolved, and Greece is merely asking for bailout to EU.

Sharing the Same Root

Compared to other nations in the world, Koreans have a relatively uniform origin. Historians interpret the first nation of Korea as Gojoseon(고조선), which was formed around BC 2333 by the great leader Dankun. To largely skim the history of Korea from then, after Gojoseon was the period of the three kingdoms, Silla, Baekje and Goguryeo. These three countries were later united as Goryeo and after an internal coup d'etat around AD 1392, the Chosun Dynasty begins. Throughout the roughly 4000 years of Korean history, Koreans never faced a long time occupation of decades by foreign nations which would have allowed an inflow of people from different cultural origins. Rise and fall of nations all occurred within the Korean peninsula. Although there was much trade and interchanging ideas with China, Korea maintained its autonomous culture.
The idea that Koreans share the same 'roots', that they are 'one people' contribute greatly to the cohesiveness of Korean society, and to the concept 'minjok' of shared identity.

Cohesiveness (Working as one)

Korea has faced many crises and difficulties like all other nations do, and we have had advantage in overcoming them from the strong cohesiveness of Korean society under the idea that we are the same 'minjok'. For instance, take a look at the example of the Korean financial crisis of 1998. At the time, the Korean government owed a large debt to IMF(International Monetary Fund). The debt was so great that it had severe impact on the Korean economy as a whole, which even degraded the Korean financial credibility. To overcome the crisis, not only firms and the government went through extensive financial restructuring and revision of their policies, but there were great individual efforts to pay for the debts. The most prominent example includes the 'gold collection movement', where individuals donated their private gold to provide funds to the government. Furthermore, there was a consumer movement to purchase Korean firm- produced consumer goods rather than imported goods. 

Distinctions between nations

Nationalism creates divisions between different nations. This border prevails especially during times of foreign invasion. Political and military leaders idolize the concept 'nation', 'country' in times of war to unite the people into one, for easy collective action. Not only 'nation' but they emphasize 'MY nation', attempting to create a sense of loyalty and devotion to one's nation and hostility towards the enemy. Perhaps not hostility towards other nations, but nationalism does emphasize the egoistic benefit of one's own nation, therefore seducing an individual to act against the benefit of other nations. Congruently, such feelings create the distinctions between nations. The idea 'minjok' distinguishes us Koreans from Japanese, Chinese, or Americans.

However, minjok implies something more complex than nationalism. Nationalism itself is a complex concept, indeed, but the term 'minjok' cannot be substituted with the word 'Korean nationalism' since the term itself has a special background.

Historical background

 Before the annexation of Korea by the Japanese, the concept was not was
widely and clearly perceived in people's minds. However, as the Japanese attempted to create the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, they forced ideas that Asia united under Japan would free them from western and American powers. They continued propaganda efforts for all nations involved in it to surrender their sovereignty to Japan. Especially to Korea, they banned practice of anything that of Korean identity, such as the production of the Korean flag or the use of Korean language. Concerned about losing the Korean identity and losing sovereignty to the Japanese, many movements began to restore our traditions and to reinforce our national identity.

Ideas of Shin Chae-Ho

Shin Chae-Ho is an influential historian during the Japanese colonial times. He was the first person to use the concept 'minjok' to reinforce ethnicity of Korea. He emphasized the relation of minjok to the existence of a nation. He highly valued legitimacy derived from the 4000 years of Korean history, and set Korea as a separate sovereign nation from China and Japan. In order to do so, he dug into Korean historical records and found many exemplary figures and glorified them. Such examples include legendary war hero stories of Yi Sun-shin, who defeated 333 Japanese ships with merely 13 ships at the Battle of Myeongnyang by using geographical advantages and wise tactics, and Euljimunduk, a general from Goguryeo who lead a great victory against the million soldiers from China. Surprisingly, the term 'minjok' as it is being used today has not been used for so long.

Use by Park Junghee Administration

Park Jung-hee administration during the 1960s used the slogan "My lifetime for the nation and the minjok" to justify his harsh and despotic rule. He reinforced ideas of nationalism and especially minjok, to push people to work harder for his 5-year Economy Development Plan. Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world back then, suffering from the post-war traumas of the Korean Conflict. To reach the amount of production aimed at ridiculously low costs for price competitiveness in exports, people worked inhumane conditions. However, this was possible because he could justify every injustice he forced upon people as their sacrifice for the minjok and reviving the nation as a whole. If it not had been for Park's despotic economic policy, Korea would not have been able to reach such economic development within only ten years, thus many people still praise him for his economic achievements. Nevertheless, his critics argue that imposing strong concept of minjok and nationalism blinded people from recognizing democratic values thus should not be praised.

Hostility towards Japan

Due to the lasting effect of the Japanese annexation of Korea, which ended merely 60 years ago, many Koreans still have animosities towards Japan. A typical example illustrating this are  the reactions to soccer match between Japan and Korea. Many social networking sites are covered with foul emotional descriptions of Japan without proper reasoning, often basing their arguments on the wrongs committed during the colonial period. Koreans feel much victimized by the Japanese and therefore are very hostile towards them. Koreans' overreactions towards Japan regarding Dokdo are another examples that show negative feelings towards Japan. Koreans regard their minjok as better, more developed, rational than Japanese due to these feelings. When treating Japanese, Koreans often bring up 'minjok' and show cohesion against the Japanese.

As seen above, aside from nationalistic qualities, 'minjok' also implies special meanings and history; modern minjok implies some aversion towards Japan, also abuse history to justify dictatorship, and the fact that it was not naturally generated by history but as if brought up by a single man.

Problems and Future for Minjok

Unification of the two Koreas

The separation of North and South Korea occurred during the Korean conflict, which was merely 60 years ago. Both people of Koreas are descendants of Dangun, and thus share the bloodline. We do share the same roots. Technically, we can call ourselves a 'minjok'. However, nationality is much involved in the concept 'minjok' and political ideology along with it. The North and South Koreas each have a communist and capitalistic or democratic political ideal. Whereas many people argued for the reunification of Korea because they are the same minjok, this argument has lost much support as reunification is prolonged and the divided state lasts and the paradigm of thinking becomes completely different due to the opposite political ideals imposed on them.

Segyehwa (Globalization)

Since the Olympics were held in Seoul in 1988, Korea started to face great inflow of ideas and cultures of the world, along with attention. Starting from the 1980s, English grew in importance as global competitiveness in Korea. Great cultural influx resulted in rapid changes in Korean society, in all aspects including fashion, gourmet and lifestyles. Such rapid influx is ruining the 'minjok' concept in some ways. Bewildered by new western ideas  surrounding them and the pressure to follow globalization, they are often adopting them without considering ways to protect 'minjok'. Instead of incorporating the good aspects of other cultures, without hesitation, many cultures are adopted into everyday life. 'Minjok' is valued less these days and western ideals are valued higher for many people.
However, some are too conservative about 'minjok'. Too much pride in Korean culture and the traditional 'minjok' has resulted in some to repel even the good aspects of western culture and preserving 'minjok'. However, as the global trend changes, the concept 'minjok' must develop with it; trapped water could rot. Some exchange of ideas are needed to mend 'minjok' but not entirely. We must find the right medium between adopting changes and keeping the most fundamental values of minjok. 

In-class essay #3 (Revised): Consumed By Consumerism

Consumed By Consumerism

     There was a time in my life when I had a curious eye, always searching my surroundings for something intriguing. That was during my early childhood, around the age 6. After then, I no longer appreciated my environment as I used to. The turning point was the fact that I learned to walk to the toy shop and supermarket with my own feet, along with small amounts of money my parents granted to me.
     Before I was able to consume anything, I was a very naive child. Even very small changes to my ordinary life had fascinated me. For instance, my mom told me that the first time I watched Tom and Jerry, I had been babbling about it all day long. I played with whatever item that was around me, even with frying pans. When I was told a short anecdote, I could imagine and think about it for hours. Whenever my parents tell me stories about my childhood, or rather, babyhood, I am amazed at every episode for I was so naive and innocent, without materialistic greed but pure curiosity.
     Naivety cannot last long, however. As I began shopping for toys and school supplies with the money from my wallet, I no longer appreciated the small things in life. If I was dissatisfied with playing with a toy I had, I could simply discard the toy and go buy a new one, instead of finding a way around to play with it. I was not so rich, but still, I was mostly able to consume what I wanted to, since what all I had been interested in were everyday school supplies. The more frequently I entered the stores, I started to face reality. There were no such imaginary fun toys full of magic that I had seen in cartoons. Every product had similar shapes and functions. I was losing the wing that allowed me to think out of the box Gradually, I became a typical modern day consumer who lost creativity but chose from a limited number of products.
     While watching the short film "Pencil Face", I was reminded of how I became consumed by consumerism, because what the pretty girl in the film had gone through was parallel to my experience. Before the girl meets the pencil, she freely roams the field. Although she seems to be somewhat bored, she could be having fun like I did during my childhood. There can be countless ways of having fun with a metal bar. However, as she meets the pencil, she changes. After seeing phantom-like images of a cake and a kite, she uses the pencil to purchase it. In an attempt to purchase a lollipop, she uses the pencil again, but this time, a vortex appears that sucks her in. The pencil is like the turning point I faced in my life. It changed the girl in her natural state into a consumer, limiting creativity and filling her heart with greed. The vortex of consumerism had trapped her regardless of her will. 

     Although the film can have many different morals, it does convey the message how powerful and scary consumerism can be. A reminiscence about the ld days surely reflects what monsters we have become. "Pencil Face" is a powerful video that helped be realize this fact and learn my lessons, that I am also trapped like the girl.

This reflective essay is a response to the video "Pencil Face": 

Random Post #3: 50 Ways to Say Goodbye

Good song I'd like to introduce: 50 Ways to Say Goodbye by Train

My heart is paralyzed
My head was oversized
I'll take the high road like I should
You said it's meant to be
That it's not you, it's me
You're leaving now for my own good

That's cool, but if my friends ask where you are I'm gonna say

She went down in an airplane
Fried getting suntanned
Fell in a cement mixer full of quicksand
Help me, help me, I'm no good at goodbyes!
She met a shark under water
Fell and no one caught her
I returned everything I ever bought her
Help me, help me, I'm all out of lies
And ways to say you died

My pride still feels the sting
You were my everything
Some day I'll find a love like yours (a love like yours)
She'll think I'm Superman
Not super minivan
How could you leave on Yom Kippur?

That's cool, but if my friends ask where you are I'm gonna say

She was caught in a mudslide
Eaten by a lion
Got run over by a crappy purple Scion
Help me, help me, I'm no good at goodbyes!
She dried up in the desert
Drowned in a hot tub
Danced to death at an east side night club
Help me, help me, I'm all out of lies
And ways to say you died

I wanna live a thousand lives with you
I wanna be the one you're dying to love...
But you don't want to

That's cool, but if my friends ask where you are I'm gonna say
That's cool, but if my friends ask where you are I'm gonna say

She went down in an airplane
Fried getting suntanned
Fell in a cement mixer full of quicksand
Help me, help me, I'm no good at goodbyes!
She met a shark under water
Fell and no one caught her
I returned everything I ever bought her
Help me, help me, I'm all out of lies

She was caught in a mudslide
Eaten by a lion
Got run over by a crappy purple Scion
Help me, help me, I'm no good at goodbyes!
She dried up in the desert
Drowned in a hot tub
Danced to death at an east side night club
Help me, help me, I'm all out of lies
And ways to say you died

Desperately trying to mesmerize yourself that your girlfriend is dead instead of accepting the fact that you are dumped. I feel pity for the dumped guy.

He definitely found quite a few lies to force her out of his mind, but it doesn't add up to 50, actually. No one even himself would fall for his fictional lies. Pity again. Why not get electrified with lightening bolts, or get lost in the woods and starve to death, or.... yeah. A thousand other ways.

I'd prefer to say that I was dumped than to hear lengthy consolations from everyone around me about having a dead boyfriend.

Whatever with the lyrics, great song! :)

Toefl Essay Workshop #1: 김호준, 박민규, 박정원, 황정원

TOEFL Essay Workshop 10a3 김호준, 박민규, 박정원, 황정원

1. Why we chose this essay: The topic was intriguing, and it was written neatly so that it was easy to revise

2. Original Copy:

Our future on the Cloud

  The future of the web lies in the cloud. The Cloud service is a type of on-line service in which people can upload files, and access them from anywhere. Some cloud services allow users to synchronize files with their cloud accounts onto certain folders. More and more people will upload their files into Cloud servers, to collaborate online, to back up critical information, and, of course, to access their files from anywhere, anytime. Such changes are already happening. As time goes on, the cloud will become more closely integrated with the traditional desktop, as well as mobile devices. Already, such changes are happening. The cloud allows people to synchronize, access, and to share their files anywhere, any time, on any device.
The Cloud allows a person to access his/her files anywhere, at any time. This ubiquitous availability means that the user can easily access his files, even when he/she is working on a different system. If he/she needs a file on his/her home computter while working on a friend’s computer, or working on a second computer at work, he/she could easily get access to the files that he/she needs to via cloud services.  This is becoming increasingly important, as mobile devices play an increasingly important role in our daily computing. This would allow people to access the files saved on their computers on their mobile devices. Already, most major Cloud services have mobile applications published to provide support for mobile users to gain access to their file.

Another big advantage of the Cloud is that it provides a safe storage place for files that should not be deleted. This is not to say that Clouds are ‘secure’. They can become vulnerable to hacking at times. That Clouds are ‘safe’ means that it is difficult to lose files on the Cloud.  For a person who isn’t a computer Guru, he/she may delete files that he/she needs by mistake. In that case, if the files were located only in his/her desktop, he/she would not be able to recover the important files. However, if the file was stored on the cloud, it would be easier for him/her to recover that file. It is also very difficult to lose files on the Cloud. Cloud services automatically create multiple copies of a file, and save it to servers located on various areas. For the everyday computer user, this is a huge benefit.
Finally, the cloud gives a boost to productivity. The advent of Cloud services mean that people can collaborate in real time. Already, many corporations are beginning to practice this. This eliminates the need for sending emails to see the latest versions of files. All a person would need is a web browser, and he/she would be able to see current state of the document in question, real time. Further, he/she could contribute to the development of the document. The boost in productivity is great. Many previously desktop-only office suites are currently moving towards supporting cloud services along with their desktop clients.

In conclusion, the Cloud is an emerging reality on the computing world. The cloud provides the user with boosted productivity, a safe place to save one’s files, and universal accessibility. Some people are still concerned about the problem of security, and say that information uploaded to the cloud could be exploited by    Hackers. However, the cloud offer so many, great opportunities to the users. Whether one is happy about it or not, the Cloud will continue to grow more important. It is how we utilize it that would determine the exact usage of the future.

3. Good points and Bad points
⊙ Good
-  Clear format : 5 paragraphs, 1 intro, 3 body paragraphs, 1 conclusion
-  Interesting and specific topic
-  Wide use of vocabulary, avoided repetition of a specific vocab
-  Good use of pictures, neat
⊙ Bad
-  Grammatical errors : plural or singular, issues with his/her/one
-  Topic sentence unclear : cannot find one specific thesis that summarizes the major three points made
-  Some ambiguity in content, for instance, the fourth paragraph needed elaboration

☞ Focus on improving upon the bad points

4. How we revised this essay

We collaborated online via Google Docs Collaboration. All four of us were active in the editing process. We were able to edit the document together while sharing our opinions on specific sentences, words, etc. The revising process itself exemplifies the benefit of the Cloud.

5. Revised Copy:

Our Future On the Cloud

 The future of the web lies in the cloud. The Cloud is a type of on-line service in which people can upload files and access them online. Some cloud services allow users to synchronize files with their cloud accounts onto certain folders. More and more people will upload their files into Cloud servers, to collaborate online, to back up critical information, and, of course, to access their files from anywhere, anytime. Such changes have already started.As time goes on, the cloud is becoming more closely integrated with the traditional desktop, as well as mobile devices.  The cloud is becoming an increasingly important part of our lives, as they provide the users with several benefits.

  The Cloud allows a person to access one’s files anywhere, at any time. This ubiquitous availability means that the user can easily access his files, even when he/she is working on a different system. If he/she needs a file on his/her home computer while working on a friend’s computer, or working on a second computer at work, he/she could easily get access to the files that he/she needs to via cloud services.  This is becoming increasingly important, as mobile devices play an increasingly important role in our daily computer usage. Already, most major Cloud services have mobile applications published to provide support for mobile users to gain access to their files.

   Another big advantage of the Cloud is that it provides a safe storage place for files that should not be deleted. This is not to say that Clouds are ‘secure’. They can become vulnerable to hacking at times. That Clouds are ‘safe’ means that it is difficult to lose files on the Cloud.  For a person who isn’t a computer Guru, he/she may delete (files that he/she needs) significant files by mistake. In that case, if the files were located only in his/her desktop, he/she would not be able to recover the important files. However, if they were stored on the cloud, it would be easier for him/her to recover those files. The cloud is a safe place for one to back up, as cloud services take much care to avoid losing the user’s files. Cloud services automatically create multiple copies of those files, and save them to servers located on various areas. Especially for the everyday computer user, this is a huge benefit.

   Finally, the cloud gives a boost in productivity, especially for businesses. The advent of Cloud services means that people can collaborate in real time. Already, many corporations are beginning to practice this. Corporations are already utilizing cloud services for online collaboration. Cloud services such as Google drive offer document collaboration. People can chat with each other, or leave comments, as they edit the document together online. This eliminates the need for sending emails to each other, and let people far from each other geographically work together conveniently.  All a person would need is a web browser, and one would be able to see current state of the document without any delay. Further, he/she could contribute to the development of the document. The boost in productivity is tremendous. Many previous desktop-only office suites are currently moving towards supporting cloud services along with their desktop clients.

In conclusion, the Cloud will continue to grow more and more important in our lives. The cloud provides the user with a safe place to save one’s files, increased productivity, and universal accessibility. Some people are still concerned about the problem of security and say that information uploaded to the cloud could be exploited by Hackers. However, the cloud offers so many, great opportunities to the users. Whether one is happy about it or not, the Cloud will continue to grow more important.  How we utilize the cloud will determine the exact usage of the Cloud in the future.

In-Class Writing #2: The Nacirema People

The Nacirema People

Anthropologists compare cultural phenomenons to one another. However, this debate is often useless, because culture experts from different backgrounds have different set of ideas and values which they use to assess each tradition. Despite their extensive expertise in the field, heated discussions usually fail to result in a conclusion of what is right and wrong, because all cultures have differing standards of moral righteousness. Analyzing the customs of the culture of Nacirema is no exception. In the eyes of the citizens of 21st century with American democratic values, Nacirema culture is barbaric. However, we cannot criticize them as barbaric considering our very own actions.

To begin with, the first level of ritual is a built-in shrine in every house. Each shrine is equipped with a charmbox full of magical ingredients prepared by medicine men. Medicine men are the gifted ones, the only ones who can decide the potion the client should take. This looks like a very inefficient system of prescribing medicine. The medicine men are the only ones who can interpret the language of medicine, therefore the clients cannot be fully aware of what they are prescribed. Rather, they forget what each packet contains and worship the medicine as it is than benefiting from its curative powers. However, modern people cannot say that their system is inefficient, since our medical practices are not much different. Doctors prescribe medicines with long names that no one knows the properties. We cannot depreciate their culture when our own culture has its own defects.

Secondly, the level below medicine men are the "holy-mouth-men". The Narcirema people annually pull out their teeth, purposely enlarge any holes in teeth or gouge them ton. It involves unbearable amount of pain, yet people visit the practitioners regularly. These medical practices are done without apparent reason to the perspectives of today. The author even describes the culture as sadist and masochist. However, people who are obsessed about hygiene are often willing to endure even worse pain. Not only pain but also people pay tremendous amounts of money to receive treatment that often are done for no reason. Not all medical practices done by doctors are meaningful. Many patients are misdiagnosed thus receive unnecessary treatment.

Last but not least is the latipso ceremony. Sick people are sent to latipsoes, temples owned by medicine men. Patients are prolonging death usually enter this temple with faith, yet they are aware that the possibility of survival is near zero even after receiving the ceremonies. The ceremonies are ridiculous itself; body secrecy is lost, rituals by the 'holy-mouth-men' are performed, and they are continuously cleaned by maidens. No act seems medically significant enough to cure a dying patient. However, it is unfair to say that this act is purely meaningless, because the latipso rituals are the treatment that we receive in modern day hospitals. Nurses wash patients who are unable to wash themselves, and patients' privacy is lost. Terminally ill patients, although they cannot be cured, sit in their beds in the hospital, perhaps hoping for a miracle. Some must endure excruciating pain as a part of treatment.

As shown above, the ancient civilization Nacirema is merely a reflection of modern day medical practices. Not only Nacirema but all civilizations reflect the lives of people these days. Afterall, human nature does not change so much after a few centuries. People these days are just as barbaric as humans used to be a long time ago. Thus, there is no such thing as laying foundation for future civilizations; rather, it is lasting nature repeatedly observed in all civilizations.

Random Post #2: Mock Trial and Debate

       People often confuse mock trial with English debate. That is because both activities involve logic and arguments to win. Often people who excel in debate also do well in mock trial because whereas mock trial puts more emphasis on presentation and preparedness, debate is about spontaneous responses and rebuttals.
       In essence, the two activities are laying out arguments and persuading other people. In mock trial, your team must persuade the jury. Juries are listening, but your points should be laid out in an easy way to understand since they only listen, not taking notes. It can be said that it is easier to make an emotional appeal since juries are not decision-making machines but very human, whereas trained judges in debate put their emphasis on logic. Although jury trials are only held in big competitions, judges always assume that the trial is a jury trial. A debate competition is about persuading the judge to give you more points.
      The format is also very different. Mock trial is a trial. It follows similar processes to a real trial. The attorneys should always address the judge as "your honor" and always ask permission to proceed with any speech or examination. A general outline of the procedure would include: Pre-trial matters > Opening speeches by both sides (Prosecution/Plaintiff > Defense) > Direct examination of P. side witnesses along with cross examinations after each direct examination > Repeat for defense > Closing speeches. Compared to debates which is basically each speaker taking turns to have chances to speak, it is very complex.
   

TOEFL Essay #2 (Revised): Rise of Minorities

The Rise of Minorities

     In the field of science, 20th century was a milestone. Many new scientific advances were introduced, resulting in efficient transportation and communication, longer life expectancy and convenience in everyday life. Compared to the 20th century, citizens of the 21st century are wealthier and display more individuality in lifestyle. Not only in terms of science, many changes were brought in other fields of study especially  politics and culture. Some nations are declining, whereas some are facing an economic boom, and stepping up to world power. Overall, Asian and African countries are facing substantial growth, and they will continue to throughout the 21st century in economically and politically. 

     First of all, Asia and Africa will show significant economic growth. Most of southern Asia and Africa are underdeveloped, such as Nepal, Kenya and Malaysia. Much of the land is rural, and only a small portion is urbanized, leaving potential for modernization. A myriad of natural resources are to be mined in these areas. Valuable jewels, crude oil, and quality wood are ample compared to already developed countries. Also, plenty of cheap labor can also be provided from such countries. International conglomerates in many developed countries are already taking advantage of this fact, therefore contributing to the economic growth of those nations. 
     Furthermore, Asian and African population will grow tremendously. The religious ethic of many of Asian and African countries promote fecundity or prohibit abortion, such as Muslims, Islams, and Catholics, which consequently leads to outgrowth of population. For instance, in the 1990's, population of Africa grew by 3% whereas the average population growth of the world was 1.7%. This phenomenon will continue in the 21st century. With more aid from wealthier countries and advanced medical technologies available, the life expectancy in those countries is also expected to rise. Additionally, the average age of the population is young, which proves their potential for even more population growth.
      Finally, as a result of development of the two continents, they will have a larger voice in international organizations, such as UN. Biases showing disrespect regarding Asia and Africa, such as orientalism, should significantly decrease. Also cultural products along with traditions will spread throughout the world similar to how American culture is deeply embedded into many parts of the globe these days. Many African, Asian cultures are very distinctive and are able to be  commercialized. Not only commercial but  cultural ideas will become more widely accepted in the world, which may include Confucianism or religions such as Buddhism. They will be less influenced by other nations in domestic politics, and have more impact in diplomacy.
     In conclusion, Africa and Asia will grow powerful and have more impact in the international society. They have great potential to grow economically. Also, their population is sure to increase exponentially in this era. Power shift is a natural phenomenon that occurs time to time, and Africans and Asians are the likely ones to hold power after the Americans. 

TOEFL Essay #2: The Rise of Minorities

The Rise of Minorities

     In the field of science, 20th century was a milestone. Many new scientific advances were introduced, resulting in efficient transportation and communication, longer life expectancy and convenience in everyday life. Compared to the 20th century, citizens of the 21st century are wealthier and display more individuality in lifestyle. Thus, not only in terms of science, many changes were brought in other fields of study, such as sociology, especially demography, politics and culture. Throughout the 21st century, the proportion of Asians and Africans in the global population will increase along with their proportion in total production, therefore increasing their cultural and political powers.

     First of all, Asia and Africa will show significant economic growth. Most of southern Asia and Africa are underdeveloped, such as Nepal, Kenya and Malaysia. A myriad of natural resources are to be mined in these areas. Valuable jewels, crude oil, and quality wood are ample compared to already developed countries. Also, plenty of cheap labor can also be provided from such countries. International conglomerates in many developed countries are already taking advantage of this fact, therefore contributing to the economic growth of those nations.
     Furthermore, Asian and African population will grow tremendously. The religious ethic of many of Asian and African countries promote fecundity or prohibit abortion, such as Muslims, Islams, and Catholics, which consequently leads to outgrowth of population. For instance, in the 1990's, population of Africa grew by 3% whereas the average population growth of the world was 1.7%. This phenomenon will continue in the 21st century. With more aid from wealthier countries and advanced medical technologies available, the life expectancy in those countries is also expected to rise. Additionally, the average age of the population is young, which proves their potential for growth in both economic and population terms.
      Finally, as a result of development of the two continents, they will have a larger voice in international organizations, such as UN. Biases showing disrespect regarding Asia and Africa, such as Orientalism, should significantly decrease. Also cultural products along with traditions will spread throughout the world similar to how American culture is deeply embedded into many parts of the globe these days. Some of the cultural ideas may include Confucianism or religions such as Buddhism. They will be less impacted by other nations in domestic politics, and have more impact in diplomacy.
     In conclusion, Africa and Asia will grow powerful and have more impact in the international society. They have great potential to grow economically. Also, their population is sure to increase exponentially in this era. Power shift is a natural phenomenon that occurs time to time, and Africans and Asians are the likely ones to hold power after the Americans. 

Movie Review #1: Earthlings, Somewhat Obvious Yet Shocking

(To watch Earthlings, click here.)

Shocked.
My hands were covering my face. I had observed what has been a part of a massacre happening everyday, even to this very moment. I could not utter a word, for I felt guilt for killing hundreds of 'earthlings' in brutal ways to fill my stomach with so-called protein, or in other words, 'flesh'. Mankind has shown no mercy in treating other earthlings which they should be thankful for their sacrificing to provide us with meat, medicine, clothing, and just about all areas of our daily lives.

What I just wrote above is what I would have written as a review if I was writing this post immediately after watching the documentary. It was filled with cruel and horrifying scenes that would have disgusted anyone.

When a picture is worth a thousand words, a video should be able to convey so many more words than a picture can. Much of the content that is seen in the video is what we already knew in words or occasionally in pictures. When you first heard that Earthlings is a documentary about animal cruelty, you could think of a list of things that you expected to see from the video. However, when we actually see butchers slit the throats of animals and the blood burst, we perceive it as something entirely different. Video is certainly a very powerful way to show the spectators that animal cruelty related to consumerism is a serious problem.

Despite the powerful and convincing message, barbarous and shocking content often dulls skepticism. The problem is addressed in the most effective form. So what? Are we on our own to figure out how to solve the problem? We are simply told to accept the facts, never to take any ACTIONS to help solve the issue. Also, a film is edited so that it is consistent with its main theme. 'Earthlings' leaves out many positive aspects involving cruelty issues, and only exposes the negative parts, therefore exaggerating its seriousness.

The documentary largely discusses 5 areas of animal cruelty; Pets, Food, Clothes, Entertainment and Scientific Research.

1. Pets

Many pets come from commercial backyard breeding mills.
Such harsh environments result in serious mental disorders that persists for life. Furthermore, many beloved animals are abandoned in the streets. They typically end up in animal shelters, awaiting death.
Not limited to the pet section but there is a common logic in commercially treated animals. They are mass produced in a cheap way, regardless of the conditions like industrial goods; a problem that is addressed, but never suggested a solution, again.

2. Food

In part 2, the interior of slaughterhouses are revealed, and the dirty and inhumane environment they are raised in. Even Kosher cows are treated brutally. Not much is different for sea animals, especially whales. People tend to forget that animals must be 'killed' to be consumed, thanks to the meat industry which has done a marvelous job in hiding such procedures. The Food section raises awareness of the fact that animals must be killed in brutal ways to be processed into edible form, rather than introducing new facts. After all, every animal must bleed to die. During surgery, humans bleed like the animals do when incisors cut through our flesh. It is nothing more than bleeding that happens in large scale. Is it possible to kill them in massive scale and with mercy? How?
Also, this section never mentions livestock raised in the field like in the picture above. Nowadays many customers aware of the conditions that animals are raised in prefer expensive products in which animals are treated properly.

3. Clothing

We wear the furs of minks, seals and leathers of other innocent animals. Often, the leathers are ripped off when the animals are alive, and they are left bare without skin, prolonging to be eaten by other animals, or death. The skin must be torn off when they are alive and not in shock to provide soft fur. Notably leather is treated with poisons to prevent from rotting.





4. Entertainment

Entertainment activities that involve animals include circuses, bullfighting and racing such as horse racing. Surely the treatment of animals in circuses were out of my imagination; violence and blood instead of sweet treats to induce them to stand or to the tricks. Also, any running animals are not running but screaming in pain with all their body in craze.
However, this section is not as serious or universal as other sections in this film. Circuses are not common these days and bullfighting is only taking place in Spain. I was rather surprised by with how much this issue was discussed considering its importance; It is exaggerated very much.

5. Scientific Research

Animals are being used in scientific research, mostly for experimenting instead of humans. Many go through untested drugs, and some are even used for testing physical therapy. Countless animals are being harmed and tortured to death each year, and the number is dramatically increasing that it is even impossible to keep in track. It is true that they are treated brutally. However, if the animals are not treated with such ways, humans will need to be in place for them to go under treatment of untested drugs and therapies that can threaten our lives. Whereas the director argues that we are learning about mice when we experiment human medicine with mice, amazingly 85% of our DNA match thus suitable for testing diseases. Although it has been a hot debate always, like all other issues mentioned above, only the stance of one side is presented; therefore leading to bias and rather less persuasiveness.

Consumerism is the biggest to blame; if we don't wish to consume it, it would never have been produced in the first place. However, do all of us must become vegetarians and stop consuming life-saving medicines? Not necessarily.

Random Post #1:The day before the midterm exam

Finally, the time has come. The Midterm Exams. Tomorrow, the exam period will begin which will last for a week, from Thursday to Wednesday of next week.

From my previous experiences, studying before the day of the exam really does no help. Instead, steady and slow preparation is what makes your grade and skills. On a day like today, typically my mind panics and refuses to absorb any academic material. So I decided to scribble on my blog just to keep myself on track and somewhat relax from this  state of total panic.

My exam schedule follows:

 -Thursday; Korean-Chinese(hanja), Math
 -Friday; AP Biology, English
 (No exams on the weekends; hurray!)
 -Monday; Korean
 -Tuesday; AP Microeconomics, Spanish I
 -Wednesday; AP US Govt. and Politics

The difficult subjects are Math and AP Biology; of course, other subjects cannot be described as easy that I can easily get As, but relatively they are less loads of work or studying in the course of preparation. One thing that upsets me is that I have the easier subjects during the latter of my exam period, which means that I have no time to haste before the weekend.

English is also a big concern for me because there is nothing I can prepare for. A college level essay, as Mr.Garrioch just warned our class, should be demanding work to accomplish within the given 50 minutes of exam period. Like before every exam or quiz, I do the typical regret again; "I should have prepared for it earlier." Like I said earlier, preparation on the day before whatever does not make much difference.

This is my first random post. I feel that blog posts really do help organizing my thoughts and most of all I feel less guilty than writing posts on Facebook.... I should do more blogging:)

Very tense, nervous, anxious, stressed, but the best remedy is to enjoy.

Wish everyone great luck on their exams. Muchas suertes!

Comment Archive #1

1) http://swishndd.blogspot.kr/2012/09/monthly-toefl-essay-1-cheers-everyone.html#comment-form

Comment on 도헌's monthly Toefl essay:

Very well written:)
Goods: Fine choice of topic. Interesting. Each body paragraph has clear topic sentence and sufficient explanation.
Points to improve on: Just to fit the 4~5 paragraph format, the first and second paragraphs could be combined. There were some phrases that could be substituted with a word (concision). The conclusion seems too short, and content wise somewhat weak. Nothing to point out about content. Awesome work! :):)

2) http://adfontes96.blogspot.kr/2012/09/monthly-toefl-essay-1-custom-for-health.html

Comment on 다연's monthly Toefl essay: 

<Likes>
1. Interesting topic. By the way, I was wondering if this custom is very exclusive to Koreans. Many Asian countries and Middle Eastern countries also practice this tradition. Well, nothing can be only Korean, so I was just wondering.
2. Well-formatted. I could easily break down your essay as I read along and it was good to see creative transitions like 'without a doubt'.
3. Most of all, agreeable. As I read your essay, I naturally nodded my head because I had to agree with it very much. Good points, well laid out.
<Dislikes>
1. Avoid being too personal. Sometimes, it is not bad to fabricate or generalize details and examples especially when it is TOEFL essays. Rather than saying 'I have seen a few friends suffer from asthma...' you could say that 'people have difficulties with...' something like this to add persuasive power to your essay. Don't be too afraid to extrapolate. This sounds funny and awkward, but I'm kinda serious here.
2. Grammatical errors. Although they are minor, it can be disturbing. Remember to insert articles and commas in the right place, and be careful about plurals.
Otherwise, great, intriguing essay :) Great job!



3) http://breakonekmla.blogspot.kr/2012/09/monthly-toefl-essay-1-real-learning.html?showComment=1354713067570#c8949044062012865438

<Comment on Dongil's Essay>

Hi~ very popular essay....!!
I think you grabbed a very interesting topic, something that people don't usually think of as Korean tradition. I never thought of this as tradition, because I never had so many book finishing parties.....Actually, no offense, but is this a real tradition commonly practiced? I guess it depends on how the parties are organized, but as one of the common students in Korea, I never had parents participate in such parties like you mentioned in the third paragraph.
Each paragraph and the essay as a whole are both well toefl-formatted, and I like how you tried hard to avoid redundancy of phrases. Very few grammatical mistakes.

However, it would have been even better if you:
1. Avoid being personal. A toefl essay is not a personal narrative, so it would be preferable to write in a 3rd person view (avoid using "I") and try to avoid personal examples.
2. 'that', 'this' issue. In attempt to avoid redundancy, you frequently use 'that' to substitute words; however, 'that' can sound casual when it is used too often. Try using similar words like 'such', or or other pronouns, etc.
3. Just a tweak, you repeated 'Moreover' two times in the same paragraph. Perhaps a little bit more attention and caution while writing? :)

Overall, great job. Intriguing essay!

TOEFL Essay #1 (Revised): Hanbok, Pride of Korea

Hanbok: Pride of Korea

Many Korean customs are receiving spotlights from around the world, such as bibimbap, kimchi and ondol. People from different cultures have begun to recognize the amazing scientific mechanisms involved in these customs and health benefits of Korean traditions. Aside from customs that are already well-known, one tradition that has become very popular recently is Hanbok, the traditional clothing of Korea. Prominent fashion designers have begun to include modern hanboks in their collections, and nowadays, there are quite a few famous hanbok designers respected in the field of fashion globally such as Lee Young Hee. Hanbok should be adopted in other cultures for its beauty, comfort, and style.

To begin with, hanbok is a beautiful clothing, which is composed of a variety of colorful fabrics. Usually, it is woven with natural dyed fabric. The colors of the natural dyes are comfortable to our eyes, unlike synthetic colors that can be dazzling. Hanbok is usually woven with silk, or sometimes burlap or moshi. The texture of such fabrics is unique and has a shine that makes the fabric look glossy. When the sheer sheets of silk are overlapped, our eyes perceive the colors of each layer combined, therefore producing a unique. natural color.  Naturally overlapping fabrics result in a mix of darker and lighter regions, expressing delicate and soft colors that cannot be expressed by dyes or any other means. Its texture and color is rich.

Furthermore, it is a very comfortable clothing. Korean ancestors have worn hanbok even while working in the fields. It was the everyday clothing just a few decades ago. Hanbok does not stick to the body, nor does it reveal the body shape explicitly. Relaxed fit allows a wide movement range which makes hanbok suitable to wear to all kinds of places and situations. Although the fit is relaxed, the clothing is not like a huge fabric bag where only the head can be seen.

Thirdly, hanbok is not an outdated clothing. Hanbok does not have a strict form which  llows it to be creatively redesigned. Many people still wear hanbok these days in the modern form, such as students of KMLA who wear hanbok as their school uniform. Although it is mandatory to wear the uniform, majority of students are satisfied with the clothing because it does not hinder with everyday activities and it is not so old-fashioned. Even foreign teachers in KMLA from various countries wear them without complaints, because it is redesigned to fit modern people's style as well as comfort.

To sum up, hanbok is a great Korean custom to be adopted globally. It is not an outdated traditional clothing but fashionable, having unique texture and natural colors. Also, it is suitable to wear everyday because it is comfortable. Globalization of hanbok would surely positively influence other cultures. It is a tradition that Koreans can be proud about, and what should be shared to the world. 

In-class writing #1 (Revised)

The Classic iPod

 

     There was a time when the iPod Classic was a big hit. These days, most people use the iPod touch, some people use the iPod Nano, and rarely do people use the iPod Classic. In contrast, 6 years ago, when not many students owned the iPod Nano,the iPod Cassic surely meant luxury. Like most students, I dreamt of having one too.

     At that time, I spent my fifth grade in Canada, in a Korean dormitory where everyone was older than me. I have always had trouble getting along with seniors, and the years I spent in Canada were no exception. Not only socially inactive but also physically passive, I had suffered from obesity. It is common sese in the perspective of a senior to dislike a kid who is fat and not extremely nice towards him or her. I was the lonely-and-intimidated-fat-kid of the dormitory.

     Everyone in the dormitory had to call their parents once a week mandatorily. On the phone, I would nearly cry and whine about how I had no friends around me. I actually felt like I was being bullied. Being informed about the difficulties I had been facing abroad, my parents were keen to help and support me in all ways.

     One day, I received a special parcel from my parents. I could not believe my eyes when I opened the box. A white iPod Classic 32GB in a white silicon case. For about a week afterwards, everyone in the dormitory envied me and they seemed to have interest in me. I thought I was finally socializing with them after spending so many lonely days. However, after everyone had satisfied their curiosity with the device,

Nonetheless, I was not as lonely as I used to be because I had my new electronic best friend, the iPod. I literally kept in touch with it wherever I went. Whether I was shopping, on my way to school, or even simply resting in my room, earphones were plugged into my ears and the straps were around my neck. I kept the iPod on and playing for the rest of the time in Canada.

     After 8 months, I returned to Korea. While attending school, since all my classmates were as old as I was, I was able to get along fine and make many friends. Also, I had lost some weight in Canada due to the extreme stress of being alone, so I was not as obese as I used to be. I had real human friends around me all the time and consequently, the electronic best friend who used to be a part of me was fading from my memory.

Roughly a month or two after I returned from Canada, the new iPod tough was released. The iPod I had was no longer the trend, so I was quite asahamed to carry the outdated MP3 player. It became lost in my messy room, and its existence was completely deleted from my memory until two weeks ago.

     I was cleaning up my room to move out of the house I used to live, and I found the iPod under a stack of books. Feeling sorry, I tried to turn it on,but since it had been out of human touch for nearly 5 years, it must have been rusted internally. It no longer works. Although late, I really miss the classic tunes that I used to listen with my iPod.

In Class Essay #1: The Classic iPod

The Classic iPod

 

   There was a time when the iPod Classic was a big hit. These days, most people use the iPod touch, some people use the iPod Nano, and rarely do people use the iPod Classic. In contrast, 6 years ago, when not many students owned the iPod Nano,the iPod Cassic surely meant luxury. Like most students, I dreamt of having one too.

   At that time, I spent my fifth grade in Canada, in a Korean dormitory where everyone was older than me. I have always had trouble getting along with seniors, and the years I spent in Canada were no exception. Not only socially inactive but also physically passive, I had suffered from obesity. It is common sese in the perspective of a senior to dislike a kid who is fat and not extremely nice towards him or her. I was the lonely-and-intimidated-fat-kid of the dormitory.

   Everyone in the dormitory had to call their parents once a week mandatorily. On the phone, I would nearly cry and whine about how I had no friends around me. I actually felt like I was being bullied. Being informed about the difficulties I had been facing abroad, my parents were keen to help and support me in all ways.

   One day, I received a special parcel from my parents. I could not believe my eyes when I opened the box. A white iPod Classic 32GB in a white silicon case. For about a week afterwards, everyone in the dormitory envied me and they seemed to have interest in me. I thought I was finally socializing with them after spending so many lonely days. However, after everyone had satisfied their curiosity with the device,

   Nonetheless, I was not as lonely as I used to be because I had my new electronic best friend, the iPod. I literally kept in touch with it wherever I went. Whether I was shopping, on my way to school, or even simply resting in my room, earphones were plugged into my ears and the straps were around my neck. I kept the iPod on and playing for the rest of the time in Canada.

   After 8 months, I returned to Korea. While attending school, since all my classmates were as old as I was, I was able to get along fine and make many friends. Also, I had lost some weight in Canada due to the extreme stress of being alone, so I was not as obese as I used to be. I had real human friends around me all the time and consequently, the electronic best friend who used to be a part of me was fading from my memory.

   Roughly a month or two after I returned from Canada, the new iPod tough was released. The iPod I had was no longer the trend, so I was quite asahamed to carry the outdated MP3 player. It became lost in my messy room, and its existence was completely deleted from my memory until two weeks ago.

   I was cleaning up my room to move out of the house I used to live, and I found the iPod under a stack of books. Feeling sorry, I tried to turn it on,but since it had been out of human touch for nearly 5 years, it must have been rusted internally. It no longer works. Although late, I really miss the classic tunes that I used to listen with my iPod.

Monthly TOEFL Essay #1: The Hanbok

[Essay Prompt #1]

Describe a custom from your country that you would like people from other countries to adopt. Explain your choice, using specific reasons and examples.

   Many Korean customs are receiving spotlights from around the world, such as bibimbap, kimchi and ondol. People from different cultures have begun to recognize the amazing scientific mechanisms involved in these customs and health benefits of Korean traditions. Aside from customs that are already well-known, one tradition that has become very popular recently is Hanbok, the traditional clothing of Korea. Prominent fashion designers have begun to include modern hanboks in their collections, and nowadays, there are quite a few famous hanbok designers respected in the field of fashion globally such as Lee Young Hee. Hanbok should be adopted in other cultures for its beauty, comfort, and style.

   To begin with, hanbok is a beautiful clothing, which is composed of a variety of colorful fabrics. Usually, it is woven with natural dyed fabric. The colors of the natural dyes are easy on our eyes, unlike synthetic colors that can be dazzling. Hanbok is usually woven with silk, or sometimes burlap or moshi. The texture of such fabrics are unique and has a shine that makes the fabric look glossy. Slightly sheer, when sheets of silk are overlapped, the silk looks darker than it is. Naturally overlapping fabrics result in a mix of darker and lighter regions, expressing delicate and soft colors that cannot be expressed by dyes or any other means. Its texture and color is luxurious.

   Furthermore, it is a very comfortable clothing. Korean ancestors have worn hanbok even while working in the fields. It was the everyday clothing. Hanbok does not stick to the body, nor does it reveal body shape explicitly. Relaxed fit allows a wide movement range which makes hanbok suitable to all kinds of places and situations. Although the fit is relaxed, the clothing is not like a huge fabric bag where only the head can be seen. 

   Thirdly, hanbok is not an outdated clothing. Hanbok does not have a strict form which allows it to be creatively redesigned. Many people still wear hanbok these days in the modern form, such as students of KMLA who wear hanbok as their school uniform. Although it is mandatory to wear the uniform, majority of students are satisfied with the clothing because it does not hinder with everyday activities and it is not so old-fashioned. Even foreign teachers in KMLA from various countries wear them without complaints, because it is redesigned to fit modern people's style as well as comfort.

   To sum up, hanbok is a great Korean custom to be adopted globally. It is not an outdated traditional clothing but fashionable, having unique texture and natural colors. Also, it is suitable to wear everyday because it is comfortable. Globalization of hanbok would surely positively influence other cultures.

About Me

Hello. I'm Jung Won Park from class 10a3. Catherine is my English name that I also use on Facebook. I'm easier with my English name than my Korean name since I lived abroad for some year, and I call myself "Catherine" than "Jungwon" in many occasions, like Facebook I mentioned. I lived in the States, specifically VA, for an year and prior to that I lived in British Columbia, Canada for an year. In total, two years of foreign experience.

Allow me to briefly introduce myself. I have a bad habit of playing with my hair. That is one of my  oldest and worst habits that I cannot get rid of. I also prefer to be active and participating rather than passive and quiet. And I have a very loud voice that is not easy to ignore.
I want to become either a lawyer, a writer, a professor, uh...not quite sure yet. Before coming to KMLA, I thought of becoming a fund manager, but this school and the variety of its curricula has definitely widened my scope of what my future can look like. Currently, my interests are philosophy and sociology. Languages, of course including English, are always fascinating, too.

My goal this semester is to have fun. I think learning is a by-product of enjoying when it comes to languages. Therefore I believe it is wiser not to aim to improve my English, but to do my best and not find this class stressful.