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.