final reflection

1.Do you feel like your writing has improved this semester? Why or why not? In what ways has it improved? In what ways do you want to continue improving your writing? -At first i didn't know how to write a persuasive essay. But through this class now I can write persuasive essay using main sentnece and supportin sentences. 2.Do you feel like your reading comprehension skills have improved this semester? Why or why not? In what ways have they improved? In what ways do you want to continue improving your reading skills? 3.In what other areas do you think you have improved during the semester (grammar, speaking, vocabulary, confidence, etc.)? In what areas do you still need to continue improving? What will you do in order to improve in those areas? - Vacabualry semester improved. Because at first i'm not good at vocabulary, but through this class every time we studied vocabularise so my vocabulary has been improved. 4.Was this the first time you kept a blog? Did you enjoy blogging? Was blogging a helpful way to practice writing? Did you enjoy reading your classmates' blogs? Do you think you will continue blogging in the future? -Yes, this is the first time, i enjoyed that but a little problem was eventhough i was trying to make a paragraph, i didn't wokr. so my essay and blogpostings are not good in shape... 5.What did you learn this semester? What do you want to learn in future semesters? -I learned reading and writting and in the future i want to study speaking. 6.What were some of the best and/or worst aspects of this course? Would you recommend this course to others? Why or why not? -The best thing was have a chance to write an english essay. It was my first time. so I had many difficulty. but it was exciting. And the worst thing was eventhough i wrote all day writting essay, i didn't get a satisfied score...i must study harder...

rewriting essay2

Byun Min-Jung Prof. Kyle Brebner IERW (04) 20 November 2015 ‘Who should be responsible for writing history book’ Recently, there was an event that shocked Korea. The Korean government planned to write a national textbook of history. It means they prohibit private companies from publishing history textbooks and at the Ministry of Education, they gathered historical professors, teachers and made national textbook of history. This has caused many history textbooks are to be abolished and only a single history textbook can survive. This single textbook is the national textbook that was made by the government. In response, many professors, including Korean National University professors, and university students refuse this. All of them thought single textbook is not good for students. First, national textbook of history disturbs variety of interpretations. Because writers that government picked would wrote textbook in stance of the current government. So they will write advantage of current government. Although there is strong opposition, why does the current government want to conduct this plan? At first, through this plan, the government can select the publisher so they can control the information contained in the textbook. If so, it is certain that the textbook will be written with more favorable information for the current government. Especially in history, we can come up with Varieties of interpretations throw one historical event. Second, national textbook of history is not permit in democracy country. Currently countries that use national textbooks in the world are China, Taiwan Singapore, Vietnam, North Korea, Sri Lanka, and Mongolia. No country is using a national textbook among OECD countries. If Korea publishes a national textbook, it will be the only case in OECD. So we can guess why our nations disapprove of national textbook of history. It must put back the clock. And the introduction of a national textbook means that the government controls historical consciousness of the public. As I mentioned, countries use national textbook are communist countries or dictatorship. I can’t understand why the Republic of Korea does this plan. In the case of a severe ideological conflict in a country like South Korea, we may change the textbook every five years when the regime changes. Third, I think this is not right education. It means, the uniform interpretation of history is preventing a variety of views and eventually will corrupt. Also the national textbook of history has a dangerous of writing wrong. Why? The national textbook of history beautify truth of pro-Japanese and dictatorship of Park Jung-hee. When our country was a Japanese colony, there were many patriots but national textbook of history will never mention them. So we shouldn’t be teaching the truth to our children and descendants. So who should be responsible for writing history books? The government or private companies? I think both the government and private companies. If we write a textbook of history in the government’s stance that will certainly write in favor of the current government. It means, as I mentioned before we may change the textbook every five years when the regime changes. What a ridiculous situation that would be! Conversely, if only private companies write history textbooks they will be written by so many people that we can’t understand what is really true. Both methods are dangerous to the students who must study correct history. So my opinion is both the government and private companies should write together. History is more important than any other subject. Because knowing the correct history can understand past, understand present and expect future. Many Korean want our children, students can study right history. So please do not use power to make national textbook of history.

#7 Should Korea have more than one official language?

Now many countries and people are using global language, English. But many people worried about decreasing their traditional language. They think in their language, there are so many things such as history, ritual and their mind. But if we use English, e can announce our culture and get more information and can make our economy bigger. Now we are living in a global world. So if people want to announce or keep their tradition or language, they should study global language English. Do you ever heard about Korean wave? It means many people in the world watch Korean drama and movie, listen Korean music (K-POP), eat Korean food and wearing Korean clothes. For example PSY and EXO. So many Korean including me are proud of Korea and Korean culture. How can we advertise Korea and Korean culture to other countries? The answer is uploading video through Youtube or posting at our blogs. If we do these, we use nor Korean but English. Because other countries can’t read Korean. They can understand English. It means before announcing ours, knowing and learning global language (English). Another reason is if we visit somewhere in the world, we can see English in everywhere. For example if we visit museums or tourist spots, most information is written in English. Maybe there are also Korean. But it is not in everywhere. So if you want get much information, try to study English. Also if you want to search diverse of information through internet or books, you need to study English. Because there are many books and much information written in English. Finally, if Korea has English as an official language, our economy is getting bigger and higher. It is discomfortable that tourist can’t understand what others say if they visit Korea. Unless Korean study English it is hard to explain for foreign tourists. Good communications makes good image of Korea. Good communication and good image of Korea make them revisit Korea. This is not good for our economy. The fact is that we should study English and use English. It is essential to have English as a second language.

essay#2

Minjung1

Byun Min-Jung

Prof. Kyle Brebner

IERW (04)

20 November 2015

‘Who should be responsible for writing history books, the government or private companies?’

Recently, there was an event that shacked Korea. Korean government planned to write national textbook of history. It means prohibit private companies to publish history textbook and at the Ministry of Education, they gathered historical professors, teachers and made national textbook of history. This causes many history textbooks are abolished and single history textbook can survive. This single textbook is national textbook which made by government. In response, including Korean National University professors, many professors and university students refuse this. Each colleague students put up hand-written posters that made their stance.

Though this strong opposition, why our current government want to conduct this plan? At first, through this plan, government can select publisher so they can control the information contained in textbook. If so, it is certain that textbook will be written more favorable information tcurrentgovernment.Especially in history, we can come up with

varieties of interpretations throw one historical event. But national textbook of history disturbs variety of interpretations.

Currently countries that use national textbook in the world are China, Taiwan, Singapore and Vietnam. North Korea, Sri Lanka, Mongolia. No country is use national textbook among OECD countries. If Korea publish national textbook, it is the only case in OECD. The introduction of a national textbook means that government controls historical consciousness of the public. As I mentioned, countries use national textbook are communist countries or dictatorship. I can’t understand why Republic of Korea does this plan. It is certain that the government write a national textbook of history in an advantage position to current government. In the case of a severe ideological conflict country like South Korea, we may change the textbook every five year the regime change. I think this is not just education. Stagnant water is bound to corrupt. It means, the uniform interpretation of history is preventing a variety of view and eventually will corrupt. Also national textbook of history reverses our history upside down. Why? National textbook of history beautify truth of pro-Japanese and dictatorship of Park Jung-hee. When our country was a Japanese colony, patriots and pro-Japanese and democratic patriots are proud of their victory. So we should be teaching the truth to our children and descendants.

So who should be responsible for writing history books? The government or private companies? I think both the government and private companies. If we write a textbook of history in the government’s stance that will certainly write in favor of the current government. It means we may change the textbook every five year the regime change. What a ridiculous situation it is! Conversely, if only private companies write textbook of history, it was written by so many people that we can’t understand what is really true. Both methods are dangerous to the students who must study correct history. So my opinion is both the government and private companies should write together. History is more important than any other subject. Knowing the correct history can understand past, understand present and expect future. I hope in this critical history, please don’t cut in profit and power.

essay1. rewriting

Minjung1 Byun Min-Jung Prof. Kyle Brebner IERW (04) 03 October 2015 Korean government should welcome more Syrians into the country. Prior to writing my essay about ‘what do you think of welcoming Syrian refugees’, I want to tell you about ‘The Syrian civil war’. Because of the long-term seizure of power by one man, Syria people were beginning to exclaim democratization. At first people were calmly and peacefully. However the government pressured powerfully, people got angry so the scale became bigger than before. Eventually the fight became government verses anti-government. Government was Shi`ah religion and anti-government was Sunni religion. Their different religions made big problem. In Middle East, religion is so important that people can die because of religion. At last joining with neighboring countries, the civil war became on a large scale. Participating Russia, China and The United State, all of the Syrian territory became battlefield. So many Syrians left their country to live and became refugees. I think Korea should accept Syrians as a refugees and care for them. Many people think that if we accept them as refugees, we would suffer many negative effects such as problems of economy and safety. For example, if they come to Korea and one Syrian gets a job, it means one Korean has lost a job. Also many people are worried about IS. If IS come to Korea, it must be dangerous in Korea society. Last, many Koreans are afraid of losing ethnicity if government accepts refugees. But I think it’s our duty to accept them as a refugee and care for them. Do you know when Korea has The Korean War? That time many countries around the world saved Korea for example many missionaries taught Korean students and many people in other countries gave support to variety of food and basic necessities. I think it is our duty to help the country which is in a difficult situation. This will be the first step to a world peace. And if we accept refugees, it is obvious that we can increase diplomatic and international presence in East Asia. For example, consider the case of Qatar. Qatar has started the refugee support faster than Saudi Arabia. Through this aspect, they established a reputation in the world. Last if Syria has change of government, many Syrians who are living in Korea and cared by Korean government, they will return to their country Syria. And someday if Syria and Korea have a treaty such as economic or cultural things, it will have positive effects. Except for cultural and economical advantages, it will also have many advantages. A few weeks ago, there was one photo on the news. This was a Syrian refugee 3-year-old boy lying dead on the beach. While he went to refuge with his mother and brother, he was drowned. And this photo made everyone cry. Nobody asked about his death. Everyone knows that the war made him die. Include this child, many children are placed in danger of death before opening their dreams. Now we are the one world. So we must help them actively.

blogpost6

Recently, hybrid car is emerging in the market. This car has both internal combustion engine and battery car engine. It means, by riding this vehicle we can reduce fuel efficiency and harmful gases. So we can reduce harmful gases if large 90% less than conventional vehicles. It can improve the air environment of the metro police and traffic control. Through these benefits we also call this car as eco-car.

In addition, there are also many other benefits. First, we can get tax cut by buying this car. Because government gives some support. Government wants many people to buy this car. Second, this car is composed of electronic motor, so it doesn’t make big noise. Today many cars make big noise, so we sometimes feel a bit out of sort.

Despite these advantages, it is natural that there are many drawbacks. Because this car is still developing and did not selling too much. First, because this car is composed with electronic motor, so if the motor is dead we should change the battery. But this battery will cost much.

Still hybrid-car needs lots of feedbacks. But many experts say, this hybrid-car will dominate at the market. Because nowadays oil prices getting higher and concerning of our environment.

blogpost⑤

Nowadays people are using a lot of disposable things and nature resources without knowing how danger it is. So the imbalance between what nature replacing and human consume will probably continue to grow. But there are many ways toward a sustainable future. First, make sustainability communities. As we studied in the book, sustainable communities are cities and towns that encourage residents to protect their local environment in ways that also reduce their impact on the largest global warming. For example, suing solar energy instead of cutting down trees for fuel is a kind of way for sustainable communities. Another way is using public transportation. Nowadays there are many kind of public transportation such as bus and subway. Actually in rush hour, these are faster and safer than your own car. Using public transportation makes little traffic congestion and cleaner air.