Yoonhae Kang / first draft / Tue 9am

It was a brightening weekend of July. My family went to the children's park together which was near my house. It was the day when I was going to learn about riding a bike. My parents have already bought a brand new bike which is available for 7 year old girl.
I kept falling from the bike. It was my first time to ride a bike with 2 wheels. Most of children learn bike starting from 4 wheels but my dad was so confident that I can handle 2 wheels. My father helped me balancing myself on the bike. He grabbed the back of bike and lead me to ride down the road. However, whenever he releases his handle after few seconds I kept rolling on grounds. It was hurtful and I started to lose my interest in riding a bike.
Finally, my father made an idea. He rented a bike at a bike store which was near the park. It was a bike with 2 seats. He asked me to sit behind him and grab his waist. At first I felt really uncomfortable because I've already fell from bike so much on that day and started to have a bad impression on riding a bike. It was the least thing that my father wished to happen. After several persuation from him, I had a seat behind him. Then he rode the bike.
It was the first time for me to ride a bike. I started to become little excited. The speed, the wind, the scent, everything I can feel on the bike was totally new. My father and I had fun on the bike with 2 seats during whole noon. Just before leaving the park, my father asked me if I'll give another try on riding my bike with 2wheels.
I already enjoyed the atmosphere and excitement for riding a bike and I easily agreed with him. I had my first step on my bike. What really wonderer is that I perfectly rode my bike. I kept my balance and felt easy to handle it. Maybe it was because of whole practices of balancing on the bike with my dad.
This is the memory which I still remember very clearly. Now I really love bike. I'm very appretiate of my parents for supporting me not to lose interest in riding a bike. Riding a bike has now became one of my favorite sports. Through the experience witih my family especially my father, I've obtained the one which I really love and enjoy.

Edward Yom/First draft/Tue 9am

A Fear in the Past can be a Friend in the Future

 

     Looking back, there was nothing to be frightened of, and definitely no reason to escape from the situation. However, at that time I did everything I can to avoid a dreaded fear for most children; riding a bicycle.

     In 2002, I was eight years old. I was happily riding my tricycle around the parking lot, when suddenly my dad told me that I should learn how to ride a bicycle. At first, I was excited that I can buy a big bicycle, and I will be able to go faster. 

     Later that day, I got on the car with my dad to buy a new bicycle. As we arrived, my dad said, " You may choose any bike you want." After looking around the shop, I screamed excitedly, "That one, the huge red bike!" Although my dad and the bike owner tried to convince me that the bike was too big, I was unconvinced. I was sure that whatever it is, if it is bigger it would be better. Besides, the bike was red. After 20 more minutes of my dad's futile requests to change my mind, I sat on the front seat while my dad put the bike in the car, and we went home.

     The next day, I was eager to ride the bicycle and ran outside. It was than when an obvious, yet stunning fact hit me. I now have to ride that humungous bicycle. It was very difficult to even get on the bicycle, and needless to say it was impossible to keep my balance on the bike. To make things worse, my feet did not reach the ground when I sat on my bike, so not only was pedaling hard, I could not stand and rest. This suddenly made me develop a fear for bikes. Fortunately, shortly after I realized this my dad had to go to work. I just pretended to enjoy the bicycle until my dad went to work, and shoved the bike in the garage. The garage door remained shut for a long time after that.

      The next week, my dad asked me if I wanted to ride my bike today. I said that I was busy doing homework although I did not have any work to do. A few days after that, my dad asked my again, if I wanted to ride my bike. I said that I had to study for a test, which was also a lie. Every time my dad asked me if I wanted to ride my bike, I was either sick, studying for a test, already said I would meet my friends, or doing homework. 

 

     After two months have passed, my dad began to realize that I tried to escape from riding the bicycle because I was scared. He promised that he will not let go of the bike until I was confident riding the bike alone. We went to the garage together to pull out the bike. When I saw the bike with my dad, it not seem as big as it was before. Although I fell a few times, I quickly overcame my fears, and learnt how to ride the bike rather quickly. This is how I first learnt how to ride a bicycle. To this day, I ride my bike when I have to go long distances.

Namhye Kim/fist draft/Tue 9am

201100316 Kim Nam Hye

 

Have you ever experienced the coincidence that affects your destiny? I guess you have.

I can't remember why I came to think about this. But, there was a day when I suddenly thought about how I came to study German as my major. Why did I choose it? What was the motivation?

Then I got the simple answer for these. It all originated from the football World cup!

It may seem strange that the World cup motivates me to learn German.

Actually, when I was young, I wasn't interested in Germany at all. Maybe I was so young to have interest in foreign countries. Regarding Germany, I just knew few things that I learned from school.

For example, it is located in Europe. It is famous for delicious beer and sausage. Adolf Hitler, and the world war. I knew just some common knowledge. 

 

                                                           

However, the summer of 2006 changed my life partially. In 2006, the World cup was held in Germany. Unfortunately, the Korean national soccer team played badly. So, I might have lost interest in World cup. But, as the World cup was a big festival, I couldn't help watching it.

One day, I happened to watch the game of Germany national football team by chance. While watching the game, I was really thrilled. They had the perfect teamwork. All the players made passes accurately to their team members. When they got a chance to get score, they made it with no hesitance at all. Even the well-matched black&white uniform of the team looked stylish. Although, there were many other great teams there, I was really fascinated by the Germany soccer team.

After that, I gradually become to love the country Germany .I even thought about learning German. I wanted to go there, and communicate with the people living there. So, I decisively bought an introductory German language book to learn it by myself.

In fact, however, German was far more difficult language than I expected. Shamefully, I quitted learning it. But, I still have it in my bookshelf. Though, it is useless now, I can't throw it away, as it reminds me of the times.

A few years later, I became a high school student, and I had to choose a major before applying for colleges. At that time, I was convinced that I'm interested in learning languages, though I wasn't sure whether it may help me to get a better job. Anyway, I wanted to learn what I'm interested in. There were large amount of language departments in Hufs. Among those languages, German came in to my mind, as I had dreamed of learning it for a long time, and I wanted to learn occidental language too. So, I finally made a decision to apply for the department of German. Maybe my favor toward German finally led to an important decision I made. 

Now, I'm used to the fact that my major is German, and I can speak, and understand it.

But, I had a time when I wasn't able to command the language, but really hope to do it.

When I think back of the times, I can feel the innocent desire of mine, and it's surprising that I realized the dream. It's also surprising that all this originated from the small accidental routine.

So, I sometimes think that a chance can make destiny, because I've experienced it.

 

Hajin Ahn/First draft/Tuesdau 9 A.M

An important experience in my life                                         201301918 HaJin Ahn (EIT) What is the first thing you do after going back home and sitting on your sofa to have some rest? Many people would answer they instantly turn on TV. I have also done the same thing, perhaps much more than most of other people. TV has always been with me throughout my life I have had so far and this, a seemingly commonplace event, was critical for my development.                I remember I began watching TV for the first time when I was seven. Unlike other kindergarten students, I enjoyed watching dramas just my mom did. It was the source of my knowledge. I learned about human relationship and the society through them. At that early age, I realized the importance of building network with other people by watching dramas depicting real life. Among all of them, a drama called "A Cheerful Girl's success story" was the most impressive one. It was a romantic comedy about a poor girl finally becoming a hotshot designer by always being kind to other people and going through jealously of others by getting help from those she helped. After watching it, I recognized how much it is important to develop interpersonal skills which are beneficial for one's success.                After entering elementary school, my taste in TV programs had changed a lot. As I was a very timid and shy girl, it was pretty hard for me to talk to other classmates first, especially in the beginning of every year. When listening to what other students were talking, I realized they were interested in all the cartoons and animation. In order to join in other classmates' conversation, watching cartoons were inevitable. Only by knowing all the characters and the plots of "Pocket Monster", one of children's favorite animations, I was able to say something to my friends and not to feel left out. . At that period, watching TV became one of my ways to lead conversation among friends.            Even in my middle school years, I couldn't stop watching TV. This time, I watched it for a different reason. The biggest difficulty I faced during my studying abroad in China was, of course, its language. Even though I went to school every day, learning formal expressions was not easy at all. Many Chinese said I spoke good Chinese but all of expressions I used were too colloquial to use in formal settings. After getting a B in a writing assignment, I was truly shocked and cried as soon as coming back home. In order to forget about it, I turned on TV and watched Chinese programs. At that moment, an idea crossed my head. Every country has news media and there all the anchors and reporters use official expressions. From that day, I spent two hours a day to watch Chinese news, wrote down advanced vocabulary, and memorized them every day. At first, it took more than an hour to memorize it, but later on, I could understand most of the news without even looking up the words in dictionary. In 2012, I came to Korea for preparing entrance exam for Korean universities. Compared to students who had been studying in Korea, I had little knowledge on almost every field except for English and Chinese. However, to write an entrance essay and have interviews, catching up what other students had already learned was necessary. Even for that problem, TV was the perfect solution. There was an education channel in Korea called EBS. Well-made documentaries and experiments on various fields, including history, economy, and psychology were aired every day. They were mostly based on the information students learned in Korean high school. Within a year, I could at least have a general idea on what Korean students learn in school for university. It is hard to say that I got accepted to Hankuk University of Foreign Studies just because those EBS programs. But the advanced knowledge on different areas I earned did actually help me build arguments in the essay examination.              Many people say TV is disturbing to students and spending time on watching it is something that only a hopeless fellow would do. My parents always told me the same thing. However, almost everything I watched on TV has raised my awareness on society by giving information on interpersonal relationship and various subjects related to my academic career.

Kwon Hye-ji/First Draft of Essay/Tue 9a.m.

"New world of Learning Chinese"

201200235 Kwon Hye-ji

Learning a new language is always hard. Koreans cannot escape from the swamp of English because it is crucial to enter a university or to get a job. So some think English as a burden or an obstacle to overcome. I also totally understand their feeling and sometimes feel in the same way because I deal English as my major. I am always struggling to improve my English skills and I sometimes get frustrated, when I think that my English never be better and I will not be fluent like a native speaker. However what if I learn even one more language in this situation? It was the very hard choice for me to decide to study Chinese at first.

Plus Chinese in my life can double problems that I have because of English. So I definitely felt afraid of starting to study a new language. So until I decided to learn Chinese, I truly concerned about starting it. Because it takes a lot of time maybe two years or more and it takes great amounts of energy to memorize vocabulary words and to practice grammars or speaking. Also, actually learning a language costs a lot to buy books and to register for the language course. I already knew these problems from studying English. That's why I felt kind of fear of starting to learn Chinese.

However, when I considered merits of learning Chinese, they swept away my concerns. Since I was a high school student, I wanted to be an English interpreter. Or I wished to have a job to help people having a trouble in communication with different languages speakers. Furthermore, I hoped to learn various languages as much as I can. So, studying Chinese itself was quite attractive for me. Additionally, Chinese is becoming more influential language as Chinese economy is growing fast and even some predict China will be the most powerful country in the future. So I thought if I can speak Chinese, it will be my strength!

Then, why did I have to still feel hesitant to learn Chinese? I looked for a good Chinese course and registered for one. While going to the class, I had butterflies in my stomach because learning new languages was always my dream. Because I only have learned English, I was very curious what learning Chinese would be like. When I got into the class, my teacher gave me a warm smile saying "Ni hao!" I felt everything would go well. I also said "Ni hao!" to her, which was the only word that I knew at that time. I just stepped into the world of Chinese.

I am still on the way studying Chinese and I am getting immersed in it. It becomes evident that studying a new language gives me lots of fun. Even though I am very beginner and I can just introduce myself and say just a few sentences, I am dreaming to travel China someday and to meet people there. It motivates me to study hard. Also, I finally realized that in order to improve language skills, I should study not to be perfect but to have fun.

Jiyeon Yang/ First draft of essay/ Tuesday 9-11

 My biggest regret

 

    201301957 Jiyeon Yang

 

When I was an elementary school student, I spent every vacation in my grandmother's house. That's because not only my parents were to-paycheck couple, but also I loved my grandmother. I usually picked weeds in her garden and caught a dragonfly. My grandmother and I used to do grocery shopping and make delicious foods. Besides, we did everything together. She was a warm-hearted person and totally devoted to me. However, after I entered a high school, I could not visit her at all because I had to study. And because of good memories in my childhood, It made my heart ache just to think of my mother living such a lonely life after I grew up.

 

Then last year, my grandmother had an accident. She missed her step and fell down the stairs. Since then, she became weak rapidly. So she stayed in my home for a long time and I had to take care of her. Although I loved her, sometimes care was really stressful. So I sometimes thought that I wanted to play instead of taking care of her on my childish mind.

 

And this summer, I went to boracay with my friend. I enjoyed my boracay trip for 5 days. When I came back from boracay, my mother said sadly "Grandmother passed away. Although I knew there was a special bond between you and your grandmother, I did not want to ruin your trip. So I did not tell about her passing." When I first heard this, I could hardly believe my ears. I could not believe her saying at all. I acknowledged that it was for real after I visited my grandmother's house. When I walked around her town, I recollected my childhood days and the memory made me cry.

 

Of course, I cried because I was sorry that I did not visit her very often. Also, I cried because I was sorry that I did not take good care of her although she was devoted to me. However, more regretful thing than those things for me was that I did not say goodbye to her. Even I did not say that I thanked you and I loved you. I was so sad because I was not with her when she passed away even though we were so special.

 

May be, I will forever regret that I could not be by my grandmother's side when she passed away. But I believe that more important thing is that my grandmother and I shared lots of memories. And good memories make me think she passed away during my vacation because she did not want to see me suffering. I am still sad and I regret, but I am sure that it would be remediable because I have lots of shared memories with my grandmother. Also, I hope you to build up unforgetable memories with the people you love.

201002416 Lee Se Jong/Important memory/Tuesday 9-11

  Every university student dreamed of travel to Europe. As one of the student, I also dreamed of traveling to Europe and I achieve my dream when I was in first grade. I manage to travel to Europe with my cousins in my summer vacation. We didn't have a very specific plan, but we manage to travel well. I think that there are three things that most impressive to me and still remember it clearly. It was the activity that I had in Europe.

The first is the riding on the cruise. It was the most impressive impact to me and I cannot forget it until the end of my life. I never saw the ship big like that. It was the really fascinating and I think I was in the movie or fantasy. How could this everything can be in one ship? It also serves the food and drink well too. The night at the beach was too beautiful for us to watch. I swear that one day in my future, I will take this again.

Second is the skydiving from the Switzerland. This was also the interesting to do. To have a skydiving, we have to sacrifice another things like food or transportation fee. At first I was thinking of having fun but after the plane take off from the land I become really nervous. After I can see the mountain below us, I found out that this is crazy thing. After I dive from the plane, the 35second gave me astonishing time.

For the last, interesting bus that takes me into the ship while I was traveling. In the Norway we have to take the bus from the early time so I slept during the bus. After I wake up I was really surprised that it look like I was in the tunnel but the bus did not move. Frustrating, I came out from the bus and I found out that the bus was in the ship and ship was going to our destination. At the top floor of the ship we can eat the food from the restaurant and we can see the view of the sight. I never experienced such things so this was really interesting.

So, the travel to Europe was really interesting to me. I can never forgot those memories because it was the most great idea I ever had in my life and It clearly shows why the young people love to travel, to see the how other people live in this world. I really want to travel the Europe again.

Jeong Seonghwa / Assignment 2 / Tues. 9-11am

New Continent

201003120 Jeong Seonghwa

             More than 24 hours. Three airplanes. The ocean. Those were the majority sources I remember about my trip to Brazil. Since Brazil is located nearly at the antipode with Korea I had to travel a long long time. Before two hours from landing on São Paulo, I really wanted to go back to home because I was totally exhausted. Also, I needed to take one more domestic flight. But I endured, for that was my first trip to the American Continent and might the last trip to the South America. Then I arrived, traveled and came back. Simply, it was awesome as I thought that I don't want to return to Korea. Roughly I had three reasons why the travel was really good for me: foods, nature and people.

             I like bread and coffee-it is completely different food preference from the traditional Korean's. In Brazil there were so many stores that simply deals bread and coffee. Interestingly, it was difficult to find the worldwide franchise cafés, such as Starbucks, if the place is not a famous tourist spot so I was able to drink much cups of coffee. Plus, the buffet restaurants I'd never experienced are memorable. The form of the restaurant was just like a buffet but the price system was so fresh to me. It was set by my dishes' weight. In other words, I paid the exact price for my meal. Fair enough.

             Next, the nature of Brazil was impressive. The first city I stayed was Curitiba. Its representative tree was a palm tree and all the tree I saw in the downtown was it. Specifically for Koreans, the palm tree is recognized as the symbol of vacation. It made me feel that I was traveling. Moreover, I experienced something new. For example, I explored a cave with other tourists and a guide. It was the first time that I entered a cave. There was no light equipment in the cave thus we held a flashlight and followed the guide. The ground was soft soil and surroundings were pretty quiet. In the middle of the cave we turned off the lights and felt nothingness. No lights and no sounds. At that time I felt awe and thanks for light and sound. Through the exploration, I could understand what the word 'remarkable' means.

             Finally, I met many interesting people in Brazil. The owner of the house where I stayed in my first spot was a gay. I didn't know that just thought he has a unique sense of fashion. My Korean friend who guided me in all the travel one day told me that he once had said I am cute. It was the first time to gain the good word-I think-from a gay, I was funny and thankful. And then, when I traveled other spot I met a group of middle-aged men who rode Harley Davidsons. They had been traveling with their bikes and by chance we met a same accommodation. I traveled some places with them, and they were so enjoyable just watching their playing with friends. They played and acted like high school students with a muscular bodies. I could see pure and sincere friendship by watching them.

             Again, more than 24 hours, three airplanes and the ocean to Korea. 15 days in Brazil passed too fast. I think I was Columbus because I found new world that I'd never known. I went to Brazil with no information and it let me take all things with no sense of refusal. I was like a sponge that could absorb Brazil genuinely and I succeeded to do it. I hope visit Brazil again before my sponge goes dry.

Haesook Yoon/Assignment #2 /Tuesday 9 a.m.

Saying Good Bye. 201302209 Haesook Yoon            People say good bye when they go to different destinations. I have said many good byes but I remember this particular good bye. The moment when my father said good bye to the rest of his family as they were going overseas remains in my head as a vivid picture.            My mom, brother and I have been stayed in Australia for about two years. That was not a planned travel. We suddenly got the information about studying abroad and prepared everything in just one month. So we have got the visa and everything was packed and we were ready to go. However, all of the family members did not seem to be prepared to be apart. It seemed like we were being separated forever. I was not prepared to leave Korea where my dear friends, relatives and my father lived. Nevertheless, we had to get on board.            On the day of leaving, we woke up early in the morning. The air was cold and the road was empty. As we got out of the town, my heart felt empty like the road. I thought I was leaving my precious memories too. At the airport, still early in the morning but crowded, we strolled around with our plane tickets in our hands. We knew it was not a last good bye but still we were a little bit depressed. I could see everyone was acting lively. Finally the departure time came. We walked to the gate and we all kissed lightly each other as we did in front of our house when father went to work. We went in with our luggage and the door was about to close when my father said, "love you all!" in a soaked voice. We could not see his face but could know he was crying. My mom's eyes turned to red but she never cried.            That's when I saw my father's gentle side which he never showed us before and my mother's strong side as she was the only one who can look after her little children in a very new and unknown place. I remember this picture not full of sorrow but full of love and courage. I remember this good bye as my best good bye ever because we met again, became stronger and learned to love more.

Jihoon Yoo/Essay assignment First draft/Tuesday 9am

First draft Saying goodbye to my students Jihoon Yoo 201301135 (EIT)   "Well, today's the last day" I said to my students. I was teaching in an academy for college examination for English users, and the next day was the day for HUFS entrance exam. My job was to give a topic in which the students will write about, and after an hour and a half, I would collect the papers and give feedback on it. It was a massive burden to me as technically I was the one that refines their papers and develops them which will eventually decide whether they get accepted to the university or not. So a bit of joy that this continuous burden for about six months will be gone in just one more day, and a bit of sadness that I will not get to see them again in academy, gave me a mixed feeling.                When all the students came into the classroom, as usual I gave out question sheets and answer sheets for them to fill out. On their faces, I could see that they were nervous and scared about this question being the last one for them to practice, and also that tomorrow will be the day they've all been waiting for. "Tomorrow, don't forget to take your ID card, a watch, and a pen to write on," I said to my students, as they were rather careless and clumsy. In return, they gave me a nod, which I seemed to have scared them by saying the word 'tomorrow.' I gave them an hour and a half to write their essays, and I left the room. As I waited for them to finish their essays, I deeply contemplated on how my HUFS examination was two years ago, how frightening it was to sit in a cold desk and a chair and write an essay for more than one hour, in a classroom full with other students from different places that were competing with me for only 10 available spots.                One by one, students came to me to get feedback on his/her essay. Normally, I would scold them if they didn't finish the essay and give harsh comments if they made a same mistake I've been telling them over and over again, but this time it was different. They were already nervous, and I was sure that what they needed at this point was not a suggestion or a harsh comment, but a word of hope and encouragement that they will do just fine. Therefore I each gave them what they usually forget to do, some advice that they should do on the day of exam, and a word of thanks for doing their best. Until then, it didn't feel much like farewell, as writing essays and getting feedback were just as usual. However, the time came when we had to go home. As I was packing my bag to leave, a bunch of students came to me and said things like "thank you for teaching us until now", "I'll try my best using what you have taught us," and "you were the best teacher." I have thought of myself as not much of a teacher, as I was only a few years older than them. However, hearing them contribute what they have learned to me was a big surprise. We exchanged a few hugs and a promise that we will see again after they finish their exams, and they went home. It was the end of my first ever teacher life with a lot of warm-hearted students.                From this experience, I learned what responsibility is. Until now, I have done several part-time jobs, whether it was in an academy or a café. However, those jobs did not require a lot of responsibility, as my job did not affect much in terms of sales or amount of students. However, this time it was different. Not only was I in charge of making the topics and the supporting ideas, but I was also the one giving them critiques that they will do better in the real exam. If I did poorly, they would have learned from that and write a horrible essay with nothing much to look at. Therefore it was crucial that I do well at everything, and therefore, I learned what being responsible to one's future is. It made me do my best without looking for a way out or being sluggish. I will always remember the experience, which gave me an important lesson.

Hyejin Kim/#2 First Draft of Essay/Tue 9 a.m.

Assignment for Week 3 – Draft of My Essay (p.50)

Accidental Chance to Make New Friends

 

201001006 Hyejin Kim

 

Have you thought you make new friends in a totally unfamiliar country? When I was young, I believed this kind of story was truly ridiculous. But I want to tell you amazing incident that changed my mind and characteristics completely.

Since I was in primary school, I hadn't had many friends. This was because I didn't enjoy to be surrounded by many people. Maybe it was influenced by relatively big family including parents, grandmother and younger brother (even uncle when I was a little kid). I always hung out in small group 2 or 3 friends, so it was very natural to have about 3 of true friends when I became an adult. Attending a university, all of my friends scattered and it was hard to see them twice a year. I thought I was too shy and picky person to make new friends easily in new environment, Seoul.

In the meantime, 2 years ago, I got a chance to go to England for volunteering work. I spent about a year in the small city near London and I traveled other European countries by myself during vacation. I took second vacation in April, 2013 and visited Switzerland at the beginning. It was two-week trip and I had a backpack and a huge suitcase which were even bigger than me. Arriving Zurich airport and before I realized that I arrived in Switzerland, I had to hurry to get to the train station since I had to take a train that led me to Luzern. The scenery passed by through windows was incredible, mountains covered by snow, lovely houses, meadows, high and blue sky, sheep and cow… I spent peaceful time in the train but when I arrived at my accommodation, a Korean guest house that I booked previously, I was totally exhausted. It was a long journey-car, train, plane, train and bus.

When I opened the door of the guesthouse, there were 4 or 5 Koreans sitting around a table. They were drinking beer with sausages, cheese and vegetable fondue. One of the guys said "The owner of the house is not here. So, you can put your luggage in this room, girls' dormitory and here are your slippers you have to wear in this house". Other girls and guys laughed loudly and one of the girls shouted "Oppa, you're like a host of this house!" I was quite embarrassed and didn't know how to respond.

After I make my baggage tidy in the dormitory room that 5 or 6 people shared together, I sneaked to the dining room where the group of people gathered. I was so thirsty and I wanted to drink a glass of water but not being spotted by them. When I showed up in the dining area, everybody looked at me. It seemed that they were twenty-something. There were 2 girls and 3 men. They started to talk to me like "Are you traveling alone?", "What's your name?", "How old are you", "Is it your first country to travel?" "How long have you been in Europe?" and so on. I answered them politely and then, they suggested me to sit on the table with them and have some food they prepared.

Drinking beer on the table, I listened to their stories carefully. Some of guys were traveling together as friends and all the girls were alone. Also, one of the guys was living in Lausanne, Switzerland for Ph.D. Everybody came from different regions and had interesting stories. I also talked about my life in England and difficulties of volunteering works. Each of us shared routes of trip and gave good advices about them for all night. Even though we had all different plans for traveling, we promised to meet again in Korea and exchanged contact numbers.

During the trip, we kept talking on Kakao talk, sharing beautiful photographs they took in different countries. And surprisingly, we could meet the members in Korea again! In last summer, we went to Yeosoo together for summer vacation, although two guys could not make it. Now we are all busy doing work, study or something else and we don't have many chances to gather. But we still keep in touch with group chatting on Kakao talk and share our life stories.

The accidental meeting made me surprised that I could hang out easily with utter strangers in unfamiliar situation and could share my stories to them very comfortably. Now I'm much more confident to make new friends and start talks with them. The good friends that I met in Switzerland helped me to believe that people having different perspectives and backgrounds can be true friends if they try to know each other.

  

201300058 Yoonhae Kang/1st assignment/ 9am Tuesday

Why I write

 

There are two categories of my writings. One is personal and another is official. This assignment that is I'm now in writing is an official. Personal writings include letters and journals. My attitude towards writings turns differently to each category.

           I love personal writings. I love writing letters to my friends and my friends feel happy when they got letters from me, which makes me feel delight seeing their happy faces. Keeping a journal is also enthusiastic. I can look back of my whole day when I write a journal and through giving self-comment toward my attitudes and behaviors, I advice myself for being a better person. In addition, when I feel very depressed or have a lot of worries and confusing emotions in my mind, I tried to write a poem to express my feelings. It helps me to be refreshed. Therefore, those kinds of writings don't give me any pressures. Rather, personal writings mean very positive.

           However, official writings are different. There are some cases of official writings which I liked. I enjoyed writing essays and novels which I have to submit as home assignments for middle school summer vacation. It was a really interesting experience, making whole storylines and characters of a novel by myself and gets comments and compliments from a teacher. That experience somewhat positively changed my perspective on novels and writers. However, I'm not very fond of writing under pressure. I believe a good writing comes out in a good environment. Specifically, when a time that I really want to write and produce interesting materials. Through my reviewing, I get impressions that my assignment that was written in a tense time and lot of stress is extremely boring.

           In my occasion, Writings means different according to the situations. Writing is a really interesting work to me when it meant expression of my thinking and emotions and worked in a pleasant environment. However, writing with pressures is stressful to me. It is a paper for readers not writers. Therefore, my attitude towards writing changes depending on situations.

Why I write?

Feeling and thought about writings

It's simple. Because I want to, and like to. Therefore, it means I only write what I like. It includes two different meanings. First, I like to write only personal and emotional one, like journal, not the logical one as an essay or report. Second, but still, if I want to, sometimes I even write the logical one.

Since two years ago, every day I write my journal. Because I found out that it is very helpful for me to organize my thoughts and day. Also it helps me to remind the things from every small event to what I spend. Two years ago, when I studied one more year to go university, to write journal was my strength. Some might know what I felt. That time, I was so sensitive that I can write poem every day. No matter how I feel, good or bad, and what I think, I wrote in my journal. When I read the journal of that year, I can remember that day and make me to set my minds and thoughts again.

Most of time, I only write journal, something that very personal and emotional. However, if nobody forces me to write logical report like an assignment from class, I also write the logical one in my blog or on my note. It is not for others and no need to show to other people, it makes me very comfortable. I don't need to care about structures and logics, just write my opinion about topic freely, like free writing, following my ideas that coming out from every minute.

To conclude, for organizing my thoughts and feelings no matter it is good or bad, I (like to and want to) write.

2014.09.21.

Edward Yom(염준호)/Assignment 1(Why I write)/Intermediate English Writing Tuesday 1,2

     I believe I have a rather positive attitude about writing. I especially enjoy writing poems, and sometimes during my leisure time, I write poems that rhymes. I never found writing itself difficult, but some writing tasks are more challenging than others depending on the subject I have to write on, and how much time is given for me to write it.

     The writing style I have the most difficulty in is free writing, and writing in a restrained time frame. If there is a topic to write about, regardless of challenging the topic may be, I can think about it, or if necessary research the necessary information I need to write the essay. However, when it is a free topic essay, it is very open-ended, and hard to choose a proper topic. I am poor at writing in a restrained time frame, meaning I only have 40 minutes, or only 1 hour to write an essay, especially if the topic I need to write on is something I have not thought about prior to writing. My writing is a domino. It takes time to place the domino's in place but once everything is placed, and the first domino falls, everything falls in place. I am the type of person who paces, or does other things while keeping writing at the back of my mind, and start writing when I have mentally organized what I will write about. It is often hard for me to write the introduction, but once I write the introduction, I can find a hook for that introduction, and the rest of the essay comes naturally. 

     In contrast to my rather passionate attitude towards writing, I am not a huge fan of reading. Due to my lack of reading, I sometimes find it challenging to find the proper word to describe certain situations. When I am required to write essays that amounts to around ten pages, sometimes I am hesitant to even read my own writing, and revising my work often comes down as a burdensome process.

 

     Most of the students find writing for an academic purpose rather difficult. However, I enjoy writing more when it is for an assignment. When I write for fun, it is just a kid who writes for fun during his leisure time. However, when I write for an assignment, I know for a fact that there is at least one audience reading my work, and it feels like I am being paid to do what I want. 

Hajin Ahn/Why I write/Tuesday 9 A.M

Why I write and how do I feel about writing                                                      201301918 HaJin Ahn (EIT) My attitude towards writing is both positive and negative. So I should say I have mixed feelings about writing just like the Student B in the text book. I have done a lot of writing since I entered elementary school. Most of the time, I had to write for my assignments and for my personal statement. Those things gave me a lot of pressure and that pressure made me think that writing is a boring activity taking a huge amount of time and energy. However, two incidents have changed my thought drastically. And what I've learned from those experiences became the reasons for my writing. About five years ago, when I was studying abroad in China, there was a Korean girl living next door. She was two years older than I was and I always thought she was very attractive. I remembered that I often tried to emulate her by wearing similar clothes. One day I saw her diary decorated with all different colors of letters and pictures. Next day, I bought a notebook and started to write a diary every day. At first, I focused on making the notebook look pretty and fancy. However, gradually, I realized the enjoyment of writing. At the end of every day, sitting in front of my desk, I could feel a sense of achievement for finishing my day safely while writing all the things about that day down on my diary. I felt like I was talking to someone I could trust very much which was helpful for reliving my mind. Even for now I write a diary time to time at night before going to bed. In short, I write because free writing such as writing a diary gives an outlet on paper when I don't have someone to speak with. The other reason for my writing is that I can be creative as much as I can. I began to enjoy writing after taking an English class in Chinese school. A foreign teacher made us buy only one notebook and asked us to write a story all together. Every student was given with a number and wrote one sentence of a story and passed onto the next student. I could add a character or direct the story into a totally different way. For the first time I thought writing was interesting. I wanted to write more and further foster my creativity. It was different from other assignments as it did not limit my thinking through cramming and memorization. In other words, I write because free writing allows me to be creative, imaginative and energetic. However, I am still reluctant to do some other types of writing such as academic essays or term reports. To sum up, two incidents in my life have changed my negative outlook on writing. Now, I think writing is useful for relaxing my mind and promoting creativity but when I am forced to write something, all the benefits of writing become meaningless and it only comes to me as one of the works that should be finished in time.

Namhye Kim/why I write/Tue 9am

Why I write? 

 

To begin with, though this question is a simple one, I find it not easy to answer it clearly, and specifically.

But, when I think back of my whole life, I've always written things from small, trivial things to difficult things. For example, as a kid, I had written diaries daily. I wrote my routines, my feelings  and my hopes there. It helped me to feel free to write things continuously . Also, as a student, I took an essay test to enter university. Before the test, during the times of preparations, I learned  how to write an organized essay. I realized to write what I have in mind organized is a really tough work. Before this exam, I had written only simple, informal things, such as letters, taking notes, memos, etc.

However, after being university student, I had to do writings of a high order. For instance, I had to write papers, in which I firmly declared my opinions or summarize what I think obviously. 

 

What I have found during this writing is that even though I didn't aware of it, writing is kind of basic part of my life. I do write ,because it's a natural phenomenon that we write something, though the purpose of it depends on various occassions.

This semester, I'm taking two English writing classes. So, I expect to face another difficulty, to write in English. It will be a harder work, because I have to write well, but at the same time I have to write it in my second language. There'll be many awkward expressions, grammar errors,and other errors come from launguage problems. 

I hope to write an organized, and native-ness writing during this semester.

 

Jiyeon Yang/ Assignment 1 : Why I write/ Tuesday 9-11

Why I write

201301957 Jiyeon Yang

When I was young, I loved writing. I loved to write letters to my friends and family. Also, I enjoyed keeping a diary. The reason why I liked writing is that I could record and express my feelings through writing. However, after I enter a university, my attitudes toward writing changed. In my freshmen year, I got writing assignments every day and it was very stressful. Also, in most writings, I had to write academic writing. I did not know how to write academically and formally at all. In addition, it was really hard for me to select proper words and organize my ideas. Also, it takes too much time to complete my writing assignments. So at that time, I usually put my assignments off until just before the class. Of course, the quality of my writings were low and so were my grades. So I gradually lost my interest in writing. Then why I write? Why I take English writing class again? Because I want to improve my writing skill. I know that writing is the best way to express my feelings and thoughts. So I want to improve my writing skill and have positive attitudes toward writing through this course. To be specific, to improve my writing skill, I will write as much as possible and receive feedback from teacher and peers. Most importantly, I will try to enjoy my writing assignment.

201002416/Lee Se Jong/Tues9/P9 P11

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Good attitude for writing

 

201002416 Lee Se Jong

 

What makes writing different is how you get your mind toward writing. For me, attitude toward writing is the most important thing at the writing. Although great skill the writer has, it can't be the good writing if he doesn't want to write. So there are few ways of good attitudes I have when I am writing.

The first attitude toward writing is writing is one of the images of myself. It clearly shows what you think about. So when I write, I especially worried about that this writing might make people feeling bad to read. One of the greatest Korean philosopher once told that your letter have to no problem if this is found by your enemy, in center of the capital or at 50 years later. I really moved about his saying, so most of the writing, I don't use aggressive words. Every writings should make their reader happy to read and fun to enjoy.

 Also, I try to write very early times. Because my writing is not really good so I always feel that I should have lots of times to revise. Having enough time to write relieve us from the stress of deadline. But sometimes, those styles go worse if I start doing very lazily. Then the writing became long and long and finally it goes like different in first and the end. I should have warned against those situation and do not have to be lazy

Finally, if you have to write, you have to enjoy it rather just get angry about it. Angry do not finish your writing. Giving up your angry first is important in your writing. Bear it and start writing. You cannot solve that problem and anyway you have to write. Think different thing like when you finish this what are you going to do after that. That is much better than just hating.

So the attitude toward writing is very important. Always recognize that the writing is image of yourself so do not write that can be harmful to you. Moreover writing early will also helps you well. Not only this, enjoy writing and do not be angry at writing that you cannot avoid. These three things will be good attitude for your writing and I am also having this mind. Your writing will be better with this attitude.

 

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3 experiences of writing

201002416 Lee Se Jong

 

Writing is always familiar with our life. There is no person who didn't write without his/her life. But memory of the writing is varied different from person to person that some might have positive experience with writing and others are not. It could be also possible to have both mixed. I also have a mixed idea of writings. Some of them are what make me hatred of and some gives me pleasure.  

My first writing is related in elementary school. At that time, I hated writing because I was left handed so my teacher often punished me for using the wrong hand. So that was really the terrible memory. I still cannot remember why should I have to write in right handed, that left handed is not any problem at all? Few of them tried changing rather than using left hand. But I resist from using it at the end of the year. Still I hate her really much.

My pleasant experience I had been with writing is when I have an entrance exam in HUFS. 6 years before, the competition rate for EIT in HUFS was 49.56:1 and it was almost impossible to get in the university. But because of my miracle writing, I was luckily joined the E.I.T student. At that time, I clearly remember that I was the one who wrote the different answer from other student. So I thought that means I was wrong, fortunately they was wrong for the answer.

Sometimes I feel nervous about writing in first language rather than writing in English. In most days, I only wrote English essay for the assignment and that makes me lose confidence on writing in Korean language. Also I always thought that there are more great people who wrote great than me. I have a complex of this so, nobody talked me about this, but I was automatically doing this. Also when I wrote in English, if I made any mistake, I can tell them it was not my mother tongue so it happened to make a mistake. But if I made a problem writing in Korean, then it can possibly read by people who I knew. That subconscious makes me nervous when I wrote in first language. It could be easily solved if I write more in Korea, but still I am writing an English essay.

  So, in conclusion I have complex feeling of writing. I first experience of writing was terrible that the teacher force me to write in right hand. But after time flows, I entranced the university by writing a good essay. But still I have nervous writing in Korean language. These are what I truly feel about writing. In this semester, I also have to write many writings that I chose three writing class and I'm sure that it will give me lots of fresh new experiences.

1st assignment "Why I Write" 201200235 KWON-HYEJI

Why I Write

201200235 KWON-HYEJI

When I write is mostly when I have a writing assignment. I barely write a diary, but only when I have a special and unforgettable day, I write the story on my diary. This is not because I do not like writing but I am too lazy to keep writing the diary daily. However, when I get a writing assignment I become interested rather than bored. And my mind is full with ideas thinking of what I want to talk about and how I am going to introduce them on my paper. Also, I feel relaxed when I am writing in English because I can have time enough to find my mistakes and to correct them. On the other hand, speaking in English, I make many mistakes which I cannot remove and they sometimes make me embarrassed. So, I prefer writing. In addition, I enjoy feeling sense of accomplishment when I finish an English writing assignment. I have done some English writing assignments since I entered the university. Because I am not a native English speaker, writing English assays was so difficult for me. As I studied hard I become better at English writing than before. I can recognize my English writing skills are improved looking at my assays. Obviously, I felt proud of myself when I finished an English assay one by one. That's why I like writing and why I write.

Hyejin Kim/#1 Why I Write/Tue 9 a.m.

Why I write.

 

201001006 Hyejin Kim

I think I have different purposes depending on which language I use for writing. I write in English, which is not my mother tongue, for my homework, especially essays. When I write in Korean, my mother tongue, I have some emotional reasons. I write very short essays to organize my mind, or letters to express my emotion to my friends and family. Especially, I really like to write a letter to my friends. Because writing a letter to them with a pencil makes me feel like I'm writing something very special and actually I know that people who receive my letter are used to reading e-mail and they are truly pleased to receive a handwritten letter.

On the other hand, writing in English is quite picky. While I write in mother tongue, it doesn't take much time to come up with good expressions. However, I have to think for a long time and google certain idioms or words for English writing. Also, the purpose of English writing has been academic for me. I hadn't have many chances to write something in English in high school, but now, in university, I have to write 15 pages of essays whose topic is so difficult that I cannot explain well even in Korean. So it is not that exciting exercise for me. In short, I write in Korean for emotional reasons and in English for academic reasons.

  

Jihoon Yoo/Assignment #1 Why I write/ Tuesday 9-11

Why I write… Jihoon Yoo 201301135 EIT     During my high school years, I used to be very hesitant towards writing, as everything I wrote about during my high school was just for college entrance exam or TOEFL. In both the entrance exam and TOEFL, there were set criteria in which I had to follow, word limits, given topics and more. Therefore, as there were not much things I had to decide by myself, there was no actual joy to writing. However, as I came to HUFS University, things started to change. The writings that professors required were still assignments and were graded, but it felt different as the professors gave me just broad concepts of what to write, and only brief ideas that could be incorporated into my writings. Other than that, there were no word limits or things that I had to include or exclude. For that I was able to contemplate on what I wanted to write, organize my paragraphs in a way I wanted it to be, and search for my own ideas. Therefore, only when I attended the university I started writing as I wanted, which allowed me to broaden my thoughts and come up with interesting and new ideas. Now I regard writing as not something that I must do, but as something I can do to develop myself and increase my potentials. But more than that, writing became enjoyable to me.

201003120 Jeong Seonghwa / Assignment 1 / Tues. 9-11am

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2. Writing is an important way of communication. Even we think that we communicate using verbal method much, writing has huge ratio in communications. Although many people don't like write even a letter for their friends, we are living with writing closely. So then, we should learn how to write. In my opinion, writing is a good measure for evaluate person's academic ability because it is the best way to express someone's idea. However, it is also hard stuff too. Like the importance it has, at the same time, writing is also difficult. Maybe that's why people don't give up writing nevertheless the hardship it has. Truthfully, to me, it is hard to write well so I have very complicated thought about writing. I like it, I should like it, and I feel burden when I think about writing.

 

p. 11

1. My first experience of writing was in elementary school. When I was 1^st grade, one day night I had strong eagerness for writing my diary. I don't know why even until now but I voluntarily bought diary note which all elementary school student used and wrote the first historical memo. At that time, it was interesting and I liked it.

4. Writing is not easy both in English and Korean. Of course my first language, Korean, is more comfortable than any other sides of using English. However it is also difficult write well in Korean. Compared to write in English, I need to be more professional. Since I used it whole in my life and learned many things in Korean. The standards of writing assignments' topic is different and quantity of each assignments is plenty so from time to time I feel writing in English is easier.

6. When I write I try to please both me and my professors. Mostly the assignments I have need to please professors of each classes. Also, I should content me because I am a writer. If I can't feel satisfaction to my writing it can't satisfy the professors either.