Week#9 Discussion Topics

Class A 

I will bring an article about 'Meok bang', the eating shows in Korea.
http://nypost.com/2015/08/19/thousands-watch-korean-teen-eat-dinner-every-night/

Discussion Questions :
1. Have you ever watched any ‘Meok bang’ shows? How was(is) it?
2. What do you think about this Meok bang syndrome?
3. Do you think this is related to our economic or social conditions of Korea? Why?
4. Are there any similar shows in other countries? What is it?
5. What kind of ‘eaters’ are you? Please pick one : heavy eater, small eater, picky eater, hearty eater, healthy eater, convenience eater… etc.

You can find out your eating style at below link by quiz. J
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/healthy_living/be_well/whats_your_eating_style

---

Class B
From: http://ehfpalfpeh.blogspot.kr/2015/10/to-age-well-change-how-you-feel-about.html

Today's topic is about aging. Aging is a universal issue. We all are aging. Many of us believe in negative stereotypes about getting older and they can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. How could improve your mind-set and well-being? I've read an article about aging in accordance with opportunity and growth. How would you reffer to getting older?


The article I read was "To Age Well, Change How You Feel About Aging"
http://www.wsj.com/articles/to-age-well-change-how-you-feel-about-aging-1445220002?mod=trending_now_3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jzjlUeKx3s


Related Articles, Foundings and a Website
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/267043642_Subliminal_Strengthening_Improving_Older_Individuals%27_Physical_Function_Over_Time_With_an_Implicit-Age-Stereotype_Intervention

http://changingaging.org/

http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/01/31/geront.gns194.full



Questions

1. How do you feel about getting older as time goes by?

2. Do you thinkg aging implicates opportunity or growth rather than getting older phisically and emotionally for the worse?

3. Do you feel you are getting much stronger and mature than the past?

4. Do you think getting older has a bad connotation?

5. When you think of elderly people, do you have any stereotypes about them?

6. Aging is typically associated with decline. But many older adults report a better quality of life than younger adults. Do you agree on the notion?

7. Are you afraid of getting older?

IKE1106 Midterm

IKE1106 Midterm

Choose a topic, take a stand, and blog about it
            (at least 300 words, by Oct.19 ).
This can be a topic we covered in class or not.

“Take a stand” = choose an action or position related to that topic that others might not agree with. Examples:
      - Korea should accept at least 5,000 refugees from Syria.

     -  There should be no more diesel subsidies.
Try to choose a topic you are genuinely interested in. 

Our midterm Hangout conversation will start with a bit of small talk, proceed to your ‘Take a stand’ topic, and possibly include some discussion about your weekly blog reflections.  If there’s anything else you’d like to discuss at this time, feel free to bring that up as well.

Hangout conversations will be recorded.  These will be sent to you afterward for your analysis and reflection.

Week#7 Discussion Topics

Class A
From: http://meesolpark.blogspot.kr/2015/10/week-7th-class-materials-on-gun-control.html

In the upcoming class, I would like to talk about "gun control" in the U.S. as it is highly divisive and controversial issue. I think it is worth discussing for once. The debate has been reignited recently due to another mass shooting in Roseburg, Ore.

So I chose the article from New York Times which well explains on some basic facts on gun control. The link of the study article, discussion questions and related materials are as follows.

<Study article>
Gun Control Explained


<Discussion questions>

1. Is there anything that you do not get quite clear on this issue? If you have, you may discuss them with your classmates for a better understanding, as it is quite complicated issue.
2. Suppose that you are a U.S. citizen (or if you are,). Would you support for 'gun control' or 'gun possession'? why?
3. In your opinion, what measures should be taken to reduce gun-related incidents including mass shootings?
4. Have you ever been to or lived in a country where gun possession is legal? Or do you have any experience related to gun?

<Related Materials>

* Wikipedia on gun control
* List of articled on New York Times on gun and gun control in chronological order:
* Basic Gun Research is Seriously Underfunded
* Australian Comedian's Take on U.S. Gun Debate

---

Class B 
From: http://hjing214.blogspot.kr/2015/10/week7-discussion-topic.html

This week, let's talk about "Beauty". Beauty is very comprehensive concept of everything in the world, not only for people's appearance but also beauty of landscape , art or studies.
However, I would like to share ideas about "plus size model". This is tremendously issuing in many aspects. It would be better to make mark words you don't know while you are reading and talk about it together.

Study Article: Plus size fashion week: confessions of a plus sized model

Reference Video: 

• Plus Size? More Like My Size
• A Darwinian Theory of Beauty

Supplemental Article:

• Social Media Users Sound Off in Support of Plus Size Models
• Tearful plus-size model urges women to stop hiding and embrace their curves in powerful campaign for MAC
• What Plus-Size Models Really Think About Their Bodies

Discussion questions:

• What is true confidence?
• In your opinion, the trend of plus-size is bring positive effects in society or make people to be generous to being oversize even though health problem?
• In your eyes, What is beauty? Can you define the beauty? ( Do not limit on appearance, beauty on various things.)
• Do you have any stereotype opinion on body shape or appearance?
• As you wake up in the morning, do you look at mirror? Do you talk to yourself looking at the mirror? what do you usually talk to you in the morning? If not, What do you usually do as you wake up?
• Do you think men and women judges themselves differently (physically or otherwise)? How
  so?
• How is the Korean ideal of beauty different from other ideals of beauty? How has it changed over time?
• What role does appearance play in achieving your goals?
• In what ways does society (especially Korean society) help boost and destroy individual self-esteem? (family members, classmates, bosses)

Week#6 Discussion Topics

Class A
Hello, everyone. This week I would love to talk about 'being an interpreter' in the class. When I happened to find related articles on Korea Herald, I thought the topic was totally relevent to us as being an interpreter is why we spend time and energy in the course. So, I am assuming you would enjoy the topic.(p.s I will print out the material for all people!)
Study Article : Top interpreter reveals life in translation 


Discussion Questions
1. Did your thoughts on being an interpreter ever change before and after the GSIT course? How it changed?

2. Even though we are not professionals just yet, but what do you think are the challenging parts in interpreting? At the same time, what would be 'the beauty of interpreting' to you?(ex: Feeling of achievement, opportunities to obatain a vareity of knowledge, etc.)

3. What do you think are required to be an interpreter of any government official including the President, ministers. Are they different from general interpreters? What do you think they should take a extra caution whey they do their job?

4. Would you want to work as an in-house interpreter or a freelance one? What are pros and cons of each position?

5. Are there any misunderstanding that you used to have about an interpreter?

Supplemental articles

1. Presidential interpreters: Insiders behind the curtain
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20151002000919
2. Interpretation: Blending art and science
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20151002000873

---

Class B

Study Article
A scandal in the motor industry: Dirty secretsVolkswagen’s falsification of pollution tests opens the door to a very different car industry


Related Articles

• What was Volkswagen thinking?
• Schadenfreude is misplaced: Volkswagen's downfall is a blow to every company
• To punish Volkswagen for its emissions scandal, make it build electric cars

The History of Volkswagen, 'The People's Car'



Discussion Questions

• What did you think of VW before the scandal?
• What do you think of the VW scandal?
• What do you think of diesel cars? 
• Which one do you think is better, a petrol car or a diesel car, and why?
• How much more would you pay for an environmentally-friendly car? 
• Would you like to own a hybrid or electric car? 
• Which do you prefer, Korean cars or foreign cars? why?
• What do you think of foreign cars? German (BMZ, VW, mercedes-benz, etc), Japanese (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc), American (Ford, GMC, chevrolet, etc)....
• What's your dream car? What brand of cars in the world do you like the most? why?

Quizlet Study Set