Getting Rid of Bad Habits

A habit is any action that we have performed so often that it becomes almost an unconscious response. If we consider this habit to be undesirable then we may label it a "bad habit." People spend countless hours and dollars attempting to break these bad habits and often do not have any success. Why? Because there is no magic bullet. Change is hard work and there is no short cut to achieving it.

Then I was thinking about my habits such as leaving my homework undone by the deadline or getting up late in the morning.  If I were able to delete one bad habit and add one good habit, what would it be? I started running through my list of bad habits. After number 100, I thought "Okay, now. Choose one!" So, I decided on yelling at my friends. That's the one habit I want to get rid of. If I could magically add a habit, I guess it would be exercising every morning before I go to school.

All of us have bad habits. Some of them aren't so bad. These could be things like not turning off the lights when you leave a room or watching too much television. BUT some of us have bad habits that are more serious, like drinking too much, smoking or spending too much time on the Internet. I'm glad I don't have those habits.

There are lots of good habits we could pick up. A person might try being nicer to people, or stop eating junk food, or try to be more punctual and not be late all the time.

Everyone probably wants to lose a bad habit or pick up a good habit. How about you? What would you like to "add" or "subtract" from your life?

[Talk about It]

1. Is there a habit you have that is different or unique?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is one bad habit you'd like to get rid of? Why do you consider it a bad habit?  Tell us the reasons.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

A Folk Tale

Once there was a girl named Jenny. She was like all the other girls, except for one thing. She always wore a green ribbon around her neck. There was a boy named Alfred in her class. Alfred liked Jenny, and Jenny liked Alfred.

One day he asked her, "Why do you wear that ribbon all the time?"

"I cannot tell you," said Jenny. But Alfred kept asking, "Why do you wear it?" And Jenny would say, "It's not important."

Jenny and Alfred grew up and fell in love. One day they got married. After their wedding, Alfred said, "Now that we are married, you must tell me about the green ribbon." "You still must wait," said Jenny. "I will tell you when the right time comes."

Years passed. Alfred and Jenny grew old. One day Jenny became very sick. The doctor told her she was dying. Jenny called Alfred to her side. "Alfred," she said, "now I can tell you about the green ribbon. Untie it, and you will see why I could not tell you before." Slowly and carefully, Alfred untied the ribbon, and ____________________________.                                                     (retold by Alvin Schwartz)

[Talk About It]

1. Using your imagination, fill in the blank.

2. If the answer is 'her head fell off', how do you feel and why do you feel like that?

3. Based on the tale, make a short skit and perform in front of your class.

Nanotechnology: Faithful or Harmful?

Four decades ago, Richard Feynman, the greatest physicist after Einstein, suddenly called to the crowds, "Someday it will come. The day we can build and manufacture in molecular units." Many wouldn't believe it, calling it a joke at that time. Nowadays, nanotechnology, also known as NT, is the rigid base of modern technology with BT and IT. Thanks to NT, we can now live in a small and compact world, with everything shrinking.

'Ubiquitous World' plan is progressing as NT advances. Just click on a button on your palm-sized computer anywhere in the world, and everything you order will be done just in a moment. If someone is seriously injured by an accident, just put a drop of his blood on a small chip and it will automatically show his ID, blood type, injury records etc. These dream-like stories will come true in the near future. Plus, we may overcome cancer or other incurable disease utilizing mini-robots with an A.I that only attack crazy cells. They will have an A.I., that can recognize germs, viruses, and other crazy cells.

But it's early days yet to smile, because NT has another face! Some researchers say that if we create a mini robot like that, we may not know when it will go wrong and attack our normal cells again. They even say that if we wipe out wastes in the city through NT, it may turn into a biochemical weapon and kill people.

Now the new era has begun. We have just encountered a dog called Nanotechnology. This dog may be so faithful to us as to bring happiness while progressing. But when treated awfully, this dog may bite us to death. We never know if keeping this dog is right or not. The decision will be made by our descendants. But one thing that is obvious is that this NT must be treated carefully and we must always be aware of it.

[Talk about It]

1. There has been much debate on the future implications of Nanotechnology. What kind of potential or influence do you think Nanotechnology has on the future, such as in medicine, electronics, energy production, health or the environment?

Your Opinion: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Traveling in Korea

It's so hard to believe that another year of my life has flown by so quickly. When at the end of 2004, I made my biggest decision ever, to make my life-long dream come true, I never imagined that my adventure would last so long. Now I feel like I never want this adventure to end.

For me, the most fascinating thing about traveling is experiencing the differences in culture of the country I am traveling in. I remember one night, not too long ago when I met a group of new English native teachers. Most had only been in Korea a month, and one had literally just walked off the plane 2 hours earlier. As I sat there listening to their animated stories, they were obviously still excited about their first impressions of Korea most of which I experienced myself when I first arrived. I realized at that time how many of the cultural peculiarities of the Korean lifestyle I had assimilated into my own life.

Later that evening, I was describing some of my own first experiences, dropping in little tips here and there, when I noticed their wide-eyed expressions. Unknowingly, while I was talking, I had slipped in the occasional Korean word and my audience had no idea what I was talking about. I had to stop and explain, what is a 'hagwon', what is 'galbi', and other Korean words that I have adopted into my vocabulary. SO I decided to make a list of the ways in which I've become more Korean!

☞	Koreans eat fast so I must too.

☞  I bow when I meet people.

☞  I no longer look for a seat belt when I hop  into a car.

☞	I always remember to get my toilet paper BEFORE going into the cubicle.

☞  I always hold on for my dear life when on  a bus, even if I'm sitting down,      or risk breaking my neck.

☞  I expect 'service' and dessert when I go to a restaurant or café!

☞	I always hold my glass with two hands and want to pour other people's         beers even in the company of foreigners.

[Talk About It]

Do you agree with her list of the way that she's become more Korean?

Why or why not?

Mobile Phones and Courtesy

I recently met a friend who had a mobile phone that was so amazing. It had so many functions from an Internet hook-up, camera, and MP3 player, to a navigation system. Briefly, it was a portable computer that could make phone calls. What a tool! There is no doubt in my mind that Korea is one of the most cutting-edge countries when it comes to technology. But has our ability to communicate improved and developed as much as technology has? I don't know about that.

Sometimes, rather than being a tool to help us communicate, our phones become something that get in the way. They hurt rather than help. For example, we might be so focused on our phone that we miss something beautiful around us. We might forget to turn off our phone during a movie and disturb others. We often become dependent on our phones and take calls when it might be better to wait...and call someone back after our conversation. Do we have to interrupt our conversion just to take a call?

I have "caller ID," and I always call people back, but I wish people would leave more messages. Leaving a message for someone on his answering machines is a lot less common in Korea than it is in the West.

Sometimes, I like to turn my phone off even for the day. I wish more people would put their phones on "vibrate" mode or even "light" mode, so I don't have to listen to phones going off all day. I clearly have a love-hate relationship with these fabulous phones.

[Talk About It]

1. It it were not for cell phones in Korea now, what would happen to us? Think about positive effects and negative effects each.

positive effects	negative effects

2. What part of the cell phone culture would you like to see changed?

Creative Writing

A 'Daydreamer' is always how my parents liked to describe me. I forever had my nose in a book, and it would always be either a fantasy or a sci fi book! Creative writing has always been one of my favorite classes when I was a student. We used to study briefly shorts stories and then every student had to write their own short story. Later, we could pleasantly enjoy one another's imaginative plots and stories.

Writing isn't easy. I can tell you, it's quite a challenge. Sometimes, starting writing is the most difficult part. If people ask me how they can write, I suggest that they brainstorm first. Writing random ideas connected to a topic usually produces some great themes. If the themes get organized, perhaps through an outline, then you can write something really great.

If you have the time, it's good to put your writing down for a little while and read it again later and see how you like it. You may have something you wish to add or subtract.

Nowadays I understand the importance of being a good communicator and especially, a good writer. This fast pace world we live in requires that we capture a person's attention within the first paragraph or we will be put aside for something more interesting. It's important to be able to tell an interesting story too, to be able to explain some thing simply and logically, and also to be able to express ourselves accurately and concisely. Futhermore, it is so important to nurture our creative and imaginative minds! There is no doubt that practice makes perfect, or at least better, so if you want to be a better writer, in Korean or English, I recommend that you write as much as you can.

[Talk About It]

1. Do you like writing? Why or why NOT?

2. Do you keep a blog or a mini-homepage?

3. How do you feel when people criticize your writing or work?

Accidental Discovery: Post-its

People who use the usually yellow but possibly any-other-color self-sticking notes can't imagine what they did before without them. These ubiquitous slips of paper are found in offices on letters and file folders, by telephones and computer screens, in homes on the refrigerator and the TV screen, or possibly by the back door. These notes which were invented at 3M and named Post-its have since been imitated and sold by everyone else.

In 1974 Art Fry was employed by the 3M company in product development. On Sundays he sang in the church choir. He marked his choir book with scraps of paper, to facilitate finding the proper music quickly at the proper time in the second service. But sometimes the scraps fell out without warning, causing Fry to scramble through the pages.

"I don't know if it was a dull sermon or divine inspiration," says Fry, "but my mind began to wander and suddenly I thought of an adhesive that had been discovered several years earlier by another 3M scientist, Dr. Spencer Silver." Spencer had discarded the adhesive, Fry remembered, because it was not strong enough to be permanently useful. Fry's inspiration was that this adhesive might serve to keep his place temporarily in the choir book without the marker becoming permanently attached - a 'temporarily permanent adhesive', as Fry put it.

The rest is history. In 1980 Post-its were widely used throughout the United States, and by early 1981 sales in Europe paralleled those in the United States.

[Talk About It]

1. Do you enjoy using Post-its?  When and where do you usually use it?

2. Perhaps one of the best-known accidental discoveries is Sir Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin. Do you come up with any accidental discoveries in our history?

Taking Photos

They say that a picture paints a thousand words. I have to say I agree. I love photographs. I used to be crazy about taking pictures. I don't like to take pictures of places or things without people I care about IN the photos.

Recently, because of my cheap digital camera, most of my family photos ae saved in my computer. I haven't printed out photos or had them developed for a long time. I should get some done because I have a bunch of empty albums ready. I also have some nice wooden pictures frames. I try to take pictures of the kids because they are growing up so quickly. I want to capture them while they are kids before they grow up on me.

When it comes to taking pictures, I'm really not that shy. I like to make funny expressions and have fun while taking pictures. I also don't have a problem asking someone to take picture of my family and me.

[Talk About It]

1. Do you think you are photogenic? Why or why not?

2. What do you think is good points and bad points about this?

	to have lots of photos in the albums	to save all the pictures in the computer?
good points
bad points

3. How often do you look at your childhood pictures?

4. When was the last time you had a family photo taken?

Learning English through Movies

MR NOLAN: One hundred years ago, in 1859, 41 boys sat in this                     room and were asked the same question that greets                    you at the start of each semester. Gentlemen, what are                  the four pillars?

(All throughout the pews, uniformed boys rise to their feet. TODD, who is not wearing a uniform, is urged by his father to stand with them.)

BOYS : Tradition, honor, discipline, excellence.

(The boys quickly return to their seats.)

MR NOLAN: In her first year, Welton Academy graduated five students.               Last year we graduated fifty-one. And more than                       seventy-five percent of those went on to the Ivy League.               This, this kind of accomplishment is the result of fervent               dedication to the principles taught here. This is why you                parents have been sending us your sons. This is why we               are the best preparatory school in the United States.

(Mr. Nolan soaks up the applause from the audience.)

MR NOLAN: As you know, our beloved Mr. Portius of the English                   department retired last term. You will have the                         opportunity later to meet his replacement, Mr. John                     Keating, himself a graduate of this school. And who, for                the past several years, has been teaching at the highly                 regarded Chester School in London.

(from Dead Poets Society)

[Talk About It]

1. Do you like watching movies?

2. What is your favorite movie? What was your favorite part of the movie?

3. How did you feel after watching the movie?

4. Will it be effective for us to learn English through screen English?

TV: Useful or Useless

Do you often debate with yourself about whether you should get rid of your television or not? Sometimes do you think, " I should get rid of this thing! The kids spend too much time in front of it. Our family should be talking or doing something other than just watching TV."

And other times, you may think, "Thank goodness the television is around. It's the best babysitter. Plus, I can get to see what's going on in the world and watch all sorts of fun programs. TV is great. Life would be so boring without it."

Do you have those kinds of discussions in your home? Do you ever wish the "idiot box"  were not part of your life?

I don't get to spend much time in front of the television. But when I do, I try to DO something. Stretch, walk in place and so on. I worry about doing nothing or becoming a couch potato. There is the danger of just sitting there. So I have mixed emotions about television.

[Talk About It]

1. Do you ever feel like you watch too much/little television?

2. What do you think people should do instead of watching TV?

3. What do you think are advantages and disadvantages to watching TV?

advantages	disadvantages

Volunteer: Helping Others

Volunteering is rarely easy. The basic meaning of "volunteer" is to offer to do something. Usually, the word is associated with offering to help someone out of the goodness of your heart. You are not expecting anything in return.

It could be volunteer work at an orphanage.

It could be some kind of activity helping those in need.

It could be helping sick people at a hospital.

I used to volunteer at a retirement home. Old people are often put in homes because they are not able to function well in society, and their families don't often make time for them. So I would sometimes go and spend time with senior citizens who felt really lonely and were happy to have a visitor. I also used to volunteer at a food bank, where food was donated so it could be given to those in need. I helped to distribute the food to people.

But volunteering does not always mean that you have to do something for some kind of charitable cause. It could simply mean that you are offering to help. You are choosing to do something, offering to help in a certain situation. If Mom is busy cooking, you can volunteer to set the table or volunteer to wash the dishes after the meal.

[Talk About It]

1. In what ways have you volunteered at...?

home
school

2. What do you think that doing volunteer work can teach us?

3. In Korea, why do you think more people don't volunteer their time?

What Are You Thankful for?

On Chuseok or Thanksgiving holiday, most people get at least three or four days off. That's awesome. What do you usually do? Drive, cook, eat, and watch television. Laugh with family members you haven't seen in a while. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

When I think of giving thanks for all that I have: my family, my health, the warm roof over my head. I think, " Oh, I sure have a lot to be thankful for!"

Sometimes, I don't stop and think about what I have. I take those people and things for granted.

But whenever I near the time of our long holiday, I just want to say "Thank you" form the bottom of my heart to all the people who are important in my life. I am thankful for my good fortune every day for everything that I have. I'm sure that most of you feel the same way, too.

This Chuseok, or Thanksgiving, take some time to thank people for all that they have done and still do for you. That's what I'm going to do! The truth is, every day is a day to give thanks.

[Talk About It]

1. Do you have anyone or anything special you'd like to thank?

2. When do you usually take people or things for granted?

3. On your birthday, do you thank your parents? Why or why not?

4. What could you do to show someone how much you appreciate them?

How about giving them some money or expensive gifts?

And how about just saying 'thanks' to them?

Patience for Parents or Teachers

It seems like we all have many different duties or responsibilities. I'm a son. I'm a brother. I'm a husband, a dad, and a teacher. Each relationship requires different things. Some things overlap like creativity. Well, each of those roles requires creativity. But some roles require more of one thing than another. For example, I think that the most important think, when it comes to being a good teacher or parent, is patience. It's tough to be a good  teacher or parent with that crucial ability to listen and encourage and lead.

When we lose our patience, we easily fall into the category of "bad" teacher or "bad" parent. Some people joke about kids being put on the earth to test the patience of moms and dads. I wouldn't be surprised if that were true. My kids make me crazy! But when I have the patience to listen, to encourage, and to lead, they are angels.

I wish there were a class on how to be a good parent or teacher. Although there ARE some books-and you can always ask your olders- it seems like we have to experience and learn as we grow. I know no one is perfect. I can see the strengths and weaknesses of my elders, but I can learn so much from them.

[Talk About It]

1. A movie star says, "A real teacher is one who has dedicated himself to helping others." In your opinion, what defines a teacher?

2. What kinds of things should the ideal student have?

3. What would you have to change about yourself to become a good teacher or a good parent?

4. Can you remember a teacher that you had that your really respect and want to be like? Why?

Top 5 Lists

It seems like at the end of every year, the lists are announced. Magazines have their "Top" 5 lists.

The "best dressed."

The "most popular."

The "most influential"

The "biggest."

And the "best."

They range from the most popular songs to the most popular words.

As I reflect and think about the ''best" and "worst" experiences I had, to tell you truth, it is usually a mixed bag. There were lots of wonderful things that happened so far this year-lots of things to be grateful for. There were also many challenges.

Among the highlights for me .......

Among the low points.....

[Talk About It]

1. What were some of the highlights of the year so far for you?

Make a Top 5 list!

1
2
3
4
5

2. When the year ends, do you ever think about all the things you've accomplished?

3. Which top 5 lists would you want to be on?

Which top 10 lists would you NEVER want to be on?

Forgiving

Several years ago, I was getting some counseling and reading a book about forgiveness for the simple reason that I was full of anger toward a person who had betrayed me and hurt me deeply. Intellectually, I knew this anger was unhealthy and was preventing me from living peacefully. But emotionally, I couldn't seem to let it go. As I shared my battle with some close friends, they all made one similar comment - it was their belief that ever person has struggles with forgiveness.

There is a saying that "To err is human, to forgive, divine." I think it's true. It's easy to make mistakes. We all do because we are human. But what about forgiving people for their mistakes? Now that's NOT so easy.

I have heard that truly great people are slow to anger and quick to forgive. Some things are easy to forgive - small things that aren't really important. BUT forgiving someone for something big...that can be a very difficult thing to do. People even say, "It's impossible to forgive."

To maintain friendships, forgiving and forgetting is important. Even if you have a bad memory, you tend to remember when someone wronged you. Even if you have forgotten WHAT that person did, over time you still may not forget that the person hurt you.

[Talk About It]

1. Do you forgive people easily?

2. They say, "Life is an adventure in forgiveness." What do you think is the deep meaning of the quote?

3. What if you work with someone who has made you unhappy? Do you forgive that person or avoid him?

4. Have you ever apolized to someone, but he or she didn't accept your apology?