10/22 Tell us what japchae is and how you can make it.

Japchae is one of Korea's most representative party dishes.
ex> Every culture has its own representative party dish for special occasions.

You're almost guaranteed to run into japchae at a Korean house party.
* house (warming) party: 집에서 하는 잔치, 초대
* be guaranteed to: be likely to

It's basically a combination of glass noodles, veggies, mushrooms, and thinly sliced beef all stir-fried in sesame oil.
* glass noodle: 당면
* veggies: 야채
ex> Finish your veggies! 야채 다 먹어라
* thinly sliced
* stir-fry: 센불에 빨리 볶다.
ex> First, stir-fry the thinly sliced beef in sesame oil.

Although japchae is technically a side dish, it sometimes can be passed off as a main dish as well.
* pass off as: ~로 인식되다, regarded as, considered as.

Chinese restaurants serve japchae over rice as a main dish.


@ I got an IV.  어제 링거 맞았어

 I heard you passed out yesterday.
* pass out: to become unconscious.
ex> I nearly passed out when I saw all the blood.

10/21 How do you want to spend your life after retirement?

There's plenty of time left after retirement to write out another chapter of one's life.

The most important thing is to be planned financially for your retirement.

Others like to meet up with their family and friends to make up for lost time.
* meet up with:~을 만나다.
* make up for: 만회하다.
ex> We talked for hours and made up for lost time.

Some elderly people take up new hobbies by signing up at their local recreational centers.
* take up new hobbies: 새로운 취미 생활을 시작하다.
* sign up:~에 등록하다.

The key to a happy retirement is security, socializing, and good health.

@ What brings you here?  여긴 무슨 일로 왔니?
* we could grab lunch together.  점심을 할까?

10/20 Do you think white lies are needed in life? Why or why not?

Though we say honesty is the best policy, I don't believe this is always the case.
ex> You should realize that this is not always the case.

As long as they're white lies, without malicious intent, I think using them occasionally is okay.
* malicious: very unkind and cruel, and deliberately behaving in a way that is likely to upset or hurt someone.
   malicious gossip/rumour

This can prevent people from being hurt or offended.
ex> I know you meant to prevent him from being offended.

There is a very fine line between white lies and straight-up deceit.
* deceit: behaviour that is intended to make someone believe something that is not true.

   deliberate/calculated/outright deceit

Even the littlest of lies an start to add up.
* add up: 쌓이다.
ex> Small savings can add up to become a large amount later on.

@ Our relationship has been going south.   사이가 점점 악화되고 있어.
<American English informal> if a situation, organization, or set of standards goes south, it becomes very bad although it was once very good:
ex> It seems like all our moral standards have just gone south.

10/19 Tell us about some customs related to drinking in the Korean culture.

One of the most important rules is to refrain from pouring your own drink.

Use both hands to pour a drink for someone who's older than you.

 

The Korean culture is very big on drinking.
* be big on:~이 중요한 비중을 차지한다.

ex> I'm not big on shopping for clothes.

10/18 Talk about "sports day" and "school physicals" at Korean schools.

The entire school is split up into two teams: the blue team and the white team.
* be split up into:~로 나누다. 헤어지다.(break up)
ex> The teacher split up the students into two teams before the relay.

When all is said and done, the side with more points wins the competition.
ex> When all is said and done, she's the best person for the job.
      There's no hurry any more when all is said and done. (from song by Abba)

Another day is set aside for students to be tested on their basic athletic abilities.
* set aside for:~을 위해 떼어놓다.
* basic athletic abilities: 기초체력

There's also a day designated for school physicals.
* designate for:~에 지정하다.

Students get their height, weight, eyesight, and other physical traits measured.
* get something measured:~을 측정하다.

@ Let's go for it.  한번 해보자.


Key Vocabulary & Expressions
kickball: 발야구
dodge ball: 피구
tug of war: 줄다리기
pull-up: 턱걸이
sit-up: 윗몸일으키기

President Obama: It Gets Better

Like all of you, I was shocked and saddened by the deaths of several young people who were bullied and taunted for being gay, and who ultimately took their own lives. As a parent of two daughters, it breaks my heart. It’s something that just shouldn’t happen in this country.

* taunt: to try to make sb angry or upset by saying unkind things about them, laughing at their failures, etc.
* take one's own life: 자살하다.(commit suicide, kill oneself)

We’ve got to dispel the myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage – that it’s some inevitable part of growing up. It’s not. We have an obligation to ensure that our schools are safe forall of our kids. And to every young person out there you need to know that if you’re in trouble, there are caring adults who can help.
* rite of passage: 통과의례(a ceremony or an event that marks an important stage in sb's life)

I don’t know what it’s like to be picked on for being gay. But I do know what it’s like to grow up feeling that sometimes you don’t belong. It’s tough. And for a lot of kids, the sense of being alone or apart – I know can just wear on you. And when you’re teased or bullied, it can seem like somehow you brought it on yourself – for being different, or for not fitting in with everybody else.
*pick on: 괴롭히다, ~을 비난하다. 골리다. (=bully;harass; to make fun of)

But what I want to say is this. You are not alone. You didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t do anything to deserve being bullied. And there is a whole world waiting for you, filled with possibilities. There are people out there who love you and care about you just the way you are. And so, if you ever feel like because of bullying, because of what people are saying, that you’re getting down on yourself, you’ve got to make sure to reach out to people you trust. Whether it’s your parents, teachers, folks that you know care about you just the way you are. You’ve got to reach out to them, don’t feel like you’re in this by yourself.

The other thing you need to know is, things will get better. And more than that, with time you’re going to see that your differences are a source of pride and a source of strength. You’ll look back on the struggles you’ve faced with compassion and wisdom. And that’s not just going to serve you, but it will help you get involved and make this country a better place.

It will mean that you’ll be more likely to help fight discrimination – not just against LGBT Americans, but discrimination in all its forms. It means you’ll be more likely to understand personally and deeply why it’s so important that as adults we set an example in our own lives and that we treat everybody with respect. That we are able to see the world through other people’s eyes and stand in their shoes – that we never lose sight of what binds us together.

As a nation we’re founded on the belief that all of us are equal and each of us deserves the freedom to pursue our own version of happiness; to make the most of our talents; to speak our minds; to not fit in; most of all, to be true to ourselves. That’s the freedom that enriches all of us. That’s what America is all about. And every day, it gets better.
.

10/16 What are the pros and cons of TV commercials?

TV commercials are what keep TV broadcasting going.
* keep somethng going: ~을 계속되게 하다.
ex> It was my father's encouragement that kept me going.

Strictly from a TV viewer's point of view, commercials can be downright annoying.
* from someone's point of view: ~의 관점에서 본다면
* downright: 철저한, 완전한, completely
ex> People who are dishonest are downright annoying.

The major Korean television networks only air their commercials between different programs.
* television network: 방송국

On cable TV channels, commercials will play right in the middle of a show.
* in the middle of:~의 도중에, 한가운데에
ex> Who's plaing the piano in the middle of the night?

Commercials encourage people to make unnecessary purchases.


@ I try to stay abreast of current issues.  시사 문제에 꾸준히 관심을 가지려는 편이야.

10/15 How do you get a driver's license in Korea?

You must first register at a Driver's License Examination Center.

Once that's done, you can then take your written exam.

It's a computer-based exam consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions.

You have to prove that you're familiar with the technical aspects of driving on the Center's driving course.

Once you're cleared, you'll take the driving exam on the actual roads.
* be cleared: 통과하다
* driving exam/test: 주행시험

@ It will add up eventually.  결국엔 쌓이게 될 거야.

10/14 Tell us about the Korean way of calculating one's age.

Koreans have a different system from Western countries when it comes to calculating their age.
* calculate one's age: 나이를 계산하다.

Koreans say that they're a year older than they would be according to the Western aging system.

Koreans consider the time spent in a mother's womb to be a year.
ex> I miss the time I spent in Laos.

People's birthdays can also change every year if they go by the lunar calendar.
* go by (follow) the lunar calendar: 음력을 따르다.
ex>  My parents go by the lunar calendar for their birthdays.

It's common for people in Korea to ask for someone's year of birth rather than their age.
ex> What's your birth year?


@ I don't have much leeway.  어떻게 할 수 있는 여유가 없어.



10/13 Talk about some rules you should be aware of when driving in Korea.

Generally speaking, the driving rules in Korea are similar to those in other parts of the world. Safety is of ultimate importance and drivers who don’t buckle up are subject to a fine. There are also rules against entering a congested intersection when the light turns yellow. There are also bus-only lanes marked in blue, which are off-limits for/to regular vehicles. One thing that may be different from other countries is the usage of hazard lights. Drivers in Korea blink their hazards a few times after a lane change to thank the driver behind them for letting them in. Hazard lights can also be flashed to warn cars behind you of a sudden stop or problem ahead. Another driving etiquette in Korea, that’s also common elsewhere, is to avoid honking your horn in residential areas.

Drivers who don’t buckle up are subject to a fine.
* buckle up  안전벨트를 매다
  ex> People who break this law are subject to a prison term.

There are also rules against entering a congested intersection when the light turns yellow(orange).


There are also bus-only lanes marked in blue, which are off-limits for/to regular vehicles.
  ex> Bus-only lanes are off-limits for regular vehicles.

Drivers in Korea blink their hazards a few times after a lane change.
* hazard light  (=hazards)  비상등      
                                   
Hazard lights can also be flashed to warn cars behind you of a sudden stop or problem ahead.


@  The food will go to waste.  음식 다 버리게 될거야.

be similar to  ~와 유사하다                                                
buckle up  안전벨트를 매다

be subject to  ~의 적용 대상이다                                        
congested intersection  정체된 교차로

bus-only lane  버스 전용 차선                                            
be off-limits for/to  접근이 금지된다

hazard light  (=hazards)  비상등                                         
blink  깜빡이다

let someone in  ~을 끼워주다                                            
flash  번쩍이게 하다

sudden stop  급정거                                                        
honk one’s horn  경적을 울리다

residential area  주거 지역

10/12 Talk about where you typically buy your clothes or shoes.

I'm not very extravagant shopper, but I'm not a total bargain hunter either.
* extravagant: 사치스러운, 낭비하는, excessiv
* bargain hunter: 저렴한 물건만 찾아다니는 사람.

I hit up the department stores if I need an outfit for an upscale event.
* hit up:~을 방문하다.
* outfit: 의상
* upscaler: 고급의, 격조있는

I buy my everyday wear at underground shopping centers.
* everyday wear: 평상복

There aren't any name brands there, but you can definitely get good deals.
* name brand: 유명상표
* good deal: 좋은 물건
  ex> You can get good deals at a flea market or a garage sale.

I also like to go to major outlets because they have great deals on designer brands.
* great deal: 괜찮은 가격대
* designer brand: 명품 브랜드

The prices are a lot more affordable.
* affordable: 가격대가 부담없는, reasonable.


@ It's been forever since I saw him.   걔를 마지막으로 본 지 한참 됐어.

10/11 Are you a morning person or a night person?

There's no doubt in my mind that I'm a morning person.
* morning person 아침형 인간
  cf> night person 저녁형 인간

My brain seems to slow down and stop functioning at night.
* slow down: 느려지다, 속도를 늦추다.
  ex> You must slow down when driving in residential areas.
         The economy has slowed down in the past several months.

I'm usually up by 5:00 to go for a quick run.
* go for a quick run: 가볍게 조깅하다.

I'm out the door by 8:00 to get to work.
* get to work: 출근하다.
   cf> get off (from) work: 퇴근하다.

I have to be in bed by 11:00 or I'll get cranky.
* get cranky: 신경이 날카로워지다.

I stay up (until) late when I'm hang out with my friends.
* hang out with:~와 놀다. 여가 시간을 지내다.

@ I'm putting the final touches on the paper.  리포트 마무리 작업 중이야.

10/9 Tell us about one of your biggest failures in life.

One major failure in my life was when I failed to get into the university I applied for.
* apply for:~에 지원하다.

I was absolutely devastated when that happened.
* be devastated 충격을 받다, 망연자실하다.
  ex> You must have been devastated when you failed that test.

I had to attend endless hours of cram schools.

It was one of the longest years of my life thus far, but eventually it was a year well-spent.

I studied hard in college and ended up graduating with honors.
* graduate with honor: 우등생으로 졸업하다.

@  Do you get the picture?  무슨 상황인지 파악이 되니?

10/8 Describ the city of Incheon in English.

Incheon is a major city that sits right along the outskirts of Seoul.
* sit along the outskirts of:~의 외곽에 위치하다.
  ex> The company headquarters is located on the outskirts of Busan.

Most people associate Incheon with the Incheon International Airport.
* associate with: ~와 연관시키다.

Songdo is also a must-visit location.

You can also enjoy a breathtaking sunset against the backdrop of Incheon's beaches.
* breathtaking: 숨막힐 정도의
* agaist the backdrop of: ~을 배경으로
  ex> Hotel guests can enjoy the beautiful sunrise against the backdrop of the beach.

Incheon is also home to the only Chinatown in Korea.
* be home to:~의 본거지이다.

@ He doesn't take me seriously.  나를 진자하게 받아들이질 않아.

10/7 Talk about how idol stars become stars in Korea.

Young singers that are typically in a group are called "idol stars."
* typically: 전형적으로

On the surface, their lives appar to be all glitz and glamour.
* on the surface: 외관상, 표면상
* glitz and glamour: 화려하고 매력적인
  ex> The days of glitz and glamour are now over.

Most idol stars audition for an entertainment agency.
* audition for: ~의 오디션을 보다.

They then undergo grueling years of training in everything from singing, dancing to acting.
* grueling: 엄한, 고된
  ex> After several grueling years of war, the country finally restored peace.

They not only give up their studies, but also miss out on their childhood.
* miss out on:~을 놓치다.
  ex> Don't miss out on this opportunity to make big money.

@ Do you have a minute?  시간 좀 있으신가요?

10/ 6 Talk about the government-sponsored student loans in Korea.

2010 was a financial turning point for college students in Korea.

* turning point: the time when an important change starts, especially one that improves the situation

ex> I think marriage was a major turning point in my life.

Students can take out a loan to pay their tuition.

* take out(get) a loan: 대출을 받다. 
ex> Students are forced to take out loans to help pay for their tuition.
ex< In most cases, they had to take out loans to purchase homes for investment.

* pay tuition: 등록금을 내다. 

They don't have to start paying back their student loans until they have a regular income.

* pay back one's loan: 대출금을 상환하다. 

* regular income: 정기소득

Korea has a higher college entrance rate than most countries.

The government is currently looking into various ways to lower the interest rate on student loans.

* look into something: ~을 조사하다  
 ex> A working party has been set up to look into the problem.

@ It was the right thing to do.  마땅히 해야 할 일이었어. / 잘한 일이야.

* You must've gotten quite attached to it.   꽤 정이 들었었구나. 

10/5 Talk about Gwanghwamun's history and its recent restoration.

Gwanghwamun has quite a turbulent history.

* turbulent: 격동의, shaky, many ups and downs.
ex> The pilot lost control of the plane in the turbulent air. (난기류)

The latest restoration project was launched in October of 2006.
* restoration project: 복원사업

The project aimed to return Gwanghwamun to its former shape and location.

The gate was reopened to the public on august 15th, 2010.

The reopening coincided with Korea’s Liberation Day.
* coincide with:~와 때를 같이하다.
ex> My birthday coincide with his.

@ I'm sure we'll get through this.  우린 반드시 이겨낼 거야.

Gwanghwamun is the main gate of Gyeonbok Palace, which is one of the main old palaces in Seoul. Gwanghwamun has quite a turbulent history. It was first built in 1395 during the Chosun Dynasty. Unfortunately, it was destroyed during the Japanese invasion in the late 16th century. While King Gojong held the throne, Gwanghwamun was rebuilt in 1865 in a new spot. Then, the gate was destroyed again during the Korean War. In 1968, former President Park Chung-hee saw to it that Gwanghwamun was reconstructed again, this time with concrete. The latest restoration project was launched in October of 2006. The project aimed to return Gwanghwamun to its former shape and location. The gate was reopened to the public on August 15th, 2010 at the cost of some 28 billion won. The reopening coincided with Korea’s Liberation Day making it extra meaningful for many Koreans.

10/4 Talk about Korea's auto industry.

Korea's automotive industry currently ranks fifth in the world in terms of production.
* automotive(auto) industry: 자동차 산업
* rank: ~순위를 차지하다.
* in terms of: ~부문에서
ex> What does this mean in terms of cost?

Korean auto companies are faring very well when major car companies around the world have been struggling in recent years.
* fare well: 좋은 성과를 내고 있다.
ex> Thankfully, nobody was hurt but the car did not fare so well.
* struggle: 고전하고 있다, experience difficulties

People have been taking notice of the improving quality of Korean cars.
* take notice of: ~을 인지하다. 인식하다. = be aware of
ex> Take notice you don't miss the bus.

They are one of the main engines of the Korean economy in conjunction with the semiconductor and shipbuilding industries.
* main engine: 원동력, 주요 동력.
* in conjunction with: ~와 더불어, ~와 함께.
 ex> The police are working in conjunction with tax officers on the investigation.
* semiconductor: 반도체
* shipbuilding: 조선


@ I was no exception.  나 또한 예외가 아니었어.
* I take it all the guys were excited?  남자들 모두 신났겠는걸?
take it (that...) (~라고) 추정하다
ex> I take it you won't be coming to the party?

10/2 Talk about the strengths and weaknesses of your personality.

I'm pretty good at staying focused and do not get distracted easily.
* stay focused: 집중력을 유지하다.
* get distracted: 정신이 분산되다, 흐트러지다.
ex> Generally children get distracted if their parents are watching.

I always try to manage my time well, because I take deadlines very seriously.
* take somebody/something seriously: ~을 진지[심각]하게 생각한다.
ex> Why can't you ever take anything seriously?

I also pay a lot of attention to detail.
* pay attention to detail. 꼼꼼한 성격이다.
 = meticulous [mə^|tɪkjələs]   
ex> He's always meticulous in keeping the records up to date.

As I am not good at multi-tasking, I can't juggle more than one task at a time.
* juggle: (시간,일)을 처리하다.
  ex> It's tough for working mothers to juggle childcare and work at the same time.

When I'm extra busy with work, I have no social life.


@ He's very tight-lipped.  그는 입이 무거워.

10/1 Talk about the craze to get a perfect body in Korea.

There is currently a craze in Korea for attaining a perfectly cut body.
* a craze for:~에 대한 열풍
ex> Walking is the latest fitness craze.
* a perfectly cut body: 군살 없는 완벽한 몸매

Young stars are putting in long hours at the gym.
* put in long hours: 오랜 시간을 투자하다.
  ex> I don't earn much money although I put in long hours at work.

Most popular male celebrities have well-defined abs.
* well-defined: 잘 다져진, 잘 발달된
* abs(=abdominal muscles) 복근
  ex> Aerobic exercise is not enough to develop well-defined abs.

Their six-pack is even referred to as "chocolate abs."
 ex> Turkey is often referred to as "Asia in Europe."

Women aren't exempt from this trend either.
* be exempt from: ~로부터 제외되다.


@ Consider it done.  바로 처리할께요.
(used to say that you will do a particular task immediately.)
ex> Do you think you could post this parcel for me, please? - "Consider it done"