Cheol Soo and Yeong Hee Enter University!

Cheol Soo and Young Hee

Go to University!!!
An English textbook especially made for Korean university students

Author: C. Bruce Lawrence Artist: Kim, Mi Ah

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 Cheol Soo and Yeong Hee Enter University!

Preface

C. Bruce Lawrence is an
English and linguistics instructor at
Sogang University’s General English
Education Department. He has a BA in
Linguistics, an MA in Anthropology, a
certificate in teaching English as a
Second Language and over two years
experience teaching university in
Korea. He enjoys Hapkido, dark beer
and pontificating over topics most
people find irrelevant.

Kim, Mi Ah is

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 Cheol Soo and Yeong Hee Enter University!

Author’s note

This book is the accumulation of two and a half years of lesson plans,
conversations and ideas on teaching English as a second language to Korean university
students. Korean students (Asian students in general) have one major problem when it
comes to learning English: they are off-balance. Korean students know grammar. They
study grammar. They memorize grammar and vocabulary. They know reading and
writing. But as every ESL teacher was taught, there are four main parts to learning
language: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The Korean education system has
been heavily weighted toward the reading and writing aspects of language learning. One
who carries two full pails of water in one hand and two empty ones in the other will not
get far.

So this book is designed to sway the balance. It is heavily weighted on

speaking and listening. This book is great for the classroom; it is not so great for self-
study. The ideas are not all my own. They come from the many teachers of the Sogang
General English Education Program and the Sogang Institute for English as an
International Language. They also come from the university students themsleves. So
please enjoy this book, and please don’t take language learning too seriously. My
linguistics professor once told me this story: The ant asked the centipede, “How can you
walk with so many legs? The centipede sat down to think about the answer… and never
walked again.

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 Cheol Soo and Yeong Hee Enter University!

Contents of Cheol Soo and Young Hee

Preface i
Author’s note ii

Table of Contents iii

Chapter 1: Introductions – Self, Others and Groups 1
1.1 Classmate Interview Sheet
1.2 Cocktail Party
1.3 First Impression

Chapter 2: On the Town 9

2.1 Telephone Conversations
2.2 Restaurant
2.3 Drinking

Chapter 3: Small Talk 18

3.1 Weather
3.2 Movies
3.3 Music/School

Chapter 4: Heavy Topics 23

4.1 Religion: Fortune Tellers
4.2 Politics: Reuinification
4.3 Human Annihilation: A New World

Chapter 5: Sex & Dating 33

5.1 Dating Game
5.2 He said / She said
5.3 Premarital Contract

Chapter 6: One Hit Wonders 44

6.1 Design a Game
6.2 Alibi
6.3 Courier Dispatch

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 Cheol Soo and Yeong Hee Enter University!

Chapter 7: Travel 49
7.1 Itineraries
7.2 Travel Survival Game
7.3 Travel and Tourism

Chapter 8: Work 61
8.1 Create Your Own Company
8.2 Job Interview
8.3 Job Satisfaction

Chapter 9: Emergencies! 73
9.1 Medical Emergency
9.2 Shipwrecked
9.3 Courtroom

Chapter 10: Money Matters 80

10.1 Auctioning
10.2 Bargaining
10.3 Namdaemun and Tongdaemun

Chapter 11: Culture 87

11.1 Culture game
11.2 Visitor to Seoul
11.3 Swearing

The End 101

Notes 102

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 Cheol Soo and Yeong Hee Enter University!

Chapter 2: On the Town

YH: Hello? YH: Saturday? Oh, I’d love to, but I’m
busy Saturday night.
YH: Speaking.
YH: Mmm, I’m busy then too.
YH: Oh, Dick. How are you?
YH: Yeah, maybe.
YH: Fine. What’s up?
D: Hello. Is Young Hee there?

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 Cheol Soo and Yeong Hee Enter University!

D: Oh. Young Hee. This is Dick.

D: Good. How are you?

D: I was just wondering if you wanted to

go to the movies with me on Saturday
night.

D: Oh. How about Sunday night then?

D: Some other time then

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 One of the many joys in life is going out on the town with some friends to bars,
or restaurants, or what have you. Doing it in another language makes it even more
interesting. Preparation for going out however, is usually done by phone. This presents a
particular problem for second language learners. The telephone greatly reduces
communication capabilities -- no sign language, facial expression or clear sound. There
are also specific language forms for the telephone, restaurants and bars. Some of it is
difficult, but the rewards are worth it!

Discourse
High Hello, may I please speak to Miss Calamity?
Hello, is Miss Calamity there, please?
Mid Hi, is Jane there, please?
Low Hi, is Jane around?
Hi, Jane?

Grammar (if present/future)

If I had the courage, I would phone her. (if+past+would present)
I would freak if she called me. (would present+if+past)
If I were you, I’d call her (if+past+’d present)

Vocabulary
phone (verb/noun) hors d’eourves liquor
answering machine appetizers liqueur
voice mail entrees spirit
call waiting course cocktail
message waiter/tress sex on the beach
extension server orgasm
line host/ess per cent
busy steak drunk
on hold new york sloshed
pound t-bone smashed
star sirloin sh-faced
operator rare wasted
telephone solicitor medium-rare tanked
phone sex medium high
Ma Bell well-done

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Pronunciation
grass/glass drunk (jrunk) lovely/rubbery lice/rice hof/hop

Konglish
One shot! a shot glass is a measurement of alcohol.
Cheers! Here’s to…! Bottom’s up! Up yours!
Overeat/to vomit Dutch pay/go Dutch
Night/club madam/hostess at bar
Hof/bar donkas/ pork (Jap/Chin) cutlet (cuts)

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 2.1 Telephone Conversations

A typical telephone conversation has an opening, a conversation, and a closing.

Opening:
r-r-r-r-r-ring
Dick: Hello?
Jane: Hello, is Dick there?
Dick: This is Dick.
Jane: Oh hi, it’s Jane.
Dick: Hi, how are you?
Jane: I’m fine. How are you?
Dick: Not too bad.

Conversation:
Jane: I just called to see what you were doing tonight.
Dick: Oh nothing really. I was just going to watch TV.
Jane: Would you like to go to the JazzBar? There’s a cool band playing there tonight and
I know the drummer.
Dick: The JazzBar? Okay. What time?
Jane: Well the band starts around 9:30, but it gets pretty crowded. I suggest we go
around 8:30 and have a few drinks.
Dick: Sounds great. How do you know the drummer?
Jane: Oh, we went to high school together.
Dick: Really? Where?
Jane: In my hometown in New Jersey.
Dick: Cool.

Closing:
Jane: Anyways, so I’ll come by around 8:00 and pick you up.
Dick: Okay
Jane: Okay
Dick: Bye
Jane: Bye

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In pairs, act out the following scenarios referring to the structure given above.

1. The Pesky Salesman

Person A: You are a salesman wanting to sell life insurance. Phone person B.
Person B: You are a housewife and the dog wants to go out and your kettle is boiling.

2. Meeting the Dad

Person A: You are a nervous teenager wanting to ask permission to take a man’s
daughter on a date. Phone person B.
Person B: You are a busy executive who is reluctant to let his teenage daughter date
anyone because of a fear of pregnancy.

3. Pizza Delivery
Person A: You are a ravenous, working man wanting to order a pizza.
Person B: You are a slow thinking/speaking teenager working at a pizza place.

4. The Vacation
Person A: You are a rich playboy booking a flight to somewhere warm for a holiday.
Person B: You are an overworked, lonely travel agent who would love to go somewhere
warm for a holiday.

5. The Busy Businessman

Person A: You are a busy businessman trying to contact the president.
Person B: You are a new secretary, unsure of what to do. You like to put people on hold
while you think of what to do.

6. The Desperate Teacher

Person A: You are a teacher needing to get a working visa. You desperately need to find
out exactly what you need to do to get one.
Person B: You are an embassy worker. You don’t know your job very well, and you
don’t care. You will say anything to avoid doing any real work.

7. The Lost Traveller

Person A: You want to visit your friend but you got lost and don’t know where you are.
Person B: You are waiting for your friend to call. You could give directions if only you
knew where your friend was.

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Sample Discourse

1. The Pesky Salesman

High: I was wondering if you have ever considered buying life insurance.
Have you ever thought about getting life insurance?
Low: Are you protected if you croak?

2. Meeting the Dad

High: I was wondering if I might take your daughter on a date.
May I have permission to go on a date with your daughter?
Low: I wanna go parking with your girl!

3. Pizza Delivery
High: I am sorry sir/ma’am, could you wait just a minute?
Can you hang on a minute?
Low: Hold your horses!

4. The Vacation
High: You might be very lonely if you go by yourself.
I’ve always wanted to go there.
Low: Take me with you baby!

5. The Busy Businessman

High: Would you mind hurrying a little? I am a very busy man.
Could you please hurry?
Low: Put it in gear! Time is money! Today! Hussle! Move it!

6. The Desperate Teacher

High: I’m sorry that information is not available at this time.
That is the responsibility of another department.
Low: I haven’t a clue!

7. The Lost Traveller

High: I’m sorry you are going to have to give me better directions than that.
Can you give me more details as to where you are?
Low: You’re screwed.

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 2.2 Restaurant

The following is a typical scenario of a western style restaurant.

Host: Good {morning/afternoon/evening}. Welcome to X. Do you have a reservation?

How many are in your party? Will that be smoking or non-smoking? OK, right this way.
Your {waiter, waitress, server} will be with you in a moment.

Server (S): Hi, my name is X. I'll be your server this evening. Would you like something
to drink (which means from the bar)?
Customer (C): Yes, I would like an X please / Yes, could have an X please / No thank
you.
S: OK, that's an X, Y and Z. I'll be back with your drinks in just a moment.

S: OK, here's your X, Y and Z. Are you ready to order?

C: No, I'm afraid I'm not quite ready yet.
S: Would you like a few more minutes?
S: Are you ready to order now?
C: Yes, I'd like a steak please.
S: How would you like it done (rare, medium or well done)?
C: Medium-rare please.
S: Would you like french fries, rice or baked potato with that?
C: Um, fries please.
S: Anything to drink with that?
C: Yes, coffee please.
S: And how about you {sir, ma'am}?
S: OK that's an X, Y and Z. It will be ready in a few minutes.

S: OK. Here is your X, Y, and who ordered the Z? Yes, here you are.
S: Would you like some more coffee?
S: Would you like to see the dessert menu? / Anything for dessert? / Anything else?
C: No just the check please.
S: How would you like to pay for that? Cash, cheque, credit card, or bill it to your
room?

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 Congratulations! You’ve just opened up your first restaurant! First up, you need
a name. Write it on the board. Next you need a menu. What’s the first thing on a menu?
Appetizers, then entrees or main courses, then deserts. Oops I forgot drinks. You end up
with something that looks like this.

Chez Miz
Appetizers
Salad: house, ceasar,
Soup: cream of mushroom, clam chowder,

Entrees
New York Steak: rare, medium, well done
Baked Halibut
Canadian Lobster
Perfect Pizza: Hawaiian, Deluxe,

Desserts
Ice cream: Chocolate, Strawberry,
Fruit: apple, strawberries,
Cake: Dutch chocolate, Black Forest,

Drinks
Beer: Miller, OB Lager,
Wine: red, white,
Cocktails: Screwdriver, Sex on the Beach,

This menu is small. It’s only a sample. Fill it up! Then break into groups and take turns
being the server and a few customers seated at a table. Use the outline of restaurant
conversation on the previous page. Don’t be afraid to complain to the server if anything
is not to your satisfaction. Bon appetite!

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 2.3 Drinking

In Western culture, drinking alcohol is mostly related to leisure. People drink to

relax, unwind or help them enjoy the company of friends. There are many drinking
customs including buying a drink for a friend or a potential sexual partner and “buying
rounds” where one member of a group of friends buys everyone in the group a drink.
Each member of the group is expected to buy a “round” for everyone else when their
turn comes.

In Algonquian culture (a group of Natives in North America) drinking is a

sharing activity. As a hunter-gatherer society, any large harvest of food and water was
consumed immediately before it went to waste. Everyone was expected to share
everything they owned and those who shared generously were highly respected in the
communities. So nowadays large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short amount of
time after receiving a pay cheque.

In Melanesia, alcohol is a religious activity. The local brew is called “Kava”

which is made from the root of a tree. At religious festivals large amounts of Kava are
consumed and those who can drink the most without passing out begin making the
political and economic decisions for the community. Then all members retire to solitary
places and communicate with their ancestors in a silent, drunken meditation.

Discuss drinking in Korea:

1. Why do Koreans drink? Is it associated with religion, culture, and/or leisure?

2. What are some drinking customs (holding cup with two hands, exchanging cups,
etc.)? For each one try to answer why. For example: Traditionally, Koreans wore
Hanbok which have very large sleeves. The left hand was used to hold back the sleeve.
Nowadays people still put their left hand under their right elbow or use two hands.

3. How many different kinds of drinks are there in Korea?

4. How do drinks and drinking customs differ in the west?

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Koreans Top List of Per Capita Liquor Consumption (from the Korea Herald)

According to the World Health Organization, Korea is one of the top countries in per
capita consumption of alcohol. Korea ranked last in 1960, then between 1960 and 1982
alcohol consumption increased 662%. It has been near or at the top ever since. This
comes at a time when alcohol consumption in developed countries is decreasing
because of overall awareness of health problems related to alcohol. Despite government
campaigns to drink less alcohol consumption in Korea remains high.

1. What are the health hazards of drinking?

2. Is drinking a serious problem in Korea?

3. Why has alcohol consumption increased so drastically since 1960?

4. How closely related are heavy drinking and crime? traffic accidents?

5. How could heavy drinking affect the economy, social order, and family life?

Your own drinking habits

1. Where is your favourite place to go drinking?

2. Do you ever get hangovers? What do you do to cure a hangover?

3. Relate a funny story about something that happened to you while drinking.

4. How much can you drink?

5. How much do you spend on alcohol in one week? one month? one year?

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