Summer 2025

The following study materials have been prepared for the first week's topic: SLEEP.  Number and selection of readings will be determined based on class complement.   Students may choose to work individually or as group.

Warm-up

1. How many hours of sleep do you usually get each night? Do you think it’s enough? (보통 몇 시간 정도 자요? 충분하다고 생각해요?)

2. "Some people say dreaming is good for the brain. Do you think dreams are important, or are they just random thoughts?" (어떤 사람들은 꿈이 뇌에 좋다고 말합니다. 꿈이 중요하다고 생각하시나요, 아니면 그냥 무작위적인 생각이라고 생각하시나요?)

3. What helps you fall asleep? (e.g., reading, music, white noise) (잠드는 데 도움이 되는 것은 무엇인가요? 예: 독서, 음악, 화이트 노이즈)

4. Do you prefer waking up early or staying up late? Why? (일찍 일어나는 것과 늦게 자는 것 중 어떤 것을 선호하나요? 이유는 무엇인가요?)

5. In Korea, many people sleep on the floor with a thin mattress (요). Do you think this is comfortable, or do you prefer a bed? (한국에서는 많은 사람들이 요로 바닥에서 잠을 잡니다. 이것이 편안하다고 생각하시나요, 아니면 침대를 더 선호하시나요?)

Study Material 1: Small Sleep Changes Can Affect Students' Brains  [inter-6]

Suggested Questions for Leading Conversation

Study Material 2: Matcha Linked to Better Sleep in Older Adults  [adv-8]

Suggested Questions for Leading Conversation

Study Material 3: 68% of Japanese People Worried About Sleep [inter-6]

Suggested Questions for Leading Conversation

Study Material 4: Want to Learn a Language? Go to Sleep, Study Says [inter-6]

Suggested Questions for Leading Conversation

Study Material 5: Sleep Helps Us Learn [inter-5]

Warm-up

1. "HowWoften do youWexercise? What kind-of-exercise doYyouYusually do?" (운동을 얼마나 자주 하세요? 보통 어떤 운동을 하세요?)

2. "Do you prefer exercising alone or with others? Why?" (혼자 운동하는 것과 다른 사람들과 함께 하는 것 중 어떤 것을 더 좋아하세요? 이유는 무엇인가요?)

3. "What was your favorite sport or physical activity when you were younger?" (어렸을 때 가장 좋아했던 스포츠나 신체 활동은 무엇이었나요?)

4. "What is the most difficult part of exercising for you? Do you have any fitness goals?" (운동할 때 가장 어려운 점은 무엇인가요? 피트니스 목표가 있나요?)

5. "Is exercising popular in Korea? What are some common ways Koreans stay fit?" (한국에서 운동은 인기가 많나요? 한국 사람들이 건강을 유지하기 위해 주로 하는 운동은 무엇인가요?)

Study Materials...[Read and Listen]

How to get into weight training [inter-5] 

Heads up - information, (equipment, homework) do not take an "s" [yet] 

Leader's Conversation Questions

'Exercise Snacks': Fitness Breaks for Busy Lives [inter-6]

Leader's Conversation Questions

Plogging: A Fitness Trend Cleaning the World [inter-6]

Warm-up

1. Phones & Apps

   1. Do you like iPhone or Android more? Why? 아이폰과 안드로이드 중 어떤 걸 더 좋아해요? 왜요?

   2. What apps do youYuse every day? WhyYare theyYuseful? 매일 어떤 앱을 사용하세요? 왜 그 앱이 유용해요?

   3. Is your phone sometimes annoying? What does it do? 핸드폰이 가끔 짜증나게 할 때가 있어요? 어떤 때에요?

2. Daily Life with Tech

   1. What technology can’t you live without? Why? 없으면 못 사는 기술(기기)이 있어요? 왜 그래요?

   2. Do you spend more time on your phone or computer? What for? 핸드폰과 컴퓨터 중 더 많이 사용하는 건 뭐예요? 무엇을 위해 쓰세요?

   3. Is life easier now than before smartphones? How? 스마트폰이 생기기 전보다 지금 삶이 더 쉬워졌나요? 어떻게요?

3. Talking to People

   1. How doYyouYusually contact friends? (calls, messages, video?) 보통 친구들이랑 어떻게 연락해요? (전화, 문자, 영상통화?)

   2. Is talking online or in person better? Why? 온라인으로 얘기하는 것과 직접 만나서 얘기하는 것 중 뭐가 더 나아요? 왜요?

4. Problems with Tech

   1. What’s the worst thing about technology today? 요즘 기술의 가장 큰 문제점이 뭐라고 생각해요?

   2. DoYyou get stressed by technology? When? 기술(기기) 때문에 스트레스 받을 때가 있어요? 언제요?

5. Future Tech

   1. Will robots help us in the future? How? 로봇이 미래에 우리를 도와줄 수 있을까요? 어떻게요?

   2. If you could invent one thing, what would it be?한 가지를 발명할 수 있다면, 무엇을 만들고 싶어요?

New Tokyo Museum Celebrates 'Extinct' Technology -L5

Leader's Conversation Starter Questions

Men More Likely than Women to Use AI at Work - L5

Leader's Conversation Starter Questions

Young and Old Turn to AI Chatbots for Companionship  L7

Leader's Conversation Starter Questions

AI Technology Can Now Recognize Your Walk - L6

Budget, Weather, Time: How to Pick the Right Vacation 

Leader's Conversation Starter Questions

Sound of Silence: Why Finland Doesn't Do 'Small Talk' 

Leader's Conversation Starter Questions

'Under the Weather' and Other Health Idioms 

Leader's Conversation Starter Questions

Warm-up...

1. General Preferences

   1. What’s your favorite season? Why? 어떤 계절을 가장 좋아하세요? 왜요?  What's yer favorite season?

   2. Do you like rainy days or sunny days more? Why? 비 오는 날과 맑은 날 중 어떤 걸 더 좋아해요? 왜요? Dya like rainy dayszor sunny days more?

2. Daily Weather

   1. What’s the weather like today? How do you feel about it? 오늘 날씨 어때요? 기분이 어떠세요?  What's dah weather like taday?  How dya feelaboutit?

   2. Do you check the weather forecast every day? Why? 매일 일기예보를 확인하세요? 왜요?

3. Weather & Activities

   1. What do you like to do on sunny days? 날씨가 맑을 때 뭐 하는 걸 좋아해요? Whatduhya like ta doWon sunny days?

   2. How does bad weather (rain/snow) change your plans? 비/눈 오는 날은 계획을 어떻게 바꾸세요?

4. Extreme Weather

   1. What’s the worst weather you’ve experienced? 당신이 경험한 가장 나쁜 날씨는 뭐예요?

   2. Are you afraid of thunderstorms or typhoons? Why? 천둥/태풍을 무서워하세요? 왜요?

5. Seasons & Memories

   1. What do you remember about summers when you were young? 어릴 때 여름은 어땠어요?

   2. Does winter feel colder now than in the past? 옛날보다 지금 겨울이 더 추운 것 같아요?

6. Travel & Weather

   1. If you could move to a place with perfect weather, where would you go? 날씨가 완벽한 곳으로 이사할 수 있다면 어디로 갈래요?

   2. Has bad weather ever ruined your travel plans? 날씨 때문에 여행 계획이 망친 적 있어요?

Who Doesn't Love Talking About the Weather? 

The Inside-Out Story of the California Roll 

Suggested questions to lead conversation

Top-Rated Street Foods From Around the World

Suggested questions to lead conversation

Some Foods Can Be Medicine  

Suggested questions to lead conversation

Global Table Manners: Eat Like a Local 

Suggested questions to lead conversation

1. Shopping Habits & Preferences

1. "Where do you like to shop? [Where dya like ta shop?] (Online? In a store? At markets?) Why?" "어디에서 쇼핑하는 걸 좋아하세요? (온라인? 매장? 시장?) 이유는요?"

2. "Do you like shopping alone or with others? [Dya like shoppin-alone-or with-others?] [nor] Why?" "혼자 쇼핑하는 것 vs. 다른 사람과 쇼핑하는 것, 어떤 게 좋아요? 이유는요?"

3. "What did you buy last? [What dya buy last?] Did you need it or want it?" [Dya need-it-or want-it?] [tore] "마지막으로 산 물건은 뭐예요? 필요해서 샀나요, 아니면 그냥 사고 싶어서 샀나요?"

2. Technology & Shopping

1. "Have you used a self-checkout machine? [Have-ya used-a self-checkout machine?] Was it easy or hard?" [Was-it-easyYor hard?] [sit/tease/your] "셀프 계산대 사용해 본 적 있어요? 쉬웠나요, 어려웠나요?"

2. "Do you shop on your phone? [Dya shop-on yer phone?] Why/why not?" "휴대폰으로 쇼핑해 본 적 있어요? 이유는요?"

3. "Would you trust a robot worker in a store? [Wouldja trust-a robot worker-in-a store?] Why/why not?" "가게에서 로봇 직원을 믿을 수 있을까요? 이유는요?"

3. Cultural Differences

1. "What is Korea’s biggest shopping sale? [What-is...](Example: 11/11, Chuseok?)" "한국에서 가장 큰 쇼핑 할인 행사는 뭐예요? (예: 11/11, 추석 할인?)"

2. "Do you know ‘Black Friday’? [Dya know...] Do you like big sales?" [Dya like...] "‘블랙 프라이데이’ 알고 있나요? 큰 할인 행사 좋아하세요?"

3. "Do you watch influencers or reviews before buying? [Dya watch-influencers-or reviews before buying?] [chin/sore] Why/why not?" "물건 살 때 인플루언서나 리뷰를 보고 결정하나요? 이유는요?"

4. Future of Shopping

1. "Will most shopping be online in the future? [...beYonline-in...]Why/why not?" "미래에는 대부분 온라인 쇼핑이 될까요? 이유는요?"

2. "Do you want stores with no cashiers? [Dya...] Why/why not?" "계산원 없는 가게가 생기면 좋을까요? 이유는요?"

3. "What makes shopping easier for you?" [shoppin-easier for-ya] "쇼핑을 더 편하게 만드는 것은 뭐예요?"

The Future of Shopping: No Lines or Checkouts

Suggested questions to lead conversation

Influencers, Phones: How People Shop in the US

Suggested questions to lead conversation

Black Friday, Cyber Monday Start US Holiday Shopping

Suggested questions to lead conversation

Japan's Lawson Hires 'Digital Employee' from Abroad

Warm-up

1. What's a Korean food saying? What does it mean?

2. What's your favorite home-cooked meal? Why?

3. What's your favorite Korean street food? Tell about it.

4. Where in the world do you want to try street food? What food?

5. What foreign food is popular in Korea but made Korean? (e.g., pizza, jajangmyeon) How?

6. Can you mix Korean and Italian food? (or Mexican/Indian/etc.) What new dish?

7. What's one important Korean table rule for visitors?

8. Did you see different table manners? What was different?

9. What Korean food do you eat when sick? (e.g., samgyetang, patjuk) Why?

10. Do you eat food because it's healthy? What food?

Cook up a Storm' With These Idioms 

Warm-up Conversation Questions

Why Planning a Vacation May Be Good for Our Health 

Suggested questions to lead conversation

Take a Farming Vacation with WWOOF 

Suggested questions to lead conversation

One in Five People Plan Next Holiday when on Vacation  

Suggested questions to lead conversation

Why You Should Take Eight-Day Vacations 

Suggested questions to lead conversation

Food Tourism: Eating Is the New Sightseeing 

1. Why do people want to be famous? 사람들은 왜 유명해지고 싶어 할까요?

2. What hobbies do you like? 어떤 취미를 좋아하나요?

3. If you change your name, what name would you choose?  이름을 바꾼다면 어떤 이름을 고르겠어요?

4. What events help people feel close as a group? 어떤 행사가 사람들을 더 가깝게 만들까요?

5. Do you use social media? What do you like to share? 소셜 미디어를 사용하나요? 무엇을 공유하고 싶나요?

Celebrities who went on to become politicians

Conversation Starters

Do You Know These Celebrities' Favorite Films? 

Conversation Starters

From Celebrities to Politicians, Labubu Dolls Go Viral 

Conversation Starters

Cat Becomes Celebrity at UK Train Station 

Conversation Starters

Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Use Stage Names 

Conversation Starters

Muddy American Football Festival Celebrates 50th Year 

Warm up

1. If you could visit any country in the world for a week—with all expenses paid—where would you go and why?

2. What is one item you always pack in your suitcase when you travel, and why is it important to you?

3. What is the most interesting food you have tried while traveling, and where was it?

'Noctourism': Travel on the Dark Side 

Conversation Starters

How to Reduce the Stress of Holiday Travel

• Conversation Starters

No Planes, No Phone: Could You Travel Across the World?

Conversation Starters

Begpacking: A Controversial Travel Trend [2]

Conversation Starters

Mistakes That Make Travel More Expensive