155-160

[미니맘]

Unit 155 < Have you ever taken course online? >

R: Hi! How are you doing?

F: I'm fine thank you.

R: What's your name and where are you from?

F: My name is Tracy. Even though I have an American name, I'm French.

R: Today our question is, "Have you ever taken courses online?"

F: Yes, I did. I took Korean classes online.

R: Now I know that learning the Korean language is kind of hard, so did you enjoy taking these courses online?

F: It was fine, but I needed to interact with people to improve my Korean. So at the end it wasn't that good, but it's good to get practice.

R: When you signed up for this online course to learn Korean, did you know anything about the Korean language, or did you kind of know just about the alphabets?

F: I knew how to pronounce words, read, so it was more for the vocabulary, and grammar.

R: Since you've done this Korean online course, what are some of the benefits, and maybe some of the not so good parts?

F: The good part is that I could learn step by step with my rhythm, so that was good. Like I said, the interaction was the bad part.

R: In France, how common are online courses?

F: It's not so common compared to the US or even here. Only a few schools provide the services, but it's getting bigger and bigger.

R: It's not that common in France like you said, how were you introduced to this online course?

F: Well, learning Korean is hard, and to find books in French or English is hard, so I needed the solution online.

R: When you were learning Korean, around how many hours per day did you practice? Or how many times a week?

F: I would say I was practicing 2 or 3 hours a day, but quickly with my schedule, I had to reduce it to 3 times a week.

R: When you sign up for these online courses, I'm just curious, do sign up by the number of hours that you're going to study, or the number of months that you're going to study? How does it work?

F: It was like a monthly. I had to pay monthly or could do it yearly. I could cancel it anytime, so it was great.

R: A lot of people do online course for almost everything, but (mostly) for job interviews, or the exams before you get into college. A lot of people do that. I was just wondering, it might not be that popular in France, but what do you think a lot of people in France use online courses for?

F: I would say mainly languages, like Chinese, or English, Spanish, mainly languages, or driving for a licence maybe.

Unit 156 < Do you have any volunteering experience? >

R: Hi, how are you doing? F: I'm fine. How are you?

R: What's your name and where are you from?

F: I'm Zoya, and I grew up in the United States.

R: Well, Do you have any volunteering experience?

F: Yes. I have volunteered working with children. Teaching them theatre arts for the last 10 years on and off.

R: Theatre arts. Is that something that you're interested in?

F: It's something that I studied in college and it's something that I do independently. I think it's really important for kids to have experiences where they can feel like they can create.

R: You said that you've been doing this for the past ten years. That's a lot of dedication. How did you get started and if you could just explain to us what you do for these kids. How you teach them theatre arts.

F: I have taught them how to feel comfortable in their bodies. Perhaps we just do little vocal warm ups, so they feel comfortable singing or moving around. I started working in community theatre when I was very young. So those experiences as a child helped me find a place where I could I guess mature emotionally and physically. And so I think it's important to continue helping kids have this experiences.

R: How often do you teach the kids, and from what age range do you help volunteer for?

F: The youngest student I ever had was probably about 2 years old. And I also have worked with teenagers.

R: You know, I just love theatre arts, it's something that I have a passion for also. If I could just ask you, what's your favorite stage performances, or just an art work that you like.

F: One of my favorite plays is by a director, his name is, 임형택. And his company was Seoul Factory for the Performing Arts staged a wonderful adaptation of "La Dispute." It is a memorable performance that has continued to stick with for quite some time.

R: That is so awesome. I just got the chills. I also saw the performance myself. He is my professor in college. That is awesome. So you liked his performance?

F: Of course. I enjoy all his work.

R: Last but not least, back to charity. Have you ever donated any money for charity or for theatre arts?

F: Actually I just finished directing a show that I wrote called "Perfect walking Models." THe money that we raised for International Women's Day to a charity here last weekend.

R: I hope that goes great!

F: Yeah, it went really well.

Unit 157 < Have you ever experienced identity theft? >

R: Hi! How are you doing?

F: Very well, thank you.

R: What's your name and where are you from?

F: My name is David, and I'm from Boston in the US.

R: Today our question is, "Have you ever experienced identity theft?"

F: In a couple of ways I have. I had credit cards stolen once. Well not the actual card, but they were able to find the information somehow through some online transactions that I made with that card. Then they ended up, trying to purchase up to $50,000 for spare parts for automobiles from somewhere in Africa. (Very random.) My bank called me up and tried to verify that this was actually a legitimate transaction. And I said, "No, No. Absolutely, not." So we were able to intercept it, but I had purchased something using the card. I assumed that's how they got the information, so it's pretty scary how quickly that can happen.

R: You never really hear about this often, especially because using credit cards is just a daily thing that we always do. And I just have to ask, what kind of transaction were you making at the point, at the time being?

F: I really don't know. I'm trying to figure out what or how they stole my information, so there was.,..I mean with credit cards, you're protected by the issuing authorities, so even if you didn't or could prove you didn't do the transaction, they'll cover it to a certain amount, but especially when you're entering information on a web site that's not secure or wirelessly that someone can intercept, it's very easy. In the states, social security information, which is basically the, sort of the DNA of your identity, can be captured very easily. Once you have that information, then you can get a birth certificate, and on, and on, and on. Then suddenly, you can capture that one's identity. You can get a driver's license, you can start opening credit accounts.

R: It's such a scary thing. So when you were making this transaction, was it on a web site, or were you, how,...?

F: It was on a web site. I was online, I was purchasing something. I'm assuming, again, I don't know exactly how they got the information, but that's how I'm assuming they got it. Luckily my bank had the where abouts that I wasn't

purchasing 50,000 spark plugs from Nigeria or wherever.

R: Very lucky guy there, because the bank actually noticed that something was wrong right there. And you know, what are some things that we can do to prevent these identity theft incidents?

F: Well, you gotta protect your information. I mean whether it's online, whether it's even, a lot of times you get invitations in the mail to open accounts and there's information on that. You gotta be careful in terms of what you're throwing away. So you just have to be really careful with your information, because right now especially, it seems very easy to capture that.

R: Now a days, I really like watching movies, and I feel like every other movie that comes out in the states, is about having their identity stolen from them. Is it something that happens often in the states?

F: All the time. You hear it about it all the time from people, especially through social security numbers.

Unit 158 < Have you ever studied overseas? >

R: Hi! How are you guys doing? F: I'm doing well, how are you?

R: What's your name and where are you from?

F: My name is Nikki, and I'm from Colorado in America.

R: Wow, you have very long eyelashes. Our question today is, "Have you ever studied overseas?"

F: Yes I have. I studied in Thailand. I went to Shangmai, Phuket, and Bangkok. 17:08

R: Wow. So all those 3 places. Why did you go there and what were you studying?

F: I was with a program called ISV, which is international student volunteers. I went there after the tsunami took over the area south of in Thailand. I got to know the people, I studied the culture, I was able to keep a journal, and I was able to get school credit for it.

R: It sounds like you got to have an experience that not a lot of people have been through. What would you say is some of the benefits of studying abroad?

F: Well, being educated in another culture is very refreshing and it's very spiritually uplifting and emotionally helpful, mentally and physically it was very ....

R: How about on the top of your head, what was one thing that was kind of different with American culture?

F: I'd probably say the food was very different and of course you see that everywhere has different food.

R: Did you like the food there, or did you not like it?

F: I loved the food, I did. I loved the food.

R: Is it common for the people in the states to study abroad? I'm not sure if it is.

F: Yes, if you go to college, it's very popular to go study abroad. We have a program there that allows students to go.

R: What countries do most students come from when they come in to study in the US? Have you noticed any study abroad students in US?

F: Yes. A lot of people come from Asia actually. A lot of people come from Asia or Latin America. Yeah, South America, and Mexico.

R: I really didn't know. I thought it would be, the majority would be from Asia. (Yes. Asia and South America.) Does it happen in the US often where the family goes off to a different country, and the dad is left alone in the states to work?

F: No, that doesn't happen at all actually. That's very uncommon.

R: In your opinion, do you think that the child's education is more important or just growing up and living as a family is more important?

F: Growing up and living as a family is very important in the United States, and especially to me. (Why?) I think creating a base for the child at home is the most important thing. Education is important, but education starts in the home with the family.

Unit 159 < Have you ever donated blood? >

R: Hi! How are you guys doing?

F: We're doing good.

R: What's your name and where are you from?

F: My name's John, and I'm from Texas.

F: My name's Alicia, and I'm from Scotland.

R: Today our question is, "Have you ever donated blood?"

F: Yes, I have done it on a couple of occasions.

F: Yeah, I've donated blood. Maybe 5 times.

R: I just have to ask why you donated blood and did you do it by yourself?

F: No, the last time I did was in boot camp, with the army, so I'm not a good blood giver. I usually pass out, but I doing something good, you know.

R: You usually pass out.

F: Yes, yes. I get very light-headed.

R: Do they make you do this at boot camp?

F: No, no. It was optional, but I figured I might as well do it. It helps other people.

R: Even if you passed the first time, you just went ahead and donated your blood again. Very nice person.

F: They were having a blood drive at my university, and I gave blood then. My mom has a blood disease, so I give blood because I know that it can help other people.

R: I see that both of you guys mainly donate blood, because you want to help other people. I have to ask, when you donate blood how does it help other people? Because maybe some people might not be familiar with the process.

F: When you have an accident, and your losing blood and you need more blood, that's when it comes into play. You're able to get your blood from somebody else that's donated it.

F: Because my mom was sick, like John said, it helps other people when they're not well, and my blood type is very common, so I can give blood to every other person, and the same for you. (What blood type are you?) I'm O+. Yea, so everybody can take O+.

R: What's your blood type?

F: Mine's O+ also.

R: I am also blood type O. I'm not sure if I'm an O+ or not. So that means, if I donate blood, a lot of people can accept my blood also. But I've never donated blood before, because I'm kind of scared of needles.

F: It's alright. You'll be alright. You're helping people.

F: You can eat a whole tub of ice cream afterwards to make you feel better.

R: They give you ice cream?

F: Ice Cream! Yes, free ice cream.

R: It's ice cream in Scotland. What about it Texas?

F: Me. I got juice and some type of candy.

F: Lots of sugar.

R: That's not even good for the blood, isn't it?

F: It gives you sugar.

R: Once you donate your blood, how long do you have to wait to donate again?F: I think you can donate 24 hours afterwards. I don't really know.

R: But not for people like John, because you pass out.

F: Not for me. It's tough.

R: Where do you normally donate blood in your country?

F: Well, in my country, we normally have a bus that goes around. They give blood, it's a blood center. And they usually go around public places, and you just go in the van, sign, paper, answer questions, and they just take your blood right there.

F: It's the same, but I normally go to the hospital and do it myself, and just ask.

Unit 160 < Do you have things like social security numbers in your country? >

R: Hi! How are you doing?

F: I'm doing very well, thanks.

R: What's your name and where are you from?

F: My name is Justin. I'm from Portland, Oregon from the Unites States.

R: Today our question is, "Do you have things like social security numbers in your country?"

F: Yes, as matter of fact, we do have social security number.

R: In Korea, we also have social security numbers. I was just wondering, at what age are you registered to have a social security number, and a driver's license?

F: Driver's license is 16. I believe you get your social security at birth, but don't quote me on that.

R: I won't quote you then. What do you do exactly with your social security card?

F: Your social security card is kind of like your life line in the states. You need to usually lock it up. You don't really have it on you. At most times, there's usually a very big problem with identity theft in the United States. So usually we keep it at home in a safe spot. In family, I know my mom keeps the four of ours together. So we're very careful with it. We memorize the number though, so we know the number.

R: Is your social security number on a piece of paper or is it a card? I don't exactly know it's registered.

F: It's an official government card, kind of a thick paper, not laminated.

R: If you don't carry around your social security number, or card, what do you identify yourself with?

F: They usually verify with an ID like a driver's license or a passport, something like that. We usually driver's license for identification in the states.

R: I think that's very interesting, because in Korea, we have cards, social security cards, and we carry it around with us all the time. So it's interesting, how the culture is kind of different.

F: I'd probably think that Korea's much safer place. As far as, you don't have to worry about stealing, or anything like that. Where in the United States, there's always people trying to cheat the system or rip you off.

R: I just want to ask you a personal question, have you every gone through identity theft?

F: I have not. I'm one of the lucky ones.

R: Hopefully it stays like that the rest of your life. In Korea, we always carry around our social identity cards, what are some ways that you can identify yourself with again.

F: Again, the driver's license, and I actually have mine on me right now, if you want to see it.

R: Yeah, that would be cool!

F: This is the United States driver's license. Each state issues it. This one's from Oregon.

R: It's similar to the Korean one, where you have your picture and your information.

F: But it's not like a national thing, it's a state license.

R: In Korea, also when you give out your number or ID to someone else, it's kind of like a violation of the human rights law, is it also like that in the states?

F: I don't know if it's a violation per say, but we don't give it out. I'm the only one that would know my social security number. If you have to write it on a form for a job, they'll have it, but it's protected.