Bruce #TS 7

During this session we took a break from the role-playing because I wanted to work on improving Do-jun’s accuracy. I noticed most of his errors are tense errors; sometimes he says things in the present tense, or uses an infinitive inappropriately, when talking about the past. So I divided our conversational session into three parts. 

1. Past

2. Present

3. Future

1

In 1, I asked Do-jun questions about the past. We talked about things like school days, or college, and he explained to me aspects of Korean culture. In 2, we talked about life in South Korea. In 3, I asked him about his future aspirations, goals, or fantasies. I transcribed his answers as he spoke and bolded the tense errors he needed work on, in addition to correcting them. I gave him this document afterwards to review.

Here is a sample:

Past tense 

When I was a university student, and I enjoyed hanging out with my friends.

I could travel anywhere I wanted to go. 

But, usually, men, after junior year, we went into military service. 

We could go into the army, airforce, or navy. We couldn’t go home, except during vacation.

I served in the Air Force. 

After sophomore year, usually, we served in the military. After we finished military service, we went back to university. 

We couldn’t do anything while in military service; we couldn’t study. We spent all of our time in the military. 

 

I served for two years and six months. I served with my other colleagues (another word for “co-worker”—Bruce) 

Present

In Seoul City, the subway system is complex. There are a lot of lines. So we can go out anywhere by using the subway. 

I don’t think it’s expensive. It is about $1 basic fare for men. 

In South Korea, golf is the rich man’s sport. (Another word for this is “prestigious”. It means very respectable and rich--Bruce)

In South Korea, a lot of salarymen are running golf clubs, because golf is a very social activity. It’s very hospitable.

Future tense focus (mostly)

It is my hope that I will have a small building, with five or six floors, and two offices. I am going to get renters who will pay me to live there. I hope that money will be my income. Even if I don’t have any other job. 

I will travel abroad, so maybe I’ll need a lot of money. Two or three buildings are better than one. That’s the dream of a lot of young people in South Korea. I can see it in the news and newspaper.