Gwangju International Center

Iran- A Brief Overview   Speaker: Hossein Moradian Reviewer: Minji Kim Proofreader: Ivan Date: July 19th, 2014   During the talk on 19th July, Hossein Moradian talked about his country, Iran. History, Religion, Culture and Art, weather, holidays etc… he gave us an overview of them. It was just for 45 to 50 minutes but we could take off our prejudice or misunderstanding about Iran. This country is much more peaceful than we thought. When he showed us Persian cats, it seemed that most of us were quite shocked. We are used to seeing Persian cats and we love them because they are so lovely like a doll but we might never think they are from Iran. Moreover, Iran is full of Ancient remains which are also very touristic. We had a great time to find out an exotic and different culture.    Photos: http://goo.gl/Zb0E6U Video: http://goo.gl/MnSBB2    

Secrets of Adolescence Girls       Speaker: Noelle Easterday Reviewer: Chanmi Moon  Proofreader: Ivan Date: July 12th, 2014     After Sewol ferry tragedy, the dreadful accident, occurred and took over hundreds of young students’ lives, all Koreans seem to pay more attention to students in the middle of their adolescence and try to address difficulties they are facing. Today’s speaker, Noelle Easterday, talks about some secrets of adolescent girls that are based on her research that she did on high school girls. She shares some secrets these high school girls shared to her by showing some beautifully decorated postcards from students that have their secrets on. It is so surprising that most of the adolescent girls’ secrets were driven from their schools and studying. The fact that the students are keeping their discontent brought from studying as secrets that they never dare to tell anyone makes people think more about the cruel situation students are facing. Today’s speaker hopes to see many adults in Korea paying more attention to students’ emotional health not only on which university they enter. Furthermore, the speaker wishes adolescent students, living in Korea, to open up their mind, start speaking out and asking for help on their secrets. Today’s talk is very enlightening, and it tells many things about the brutal situation adolescent students are going through.   Photo: http://goo.gl/iz5Gb2 Video: http://goo.gl/uuIau7  

My Journey Into Travels That Matter   Speaker: Esther Kim  Reviewer: Sewoon Baek Proofreader: Ivan Date: July 5th, 2014     Esther Kim's talk made us rethink about our own history. She could study MBA in U.S.A, but she made up her mind to study and do something in Korea because she wanted to do something for her parent's country. She is Korean American. She may have been confused on her identity. In other words, she could think Korea doesn't have to do with her life since she was born in U.S.A. However, she didn't forget where she came from fundamentally and what things her ancestors had done. She knows how deep connection her life has with her ancestors. Some people just focus on the present because they think the past is already over and it's just past. We should be aware of how we live now. It is because of our ancestors and we should always keep it in mind.   Photo: http://goo.gl/xHfYht Video: http://goo.gl/CcU0y8

My Journey Into Travels That Matter   Speaker: Pedro Kim Reviewer: Sewoon Baek Proofreader: Ivan Date: June 28th, 2014   There are many reasons why people like to travel: to escape the routine work, to go through many things, or to relax. However, many people give up traveling because they are tied up with such problems as routine work, business, school work, and money. They could also say that they cannot afford to travel. Today, Pedro's GIC Talk motivated us to go on a trip because he has gone through a lot of experiences that usually people cannot and he found happiness by traveling. He may have faced some disturbing problems while traveling. However, he overcame them and just went traveling for his happiness. Now he is currently running a guest house for visitors, with the dream of running his own cafe for travelers. Traveling plays a big role in everyone's life. It can affect your life any many ways! Do you think your life is boring, and do you want to learn something new? Make the time and do not hesitate to hit the road for a valuable and beautiful life. Paulo Coelho says, "Travel is never a matter of money but of courage."   Photos: http://goo.gl/838RRi Video: http://goo.gl/aLfQMB

Popular Beliefs and Fairy Tales: Reconsidering Views on Language Learning and Teaching                Speaker: Dr. David E. Shaffer Reviewer: Minji Kim Proofreader: Ivan Date: June 21, 2014   During the talk on 21th, we could learn the best way of English education that most people want to teach their children. What is the best way to teach English? He told us the popular beliefs of English education with comparison of good and bad sides. Starting with alphabets for beginners, early English study, tongue surgery, memorizing a lot of vocabularies, studying TOEIC and TOEFL, studying abroad, and high level reading materials. How does it sound to you?   We should consider our level of English skills and we must choose proper ways which won't be too much pressure to us, our familly and our children.   There are always good and bad sides of teaching but if we choose the right way, it will bring us improved English skills.     Photos: http://goo.gl/L2XQdT Video: http://goo.gl/oZO2uI  

Come and Act with the GPP (Gwangju Performance Project)!   Speaker: Heather Aitken, Tori Brown, Robyn Cox, Julien McNulty, Joey Nunez and Caitlin O’Neill Reviewer: 백세운 Proofreader: Jeremiah Azurin Date: June 14, 2014   The GPP is Gwangju's local performance arts group. They encourage anyone who has an interest in the arts to attend. Some people may think you may need a special ability to join so they are reluctant to perform. However most of the people that attend are just actively interested in performing some art. The GPP is a good way to get along with a variety of people. Practicing performances together, they communicate with and get to know one another. It could be a part of great opportunity to exchange culture if you are interested in meeting people who are from a different countries. When I saw their performance at the last GIC talk, I was impressed not only by their singing but also their enjoyment of doing this together as a group. Do not hesitate to become a member of the GPP; The opportunity of joining this talented group of individuals in the community has many benefits.   Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.255300314660191.1073741855.181572228699667&type=1 Videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae12ebzUQaU&feature=youtu.be

Ending Street Harassment in Our Communities   Speaker: Chelle B. Mille & Shim Reviewer: Boyoung Moon Proofreader: Richard Taylor Date: June 7, 2014   The sexual harassment is a highly controversial issue in Korea as well as in other countries. Most of victims are likely to hide their experiences due to shame. This is one of the reasons that today's speakers came to the GIC and addressed sexual harassment and street harassment to the audience. Today's talk  had two speakers, Chelle B. Mille & Shim, from Hollaback (a non-profit international organisation). This helped to keep the audience’s focus on the talk as they had two different stories; the neat and fancy presentation also helped. As for the Q&A session, one of audiences members asked his question in Korean, which gave one of the speakers trouble in communicating. With Dr.Shin's help, the talk finished with no problems. If we announce to the audience to try to ask in English or to ask one of the volunteers to help with asking the question in advance, I am sure it would be much more constructive GIC talk.   Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.252309048292651.1073741854.181572228699667&type=1 Videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPJeV8HUkik&list=UUw22s4ed3HHu1d7g-teo_yw&index=1  

  May 31: Fighting Poverty in the 21st Century   Speaker: Billie Pritchett Reviewer: Boyoung Moon Proofreader: Jeremiah Azurin Date: May 31, 2014   Calvin Coolidge once said, "Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshiped." Even though people know what this sentence means, most of them are just looking for being wealthy, which makes for a materialistic society. Our speaker, Billie Pritchett was at the GIC to talk about bringing awareness to problems in poverty in the twenty-first century. Moreover, he lectured about poverty not only in Korea but in the United States as well. Even though the topic might be difficult to understasnd, Billie uses visible tools for his audience for it to be easily understood. Questions from the audience are always welcome so it would make for a better GIC talk if the audience listening to different answers of the questions and then forming their own questions.   Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.250198821837007.1073741853.181572228699667&type=1 Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=248nraa7QX8&index=1&list=UUw22s4ed3HHu1d7g-teo_yw

Photography in Korea   Speaker: Joe Wabe Reviewer: Chanmi Moon Proofreader: Richard Taylor Date: May 24th, 2014   Photography is one of the most common hobbies people enjoy nowadays. Today’s speaker, Joe Wabe, talks about the historical background of photography in Korea and also introduces some practical tips for taking pictures. He listed out the required skills needed to take good pictures by showing his own pictures as examples. He makes his points clear and easy to the audiences even for those who did not have any interest for taking pictures. The most interesting part of his talk was when he tried to communicate with audience and giving out some of his own pictures for questions from the audience. His own pictures and videos were good enough to attract an audience and his well-organised lecture and great sense of humour made his talk even more interesting.   Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.248043572052532.1073741852.181572228699667&type=1 Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjwphwLCvqM&index=1&list=UUw22s4ed3HHu1d7g-teo_yw

The Successes and Failures of the Obama Administration   Speaker: Doug Stuber (USA) Reviewer: Sewoon Baek Proofreader: Richard Taylor Date: May 10, 2014   President Barack Obama was elected the first African-American president in the USA, which is  respectable by itself, but we should  see what Obama has done in a more critical view. Our speaker, Doug Stuber gave us a chance to look at the hidden sides of the Obama adminsitration. Actually, the talk included only two successes and twenty-four failures. One of the failures in particular mentioned was Obama Care. It is easier said than done when no one has to worry about health care regardless of class. Although its aims were great,  the way of it was implemented  put  pressure of the middle class who couldn’t afford to pay for the health insurance costs. As the speaker claimed, it would have been better if Obama had tried to reduce costs of health care by pressuring health care professionals for hospital cooperation. We know that leading a country as its president is a challenging duty because the position has to consider the whole thing. They can succeed or they can fail, but it was for the people who live in their country. They are just trying to run their country perfectly. We need to take a critical look on what they are doing to see justice, but we should never forget why they try to make new policy.   Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXWxnkjU0rM&list=UUw22s4ed3HHu1d7g-teo_yw Photo: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.244301099093446.1073741851.181572228699667&type=1