[스크랩] Lesson 8 The Real Beauty of Korea

Lesson 8
The Real Beauty of Korea

Let’s Read

Topic 1
The 1st Letter from Korea

Dear Kate,
How have you been? Since I arrived in Korea, I have visited some famous places in Seoul and other provinces near Seoul.
Today, I’ll tell you about one of the most beautiful things in Korea. When I first landed at the airport, a colorful flag welcomed me. I soon found out that it was the Korean flag. I thought the flag looked interesting. It is different from the Stars and Stripes.
The Korean flag, which is called the Taegeukgi, is rich in philosophical symbolism. Let me tell you what it means. The white background represents the land as well as peace. In the center lies a circle called taegeuk which means the people. It is patterned after the taegeuk, or the yin and yang symbol. This image shows the opposites of nature―such as heaven and earth, fire and water, and day and night. These are not thought of as opposite to each other, but as two sides of the same coin.
In the corners of the Taegeukgi, there are four sets of three bars, some broken and some unbroken, which are called gwae. Just as white background represents both land and peace, the gwae represents many different things. Taken together, they stand for the government. The unbroken bars at the upper left corner stand for the heaven, summer, and the south. The three broken bars at the lower right corner mean the earth, winter, and the north. The gwae in the upper right corner represents the moon, fall, and the west.
Then, can you guess what the gwae in the lower left corner means? It means the sun, spring, and the east. These three bars in each corner represent balance, just as the taegeuk does. The Korean flag shows the perfect beauty of balance and harmony.
Do you know why I was interested in the flag? To me, the Taegeukgi shows Korea’s wisdom and beauty. It’s one of the most beautiful flags that I have ever seen.
If you want to know some more about Korea, I’ll tell you next time.
Give my regards to your parents and brother. Good bye.
Love,
Jane

Topic 2
The 2nd Letter from Korea

Dear Kate,
I got your letter last Friday. I’m pleased to hear that everything is going well.
You asked me what languages are spoken in Korea. The Korean people use their own language, which has a different alphabet from the English alphabet. The Korean language gives me a lot to think about.
Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, consists of 10 vowels and 14 consonants that are arranged in characters rather than in words. And the making of the words using Hangeul is different from the way that the English letters from words.
Look at this word ‘한국’(hanguk) which consists of two characters. The first character of the word is formed by an ‘ㅎ’(h) in the top of the left corner, an ‘ㅏ’(a) in the top right corner and an ‘ㄴ’(n) at the bottom. It forms the first character. Then, the second character can be formed similarly. These two characters may form a word:
한국
To me, the structure of each written character is beautiful and balanced. The written character ‘한’ looks like a letter framed in a square, doesn’t it? Korean can be written from top to bottom or from left to right. The written characters also show the beauty of balance and harmony!
In the Korean language, there are spaces between the written words. Most of the characters can be pronounced as they are written. Not surprisingly, it’s very easy to learn to read and write the words. For these reasons, Hangeul is considered to be one of the most logical writing systems in the world. English is far less scientific than the Korean language. What do you think about learning the Korean language?
If you want to know more about the Korean language and culture, I’ll tell you more in my next letter. Please give my regards to Bill and your cousins. Take care.
Love,
Jane

Review - 의사 소통 기능

자신의 의견 말하기
A: What do you think about the Korean alphabet?
B: I think it’s the best in the world.

비교
A: What is the most beautiful flag in the world?
B: The Korean flag is one of the most beautiful flags I have ever seen.

원인, 결과
A: Why do you like the book?
B: Because it’s funny.

안부 부탁하기
A: Please give my regards to your parents.
B: Thank you. I will.

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